Evaluating and Using Sources Dr. Sean Homer

Distinguishing Sources How do we distinguish between academic sources? How do we distinguish between academic sources? What is a reliable source and an unreliable source? What is a reliable source and an unreliable source? What is an academic journal? What is an academic journal? How do we identify good material on the web? How do we identify good material on the web? Which websites should we use? Which websites should we use?

Distinguishing Sources Print Media Print Media –Books (monographs)/Textbooks –Refereed and Non-Refereed Journals –Professional Journals and Newspapers Electronic sources Electronic sources –Online Scholarly Journals –Academic Websites –Government Websites –Databases

A checklist for evaluating websites 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 intended audience? For whom is the author writing? Who is the intended audience? Can you tell if the author of the document is an authority in the field? Can you tell if the author of the document is an authority in the field? Does he or she reference other critics work? Are they good critics? Does he or she reference other critics work? Are they good critics? Is the text well written? Is the text well written? Do arguments seem well supported, or is the document full of vague generalizations. Do arguments seem well supported, or is the document full of vague generalizations. When was the site created and last updated? When was the site created and last updated?

Why Use Sources? Integrating source material into your argument adds credibility and complexity to your argument. Integrating source material into your argument adds credibility and complexity to your argument. It demonstrates the depth of your research and understanding. It demonstrates the depth of your research and understanding. Source Material: Source Material: –Cannot make the argument for you. –It can only back-up, provide evidence for your own arguments. –It has no value without your own comments to provide context and meaning.

Using Sources There are three main ways of using source material in your essays: Quotation, Paraphrase, Summary There are three main ways of using source material in your essays: Quotation, Paraphrase, Summary Quotation Quotation – must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original author.

When Should You Quote? Use quotations sparingly. Use quotations sparingly. –Accuracy: You are unable to summarize or paraphrase without changing the meaning. You are unable to summarize or paraphrase without changing the meaning. –Authority: You want to lend expert authority to your claim. You want to lend expert authority to your claim. –Conciseness: The original says it better and shorter than you can. The original says it better and shorter than you can. –Unforgettable Language: The original is memorable or remarkable and you want that particular word or turn of phrase. The original is memorable or remarkable and you want that particular word or turn of phrase.

Summary Summary Summary –is a condensed version of the main ideas of all or part of a source, written in your own words. –involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). –Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source. –Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material. –Remember – the summary presents only the main ideas of the original source.

The Purpose of Summarizing The Purpose of Summarizing It provides support for your claims and adds credibility to your writing It provides support for your claims and adds credibility to your writing It refers to work that leads up to the work you are now doing. It refers to work that leads up to the work you are now doing. It provides examples of several points of view on a subject. It provides examples of several points of view on a subject. It calls attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree with. It calls attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree with. It highlights a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage by quoting the original. It highlights a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage by quoting the original. It distances yourself from the original by quoting it in order to cue readers that the words are not your own It distances yourself from the original by quoting it in order to cue readers that the words are not your own It expands the breadth or depth of your writing It expands the breadth or depth of your writing

When Should You Summarize? You summarize when the precise wording of the source is less important than its meaning. You summarize when the precise wording of the source is less important than its meaning. –To condense material: You want to shorten the original material and just bring out its relevant points. You want to shorten the original material and just bring out its relevant points. –To omit extra details: You wish to omit all sorts of extra information form the original source. You wish to omit all sorts of extra information form the original source. –To simplify material: You want to simplify complex arguments, sentences or vocabulary. You want to simplify complex arguments, sentences or vocabulary.

Paraphrase Paraphrase Paraphrase –involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly. In order to signal to a reader that the writer is paraphrasing someone else’s work the writer usually uses certain phrases: In order to signal to a reader that the writer is paraphrasing someone else’s work the writer usually uses certain phrases: –According to Homer … –Homer argues that … –Homer suggests …

Paraphrase A paraphrase is... A paraphrase is... –Your own rendition of essential information and ideas expressed by someone else. –It is a detailed restatement of someone else's ideas. –It presents the original material in a new way. –As a more detailed restatement than a summary, it can be almost as long as the original source.

Advantages of Paraphrasing Paraphrasing is a valuable skill because... Paraphrasing is a valuable skill because... –It is better than quoting information from an undistinguished passage. –It helps you control the temptation to quote too much. –The mental process required for successful paraphrasing helps you to grasp the full meaning of the original.

When should You Paraphrase? A paraphrase will be preferred to a summary when you want a more detailed and specific account of the original source. A paraphrase will be preferred to a summary when you want a more detailed and specific account of the original source. –Change the organization of ideas for emphasis: You may wish to present a different emphasis on the ideas in your own paper. You may wish to present a different emphasis on the ideas in your own paper. –To simplify material: Simplify complex arguments, sentences vocabulary. Simplify complex arguments, sentences vocabulary. –To clarify material: You may need to clarify technical passages or information into a language that is more appropriate to your audience. You may need to clarify technical passages or information into a language that is more appropriate to your audience.

6 Steps to Effective Paraphrasing 1. Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning. 2. Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase on a note card. 3. Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to remind you later how you envision using this material. At the top of the note card, write a key word or phrase to indicate the subject of your paraphrase. 4. Check your rendition with the original to make sure that your version accurately expresses all the essential information in a new form. 5. Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have borrowed exactly from the source. 6. Record the source (including the page) on your note card so that you can credit it easily if you decide to incorporate the material into your paper.

Example 1 In his famous and influential work On the Interpretation of Dreams, Sigmund Freud argues that dreams are the "royal road to the unconscious" (page #), expressing in coded imagery the dreamer's unfulfilled wishes through a process known as the "dream work" (page #). According to Freud, actual but unacceptable desires are censored internally and subjected to coding through layers of condensation and displacement before emerging in a kind of rebus puzzle in the dream itself (page #s). In his famous and influential work On the Interpretation of Dreams, Sigmund Freud argues that dreams are the "royal road to the unconscious" (page #), expressing in coded imagery the dreamer's unfulfilled wishes through a process known as the "dream work" (page #). According to Freud, actual but unacceptable desires are censored internally and subjected to coding through layers of condensation and displacement before emerging in a kind of rebus puzzle in the dream itself (page #s).

Example 2 The original passage: The original passage: –Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes. Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers. 2nd ed. (1976): A legitimate paraphrase: A legitimate paraphrase: –In research papers students often quote excessively, failing to keep quoted material down to a desirable level. Since the problem usually originates during note taking, it is essential to minimize the material recorded verbatim (Lester 46-47).

Example 2 (cont.) An acceptable summary: An acceptable summary: –Students should take just a few notes in direct quotation from sources to help minimize the amount of quoted material in a research paper (Lester 46-47). A plagiarized version: A plagiarized version: –Students often use too many direct quotations when they take notes, resulting in too many of them in the final research paper. In fact, probably only about 10% of the final copy should consist of directly quoted material. So it is important to limit the amount of source material copied while taking notes.