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Tips for Writing a Successful Paper with Sources
College-level writing involves using sources to engage in academic discourse. Key tips include:
- Understand the Paper’s Purpose: Clarify whether you need to persuade, analyse, or report.
- Ask Questions: Use sources to support your arguments.
- Develop Ideas: Expand your thoughts by engaging with your sources.
- Purposeful Reading: Select and read sources carefully, and choose quotes with clear intent.
Thesis Writing Guidelines
Thesis Structure: Follow the standard structure (Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusion).
Argument Development: Ensure logical flow and clear argumentation.
Drafting and Revising: Start early and revise multiple drafts for clarity and precision.
Argument Development: Ensure logical flow and clear argumentation.
Drafting and Revising: Start early and revise multiple drafts for clarity and precision.
Citing Your Sources
Citation Styles: Adhere to the specific citation style required by your teacher (APA, MLA, Harvard, etc.).
Plagiarism Prevention: Always credit original ideas and direct quotes to avoid plagiarism.
Citation Tools: Use citation management tools like EndNote, Zotero, or Mendeley to organize and format your references.
Plagiarism Prevention: Always credit original ideas and direct quotes to avoid plagiarism.
Citation Tools: Use citation management tools like EndNote, Zotero, or Mendeley to organize and format your references.
Select your quotes
Quote when...
- The passage is concise and can be used with minimal adjustments
- The language and/or wording of the passage is important to the point you want to make.
Paraphrase when...
- The idea you want to use is long, unwieldy, or in disparate passages
- A quote would interrupt how you are expressing your own ideas
- Providing information that is not key to your argument
To prevent plagiarism, you must cite both quoted and paraphrased material. If you’re unsure of what needs to be cited in your paper, be sure to seek clarification from your professor.
- The passage is concise and can be used with minimal adjustments
- The language and/or wording of the passage is important to the point you want to make.
Paraphrase when...
- The idea you want to use is long, unwieldy, or in disparate passages
- A quote would interrupt how you are expressing your own ideas
- Providing information that is not key to your argument
To prevent plagiarism, you must cite both quoted and paraphrased material. If you’re unsure of what needs to be cited in your paper, be sure to seek clarification from your professor.
Additional Resources
- Writing Guides: Explore our recommended writing guides for in-depth advice on thesis writing.
- Sample Theses: Contact the librarians to review past thesis submissions available in our digital repository for inspiration and understanding of high-quality work.
Library Support
Workshops and Tutorials: Attend our workshops on academic writing and citation best practices.
Consultations: Schedule one-on-one sessions with our librarians for personalized guidance.
Research Databases: Access our extensive collection of academic databases to find relevant sources for your thesis.
Consultations: Schedule one-on-one sessions with our librarians for personalized guidance.
Research Databases: Access our extensive collection of academic databases to find relevant sources for your thesis.
