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
Attributions:
"Using Sources" Youtube, uploaded by Auraria Library Instruction, 21 July 2021,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxi-pT-ZmAQ.
Permissions: YouTube Terms of Service
Section 1 Instructions: Read each situation carefully. Underline Yes if outside sources are needed, or No if they are not. Then explain your answer briefly.
Writing Situation Do you need outside sources? Why or why not?
1. Writing a research paper on climate change Yes / No ___________________
2. Writing a personal narrative about a first job Yes / No ___________________
3. Reflecting on how a book made you feel Yes / No ___________________
4. Arguing for healthier school lunches Yes / No ___________________
5. Summarizing the causes of WW2 Yes / No ___________________
6. Telling a story of a family tradition Yes / No ___________________
7. Writing about the impact of video games on the brain Yes / No ___________________
8. Writing a poem about your anxiety Yes / No ___________________
9. Creating a brochure about teen vaping Yes / No ___________________
10. Writing a letter to your future self Yes / No ___________________
Section 2 Instructions:
Read each example. Write "Outside Source" or "Non-Outside Source" in the space provided. Then briefly explain your choice.
|
Example |
Type of Source |
Why? |
|
|
1 |
A quote from a peer-reviewed medical journal on social media and anxiety. |
___________ |
|
|
2 |
A paragraph describing how you feel when using Instagram late at night. |
___________ |
|
|
3 |
A statistic from the CDC about teen screen time. |
___________ |
|
|
4 |
A personal story about how your friend deleted their TikTok account. |
___________ |
|
|
5 |
A summary of a study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. |
___________ |
|
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6 |
A statement like, “I believe social media is the main reason for teen depression.” |
___________ |
|
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7 |
A video interview with a licensed psychologist discussing digital wellness. |
___________ |
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8 |
A diary entry you wrote during high school about feeling isolated online. |
___________ |
Do I even need outside sources?
Instructions: Read each writing scenario below. Decide whether the writing would require outside sources and highlight your choice. Then briefly explain why.
|
Scenario |
Does this need outside sources? (Yes/No) |
Why or why not? |
|
1. A personal essay about how moving to a new city changed your perspective. |
Yes / No |
|
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2. An argumentative essay on whether electric cars are better for the environment. |
Yes / No |
|
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3. A reflection paper about what you learned during your internship. |
Yes / No |
|
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4. A research paper on the effects of sleep deprivation on college students. |
Yes / No |
|
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5. A narrative story about your first experience with public speaking. |
Yes / No |
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What type of outside source do I need?
Instructions: Match each type of source with the most appropriate purpose. Write the letter of the purpose next to each source.
Source Type Purpose
Purpose Options:
A. To find factual, objective information for a research paper
B. To learn about one person’s personal experiences
C. To get data and statistics from a credible authority
D. To gather background or overview knowledge
E. To support an argument with expert opinion and research
F. To understand how a product is being marketed
Click the link to the ANSWER KEY
