Use and Integration of Sources

Use and Integration Use and Integration of Sources of Sources

by Alexsandra de OliveiraENC 1102

When writing an essay When writing an essay for college you are for college you are

often required tooften required toresearch your topic research your topic

and introduce and introduce the evidence of your the evidence of your

research into your paper.research into your paper.

• • SummarySummary

• Paraphrase • Paraphrase

• Quotation• Quotation

You can You can integrate integrate

your source your source in different in different

waysways

Before starting to Before starting to place sources in your essay place sources in your essay

you need to think about a you need to think about a couple of things.couple of things.

Things to Keep in MindThings to Keep in Mind

Introduce your source.Introduce your source.

Make sure the source blendsMake sure the source blendswith your ideas.with your ideas.

Don’t use questionable Don’t use questionable sources.sources.

Brain specialist

““Information is useful for research Information is useful for research when it is valid, reliable, balanced, when it is valid, reliable, balanced,

comprehensive, relevant comprehensive, relevant and current” (Blakesley 142).and current” (Blakesley 142).

Source: The Brief Thompson Handbook

Brain specialist

Let’s take Wikipedia for exampleLet’s take Wikipedia for example

““While this site offers information While this site offers information on almost half of a million topics on almost half of a million topics in a variety of languages, in a variety of languages, each entry can be edited each entry can be edited by any user “(Lester 108).by any user “(Lester 108).

Source: Research Paper Hand Book

This means thatThis means thatthe reliability of this sitethe reliability of this siteis questionable, therefore its is questionable, therefore its information should be used information should be used as an initial reference but not as an initial reference but not as the main source of as the main source of information for your essay.information for your essay.

In order to have the perfect fit In order to have the perfect fit for your essay you shouldfor your essay you should

evaluate the evaluate the relevance of the source relevance of the source

in regards to your in regards to your ideas about the subject.ideas about the subject.

Does the source blend Does the source blend with your ideas?with your ideas?

QuotationQuotation

Author’sAuthor’sThesis andThesis andArgumentsArguments

Paraphrase

Paraphrase

SummarySummary

““Your sources supply details, examples, or Your sources supply details, examples, or supporting evidence for supporting evidence for

the points you are making” (“Incorporating”).the points you are making” (“Incorporating”).

Here is an example of Here is an example of an ineffective fit.an ineffective fit.

Many fish owners pride themselves on the environments they lovingly create for their fish, many of which are considered pets in the same way that another owner might love a dog or cat. “Ninety percent of all stock expires in transport due to customary industry irregularities” (Calolora42) The level of affection shown toward their fish can come as a surprise to many non-fish owners.

Source: The Brief Thompson Handbook p.160

The previous quotation doesn’t offer any support or examples

about what the author is sayingin that specific part of the essay.

Introduce Your Source.Introduce Your Source.

• Always remember that it is Always remember that it is important to the reader to know who important to the reader to know who is saying what.is saying what.

• In order to be effective with your In order to be effective with your citations, sometimes it is important to citations, sometimes it is important to mention job titles, awards or mention job titles, awards or credentials of your sources.credentials of your sources.

““Introduce quotations so that their Introduce quotations so that their relevance is clear and their tone is relevance is clear and their tone is

consistent with your consistent with your own writing”( Blakesley 160).own writing”( Blakesley 160).

A very effective way to integrate quotations, A very effective way to integrate quotations, for example, is to remember the following for example, is to remember the following

principle.principle.

Source: Research Paper Hand Book

Jennifer Sahn, editor of Orion magazine,promotes educational programs that can“heal the fractured relationship between peopleand nature.” Moreover, she supports changesin “ethics and action at the local level that willoffer genuine solutions to the global environmentalcrisis.”

Source: Research Paper Hand Book p.108

Here is an exampleHere is an example

Have fun writing and keep in mind Have fun writing and keep in mind that outside sources are elements that outside sources are elements that help build the big picture that help build the big picture of your essay. And remember, your of your essay. And remember, your own ideas, and not your sources, own ideas, and not your sources, should always be the main focus.should always be the main focus.

Works Cited

Blakesley, David and Hoogeveen, Jeffrey L. The Brief Thomson Handbook.

Ohio: Thomson Wadsworth, 2008.

“Incorporating Source Material .” Capilano University. 24 Apr. 2009.

<http://www.capilanou.ca/Page34565.aspx?ContainerPageDefID=2724

3&TemplateID=982>

Lester, James D. Jr. and Lester, James D. Sr., Research Paper Handbook.

Arizona. Good Year Books, 2005.