LibGuides: PrePALS Writing: Why use outside sources?

Lesson: Why use outside sources?

In academic writing, we use outside sources to establish credibility, support our arguments, and distinguish facts from opinions. While your personal experiences are valid and meaningful, they are considered anecdotal—which means they’re based on individual observations rather than objective research.

It’s important to recognize the difference between reflective writing (which may focus on your experiences and insights) and academic writing, which often relies on evidence from scholarly sources.

Before you begin writing, ask yourself: What is the purpose of this assignment?

If you're writing a personal narrative or reflection, you may not need to include external sources.
If you're writing an expository or argumentative essay, you'll likely need credible sources to support your claims.

Being clear about your writing’s purpose will help you determine when and how to integrate outside sources effectively.

If the purpose of your writing involves evidence and support, the first step towards writing a research paper or an essay that needs evidence/support is pretty obvious: find sources.

Not everything that you find will be good, and those that are good are not always easily found. Having an idea of what you’re looking for–what will most help you develop your essay and enforce your thesis–will help guide your process.

Once you know what you are looking for, you need to consider where you may find the answer. There are a lot of different places to look, tools to use, or people to consult. All of these places to find information are called sources.

Different kinds of sources can be helpful for different information needs.

Information sources are:

*written for different purposes (such as to educate or to argue),

*aimed at different audiences (such as children, professionals, or academics), and

*presented in different formats (including electronic, print, video, and audio).

Information sources are everywhere!

The internet connects people to many different sources: product and company websites, informational sites, and more. Libraries provide access to the kinds of sources needed by their communities, and librarians help their community members connect with just the right source.

Attribution:

Academic Writing I | Lisa Ford, Tompkins Cortland Community College