Evaluating Sources in Essay Writing

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What is the primary purpose of using outside sources in essays?

To make the essay longer

To provide evidence to support one's arguments (correct)

To show off one's knowledge

To avoid plagiarism

What is the definition of a source in the context of essay writing?

A person who provides information

A type of research method

A type of writing style

A place where you gained information used in your writing (correct)

What is the main difference between primary and secondary sources?

Primary sources are used for research, while secondary sources are used for essays

Primary sources are original, while secondary sources are derived from others (correct)

Primary sources are used for academic writing, while secondary sources are used for non-academic writing

Primary sources are online, while secondary sources are printed

Why is it best to use primary sources in academic writing?

Because they are more reliable and allow readers to verify information Signup and view all the answers

What should you do when you encounter disagreement around facts, figures, definitions, or statistics in your research?

Determine which one is the correct piece of information for your topic Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of using sources that can be verified by readers?

It allows readers to trust the information used in the essay Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to evaluate evidence from sources?

To determine the credibility of the information Signup and view all the answers

What is one way to evaluate evidence when two sources have conflicting information?

Find another source that has done similar research to determine which one is correct Signup and view all the answers

Why are more recent sources often better for supplying current data?

Because they are based on more recent research and data Signup and view all the answers

What is important to consider when using population statistics from a research study?

The demographics of the research participants Signup and view all the answers

When should you cite a source in your research?

Whenever you use any information from the source, even if it's just to confirm your initial idea Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a methods section in a research study?

To describe the demographics of the research participants Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to use a uniform way of citing sources?

So that readers can easily identify the sources used Signup and view all the answers

What is a general rule of thumb when selecting sources?

Find sources that can be attributed to a person or people and use the most recent data available Signup and view all the answers

What should you do if you think you already know something to be true, but you look it up to confirm your thoughts are correct?

Cite the source, even if you didn't use any information from it Signup and view all the answers

Evaluating Sources in Essay Writing

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