by George Brosi

Always cite the primary source, not a secondary one. If the source you are using cites another source or study, find it and use it first-hand instead of relying upon the interpretation of a secondary source. If you cannot find that cited source, find another way to make your point.

Don't just document the author's conclusion. Follow the author's line of argument. If you were on trial, you would not want your lawyer to simply introduce the expert witness and ask for this person's final words. You would want the jury to get the most complete and convincing line of argument. You are utilizing this source to make your point, so utilize it most effectively. If the source you are using only uses conclusions, that just shows you are thinking in a more scholarly way than your source and that you need to find more scholarly sources.

Utilize encyclopedias to help you get an overview of the topic and the scholarly debates going on within that field. Also use them to remind yourself of the most important dimensions of the problem you are investigating and for deeper bibliographical sources. Use encyclopedias to discover who the experts in the field are. However, don't cite an encyclopedia. Dig deeper and use more sophisticated sources in your paper.

Utilize a variety of sources. Your paper will be most impressive if your Works Cited page includes books, magazines, periodicals, other media and interview material. Achieve a nice balance between interviews with people who are on the front lines and research studies, between popular media that often get to important issues and books which can achieve remarkable depth.

Be sure your sources are timely. If you do not use the most recent material, you will not have a complete, up-to-date understanding of your subject. You may also be understandably suspected of copying a paper from a fraternity file!

Make sure your sources are compatible. If they aren't based on the same assumptions or data or definitions, clarify their differences.

Make sure your sources are authoritative. Check the credentials of the authors. See who the Encyclopedia Britannica and the authoritative magazines are quoting on your topic and look your authors up in biographical resources to make sure you are utilizing the most credible sources.

Be sure your sources are relevant to your argument. Your background knowledge will shine through even though not all you have read is directly cited in the text.