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Using Academic Sources Effectively: A Guide for Students

Using Academic Sources Effectively: A Guide for Students

 

Academic writing is an essential part of every student's educational journey, whether you are writing an essay, an article, or a research paper. One of the important skills students need is knowing how to use scholarly sources effectively. Integrating, finding, and evaluating the academic sources can improve the quality of work. The right academic sources not only prove our point, but they also demonstrate that we have conducted thorough research on our topic.

A closer look at academic resources:

Academic sources are materials written by experts, including articles, theses, books, and research reports. For example, A book written by a professor is an academic source.  To seek essay help, students must utilize credible sources to produce high-quality scholarly work.

Types of academic sources students should know:

Many students struggle to find reliable academic sources. Some of the scholarly sources students should know to produce acceptable work.

v Pre-reviewed article:

     Always choose articles that experts write.

v Academic books:

Always choose books written by scholars or published by an academic press.

v Academic websites:

Some of the academic websites that provide access to authentic articles include Google Scholar, PubMed, JSTOR, etc.

Checking if the source is trustworthy:

As students, we often find the source, but no one tells us how to check whether the source is trustworthy or not. Before using the source, you must ask these questions:

Being selective ensures that your work is built on strong research.

Time to use the source in writing:

Finding the source is not the end of a writing journey; it's actually like a starter. Once you find a source, it doesn't mean dropping a quote in an essay. It is very important to use them in your argument smoothly. This can be done by using:

Quote: Using words from a source with quotation marks.

Paraphrasing: Rewriting the source in your own writing.

Summarizing: Give a brief overview.

Each method should be used carefully; otherwise, your writing will appear uneven.

The right way to cite sources and stay original:

A citation is like a formality to give credit to the author. It is illegal to use someone else's writing without consent. To avoid plagiarism, we should use proper references and citations.

Uneven plagiarism led to a decrease in grades and rejection of work. Different departments use citations differently; APA, MLA, and Chicago are the most common. Many online tools help us check plagiarism in our work and let us know if it's ready to submit or not. One of those websites is Paraphrase online.

When to ask for assistance:

If you feel overwhelmed by the process of writing, research, and citation, then seek help. Many students seek help from an assignment writing service. These services can help you proofread your work and provide feedback. You should learn from them and follow their steps instead of copying their work.

Common mistakes to avoid:

Students often make mistakes while using academic sources. These are some mistakes you should avoid:

v Relying on two resources

v Uses non-academic material.

v Forgetting to cite.

v Using the source that doesn't support your topic.

v Overusing quotes.

Guidelines for writing a reference:

v Only use those sources that are related to your academic books, journals, etc.

v Use the correct citation format like (APA, MLA, and Chicago). Always follow the instructions given by the professor or university.

v Make sure every source you used in your work is listed in your reference list.

v Don't wait for the last to save citation, always save citation as you go. It is possible that you can't find the citation or source at the end of the work.

v Use citation tool wisely.

v It's better to order the references in alphabetical order.

Becoming a confident academic writer:

Academic writing is a skill that takes time to learn. With consistency, you can become a master of it. Selecting a quality of work and properly citing it, with access to the right source and support from an assignment writing service, you can become a confident writer.

Always remember, good research takes time, so be patient and do the right thing.