This document provides guidance on effectively integrating sources into an essay. It discusses introducing sources, making sure sources are relevant and blend with your own ideas, evaluating source reliability, and providing context for quotations. Examples are given of strong source integration through attribution and explanation, as well as ineffective use of sources that lack relevance or context. Readers are reminded that their own ideas should be the main focus, and sources are elements that help build understanding of the topic.

1. Use and IntegrationUse and Integration
of Sourcesof Sources
by Alexsandra de OliveiraENC 1102

2. When writing an essayWhen writing an essay
for college you arefor college you are
often required tooften required to
research your topicresearch your topic
and introduceand introduce
the evidence of yourthe evidence of your
research into your paper.research into your paper.

3. •• SummarySummary
• Paraphrase• Paraphrase
• Quotation• Quotation
You canYou can
integrateintegrate
your sourceyour source
in differentin different
waysways

4. Before starting toBefore starting to
place sources in your essayplace sources in your essay
you need to think about ayou need to think about a
couple of things.couple of things.

5. Things to Keep in MindThings to Keep in Mind
Introduce your source.Introduce your source.
Make sure the source blendsMake sure the source blends
with your ideas.with your ideas.
Don’t use questionableDon’t use questionable
sources.sources.
Brain
specialist

6. ““Information is useful for researchInformation is useful for research
when it is valid, reliable, balanced,when it is valid, reliable, balanced,
comprehensive, relevantcomprehensive, relevant
and current” (Blakesley 142).and current” (Blakesley 142).
Source: The Brief Thompson Handbook

7. Brain
specialist
Let’s take Wikipedia for exampleLet’s take Wikipedia for example
““While this site offers informationWhile this site offers information
on almost half of a million topicson almost half of a million topics
in a variety of languages,in a variety of languages,
each entry can be editedeach entry can be edited
by any user “(Lester 108).by any user “(Lester 108).
Source: Research Paper Hand Book

8. This means thatThis means that
the reliability of this sitethe reliability of this site
is questionable, therefore itsis questionable, therefore its
information should be usedinformation should be used
as an initial reference but notas an initial reference but not
as the main source ofas the main source of
information for your essay.information for your essay.

9. In order to have the perfect fitIn order to have the perfect fit
for your essay you shouldfor your essay you should
evaluate theevaluate the
relevance of the sourcerelevance of the source
in regards to yourin regards to your
ideas about the subject.ideas about the subject.
Does the source blendDoes the source blend
with your ideas?with your ideas?

10. Quotation
Quotation
Author’sAuthor’s
Thesis andThesis and
ArgumentsArguments
Paraphrase
Paraphrase
Summary
Summary
““Your sources supply details, examples, orYour sources supply details, examples, or
supporting evidence forsupporting evidence for
the points you are making” (“Incorporating”).the points you are making” (“Incorporating”).

11. Here is an example ofHere is an example of
an ineffective fit.an ineffective fit.
Many fish owners pride themselves on the
environments they lovingly create for their fish,
many of which are considered pets in the same
way that another owner might love a dog or
cat. “Ninety percent of all stock expires in
transport due to customary industry
irregularities” (Calolora42) The level of
affection shown toward their fish can come as
a surprise to many non-fish owners.
Source: The Brief Thompson Handbook p.160

12. The previous quotation doesn’t
offer any support or examples
about what the author is saying
in that specific part of the essay.

13. Introduce Your Source.Introduce Your Source.
• Always remember that it isAlways remember that it is
important to the reader to know whoimportant to the reader to know who
is saying what.is saying what.
• In order to be effective with yourIn order to be effective with your
citations, sometimes it is important tocitations, sometimes it is important to
mention job titles, awards ormention job titles, awards or
credentials of your sources.credentials of your sources.

14. ““Introduce quotations so that theirIntroduce quotations so that their
relevance is clear and their tone isrelevance is clear and their tone is
consistent with yourconsistent with your
own writing”( Blakesley 160).own writing”( Blakesley 160).
A very effective way to integrate quotations,A very effective way to integrate quotations,
for example, is to remember the followingfor example, is to remember the following
principle.principle.
Source: Research Paper Hand Book

15. Jennifer Sahn, editor of Orion magazine,
promotes educational programs that can
“heal the fractured relationship between people
and nature.” Moreover, she supports changes
in “ethics and action at the local level that will
offer genuine solutions to the global environmental
crisis.”
Source: Research Paper Hand Book p.108
Here is an exampleHere is an example

16. Have fun writing and keep in mindHave fun writing and keep in mind
that outside sources are elementsthat outside sources are elements
that help build the big picturethat help build the big picture
of your essay. And remember, yourof your essay. And remember, your
own ideas, and not your sources,own ideas, and not your sources,
should always be the main focus.should always be the main focus.

17. Works Cited
Blakesley, David and Hoogeveen, Jeffrey L. The Brief Thomson Handbook.
Ohio: Thomson Wadsworth, 2008.
“Incorporating Source Material .” Capilano University. 24 Apr. 2009.
<http://www.capilanou.ca/Page34565.aspx?ContainerPageDefID=2724
3&TemplateID=982>
Lester, James D. Jr. and Lester, James D. Sr., Research Paper Handbook.
Arizona. Good Year Books, 2005.