College Composition

College Composition Study Guide

Chapter 6: Synthesizing Sources Objectives 1. To use sources to add credibility to writing. 2. To properly cite sources. Synthesis is the process of combining information from outside sources with one’s own ideas. 6.1 Evaluating Sources There are two main types of sources: primary and secondary. Primary sources are first-hand accounts. Primary research requires the writer to go out and collect his or her own data and interpret the results. Secondary sources include research conducted by others, like articles, books, websites, or other forms of data. Due to the wealth of information a writer may encounter, it is pertinent to have strategies to sift through information. Skimming is a method of rapidly going through a source to determine what is covered and how to use that information. In order to effectively use skimming, it is important to read the table of contents, index, and review the headings and visuals in useful chapters. One may also look at the abstract , which is a short paragraph summarizing the research findings. The primary categories a source should fulfill are validity, accuracy, and reliability. Valid sources convey factual information that can be counted on as true. Mainline news publications use “fact- checker” to verify information before publication. Accurate sources attempt to present unbiased information and include a balanced discussion of controversial topics. Reliable sources are sources that have a history of presenting valid and accurate information. To determine if a source is valid, accurate, or reliable use the C.R.A.A.P. test. • Currency refers to how current a source is. The more current the source is, the better it is. One of the main reasons for using web-based sources is that they often provide more up-to-date information than printed sources. To determine how current a source is, the date of publication needs to be observed. Without dates of publication there is no way to tell how current the information in the source is. You should also check the currency of the sources used within the publication. • Relevance refers to how the information is related to your topic. It should be directly related to the subject and support the points being made in the research, making it easier for the research to be followed and understood. • Accuracy refers to providing correct information. This involves checking to see if the source has been reviewed and information properly documented. When obtaining accurate information, avoid personal websites and blogs and look to academic journals instead. • Authority determines the expertise of the author and/or the reputation of the publishing organization. When an author is listed, one should check the author’s credentials via biographical references. It is possible to see what an author has published in a specific field. • Purpose involves understanding the author’s reason in collecting the research and writing the document. The author should not express one particular attitude, perspective, or viewpoint on

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