Using sources

Question 1

What is a source?

Answer 1

It is external information used to support your ideas.

Question 2

What is a scientific source?

Answer 2

It is a primary source, written and evaluated by experts, there are in-text citations and a reference list, it is published in a credible location and can be cited by others.

Question 3

What is the CRAAP Test?

Answer 3

With the CRAAP test you can evaluate scientific sources. These are the steps:

1. Currency: Timeliness of the information
2. Relevance: Importance of the information for your needs
3. Authority: Source of the information
4. Accuracy: Correctness of information compared to other sources
5. Purpose: Reason the information exists

Question 4

What are the techniques to write with sources?

Answer 4

You can paraphrase, summarize or quote.

Question 5

What is paraphrasing?

Answer 5

Paraphrasing is information from a source, written in your own words. The length of the original text is similar to your paraphrase. You use their content, but it is your language.

Question 6

When do you paraphrase?

Answer 6

You paraphrase when adding specific information from sources to support your ideas, like a definition, theory, model or specific result.

Question 7

What is summarizing?

Answer 7

Summarizing is information from a source written in your own words. The length of the summary is (much) shorter than the original text. It is their content, but in your language.

Question 8

When do you summarize?

Answer 8

You summarize when adding general information to support your ideas, like overviews, main findings and key points or conclusions.
Summarizing is the most common way to integrate sources.

Question 9

What is quoting?

Answer 9

Quoting is writing or speaking the exact words of someone else. It is their content and their language.

Question 10

When do you quote?

Answer 10

You quote sparingly, so not often. You only use quotes when exact words are needed, for example, when a text cannot be paraphrased or when the exact language is important for the content, like when the unique language shows a certain perspective, it is qualitative research or it is a linguistic or communication study.

Question 11

Why do you use sources?

Answer 11

You use sources to support your arguments. Sources are evidence that supports your arguments.

Question 12

How do you organize your sources?

Answer 12

You organize your sources by establishing your main points. After that you can support the main points with the sources.
You do not organize by source.

Question 13

What are paraphrase and summarize strategies?

Answer 13

The strategies are:

1. Read until you comprehend
2. Change text’s structure
   a. Order of information
   b. Delete content/words
   c. Combine sentences
   d. Break sentences up
   e. Voice (passive to active or vice versa)
3. Change word forms (e.g., nouns to verbs)
4. Change words (i.e., synonyms and antonyms)