Evaluating and Using Evaluating and Using SourcesSources

Dr. Sean HomerDr. Sean Homer

Distinguishing SourcesDistinguishing Sources

• How do we distinguish between How do we distinguish between academic sources?academic sources?

• What is a reliable source and an What is a reliable source and an unreliable source?unreliable source?

• What is an academic journal?What is an academic journal?

• How do we identify good material on How do we identify good material on the web?the web?

• Which websites should we use?Which websites should we use?

Distinguishing SourcesDistinguishing Sources

• Print MediaPrint Media– Books (monographs)/TextbooksBooks (monographs)/Textbooks– Refereed and Non-Refereed JournalsRefereed and Non-Refereed Journals– Professional Journals and NewspapersProfessional Journals and Newspapers

• Electronic sourcesElectronic sources– Online Scholarly JournalsOnline Scholarly Journals– Academic WebsitesAcademic Websites– Government WebsitesGovernment Websites– DatabasesDatabases

A checklist for evaluating A checklist for evaluating websiteswebsites

• Who produced the site?Who produced the site?• Who sponsored the site?Who sponsored the site?• For whom is the author writing? Who is the For whom is the author writing? Who is the

intended audience?intended audience?• Can you tell if the author of the document is an Can you tell if the author of the document is an

authority in the field?authority in the field?• Does he or she reference other critics work? Are Does he or she reference other critics work? Are

they good critics? they good critics? • Is the text well written?Is the text well written?• Do arguments seem well supported, or is the Do arguments seem well supported, or is the

document full of vague generalizations.document full of vague generalizations.• When was the site created and last updated?When was the site created and last updated?

Why Use Sources?Why Use Sources?

• Integrating source material into your Integrating source material into your argument adds credibility and complexity argument adds credibility and complexity to your argument.to your argument.

• It demonstrates the depth of your research It demonstrates the depth of your research and understanding.and understanding.

• Source Material:Source Material:– Cannot make the argument for you.Cannot make the argument for you.– It can only back-up, provide evidence for your It can only back-up, provide evidence for your

own arguments.own arguments.– It has no value without your own comments to It has no value without your own comments to

provide context and meaning.provide context and meaning.

Using SourcesUsing Sources

• There are three main ways of using There are three main ways of using source material in your essays: source material in your essays: Quotation, Paraphrase, SummaryQuotation, Paraphrase, Summary

• QuotationQuotation– must be identical to the original, using a must be identical to the original, using a

narrow segment of the source. They must narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for word match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original and must be attributed to the original author. author.

When Should You Quote?When Should You Quote?

• Use quotations sparingly. Use quotations sparingly. – Accuracy:Accuracy:

• You are unable to summarize or paraphrase without You are unable to summarize or paraphrase without changing the meaning.changing the meaning.

– Authority:Authority:• You want to lend expert authority to your claim.You want to lend expert authority to your claim.

– Conciseness:Conciseness:• The original says it better and shorter than you can.The original says it better and shorter than you can.

– Unforgettable Language:Unforgettable Language:• The original is memorable or remarkable and you The original is memorable or remarkable and you

want that particular word or turn of phrase. want that particular word or turn of phrase.

SummarySummary

• SummarySummary– is a is a condensedcondensed version of the main ideas of all version of the main ideas of all

or part of a source, written in your own words. or part of a source, written in your own words. – involves putting the main idea(s) into your own involves putting the main idea(s) into your own

words, including only the main point(s). words, including only the main point(s). – Once again, it is necessary to attribute Once again, it is necessary to attribute

summarized ideas to the original source. summarized ideas to the original source. – Summaries are significantly Summaries are significantly shortershorter than the than the

original and take a broad overview of the original and take a broad overview of the source material. source material.

– Remember – the summary presents only the Remember – the summary presents only the main ideas of the original source.main ideas of the original source.

The Purpose of The Purpose of SummarizingSummarizing

• It provides support for your claims and adds It provides support for your claims and adds credibility to your writing credibility to your writing

• It refers to work that leads up to the work you are It refers to work that leads up to the work you are now doing. now doing.

• It provides examples of several points of view on It provides examples of several points of view on a subject. a subject.

• It calls attention to a position that you wish to It calls attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree with. agree or disagree with.

• It highlights a particularly striking phrase, It highlights a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage by quoting the original. sentence, or passage by quoting the original.

• It distances yourself from the original by quoting It distances yourself from the original by quoting it in order to cue readers that the words are not it in order to cue readers that the words are not your own your own

• It expands the breadth or depth of your writingIt expands the breadth or depth of your writing

When Should You When Should You Summarize?Summarize?

• You summarize when the precise wording You summarize when the precise wording of the source is less important than its of the source is less important than its meaning.meaning.– To condense material:To condense material:

• You want to shorten the original material and just bring You want to shorten the original material and just bring out its relevant points.out its relevant points.

– To omit extra details:To omit extra details:• You wish to omit all sorts of extra information form the You wish to omit all sorts of extra information form the

original source.original source.

– To simplify material:To simplify material:• You want to simplify complex arguments, sentences or You want to simplify complex arguments, sentences or

vocabulary.vocabulary.

ParaphraseParaphrase

• ParaphraseParaphrase– involves putting a passage from source material into involves putting a passage from source material into

your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Paraphrased material is usually the original source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly. slightly.

• In order to signal to a reader that the writer is In order to signal to a reader that the writer is paraphrasing someone else’s work the writer paraphrasing someone else’s work the writer usually uses certain phrases:usually uses certain phrases:– According to Homer …According to Homer …– Homer argues that …Homer argues that …– Homer suggests …Homer suggests …

ParaphraseParaphrase

• A paraphrase is...A paraphrase is...– Your own rendition of essential information Your own rendition of essential information

and ideas expressed by someone else.and ideas expressed by someone else.– It is a detailed restatement of someone else's It is a detailed restatement of someone else's

ideas.ideas.– It presents the original material in a new way. It presents the original material in a new way. – As a more detailed restatement than a As a more detailed restatement than a

summary, it can be almost as long as the summary, it can be almost as long as the original source. original source.

Advantages of ParaphrasingAdvantages of Paraphrasing

• Paraphrasing is a valuable skill Paraphrasing is a valuable skill because...because...– It is better than quoting information from It is better than quoting information from

an undistinguished passage. an undistinguished passage. – It helps you control the temptation to It helps you control the temptation to

quote too much. quote too much. – The mental process required for The mental process required for

successful paraphrasing helps you to successful paraphrasing helps you to grasp the full meaning of the original. grasp the full meaning of the original.

When should You When should You Paraphrase?Paraphrase?

• A paraphrase will be preferred to a A paraphrase will be preferred to a summary when you want a more detailed summary when you want a more detailed and specific account of the original source.and specific account of the original source.– Change the organization of ideas for emphasis:Change the organization of ideas for emphasis:

• You may wish to present a different emphasis on the You may wish to present a different emphasis on the ideas in your own paper.ideas in your own paper.

– To simplify material:To simplify material:• Simplify complex arguments, sentences vocabulary.Simplify complex arguments, sentences vocabulary.

– To clarify material:To clarify material:• You may need to clarify technical passages or You may need to clarify technical passages or

information into a language that is more appropriate to information into a language that is more appropriate to your audience.your audience.

6 Steps to Effective 6 Steps to Effective ParaphrasingParaphrasing1.1. Reread the original passage until you understand Reread the original passage until you understand

its full meaning. its full meaning. 2.2. Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase

on a note card.on a note card.3.3. Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to

remind you later how you envision using this remind you later how you envision using this material. At the top of the note card, write a key material. At the top of the note card, write a key word or phrase to indicate the subject of your word or phrase to indicate the subject of your paraphrase. paraphrase.

4.4. Check your rendition with the original to make Check your rendition with the original to make sure that your version accurately expresses all the sure that your version accurately expresses all the essential information in a new form. essential information in a new form.

5.5. Use quotation marks to identify any unique term Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have borrowed exactly from or phraseology you have borrowed exactly from the source.the source.

6.6. Record the source (including the page) on your Record the source (including the page) on your note card so that you can credit it easily if you note card so that you can credit it easily if you decide to incorporate the material into your paper.decide to incorporate the material into your paper.

Example 1Example 1

• In his famous and influential work In his famous and influential work On the On the Interpretation of DreamsInterpretation of Dreams, Sigmund Freud , Sigmund Freud argues that dreams are the "royal road to the argues that dreams are the "royal road to the unconscious" (page #), expressing in coded unconscious" (page #), expressing in coded imagery the dreamer's unfulfilled wishes imagery the dreamer's unfulfilled wishes through a process known as the "dream work" through a process known as the "dream work" (page #). According to Freud, actual but (page #). According to Freud, actual but unacceptable desires are censored internally unacceptable desires are censored internally and subjected to coding through layers of and subjected to coding through layers of condensation and displacement before condensation and displacement before emerging in a kind of rebus puzzle in the emerging in a kind of rebus puzzle in the dream itself (page #s). dream itself (page #s).

Example 2Example 2• The original passage:The original passage:

– Students frequently overuse direct quotation in Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only about in the final [research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final manuscript should appear as 10% of your final manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes. Lester, James D. materials while taking notes. Lester, James D. Writing Writing Research PapersResearch Papers. 2nd ed. (1976): 46-47.. 2nd ed. (1976): 46-47.

• A legitimate paraphrase:A legitimate paraphrase:– In research papers students often quote excessively, In research papers students often quote excessively,

failing to keep quoted material down to a desirable failing to keep quoted material down to a desirable level. Since the problem usually originates during level. Since the problem usually originates during note taking, it is essential to minimize the material note taking, it is essential to minimize the material recorded verbatim (Lester 46-47).recorded verbatim (Lester 46-47).

Example 2 (cont.)Example 2 (cont.)• An acceptable summary:An acceptable summary:

– Students should take just a few notes in direct Students should take just a few notes in direct quotation from sources to help minimize the quotation from sources to help minimize the amount of quoted material in a research paper amount of quoted material in a research paper (Lester 46-47).(Lester 46-47).

• A plagiarized version:A plagiarized version:– Students often use too many direct quotations Students often use too many direct quotations

when they take notes, resulting in too many of when they take notes, resulting in too many of them in the final research paper. In fact, probably them in the final research paper. In fact, probably only about 10% of the final copy should consist of only about 10% of the final copy should consist of directly quoted material. So it is important to limit directly quoted material. So it is important to limit the amount of source material copied while taking the amount of source material copied while taking notes.notes.