Now that you've found and evaluated your sources, it is time to use them in your assignment
Properly citing these sources using APA to ensure you give credit to the original authors for their ideas and research.
Scholarly research articles can be tricky and overwhelming to read due to their length and technical, scientific language. Luckily, you don’t need to read an entire article in order to identify the key information.
It's important to know the main sections that make up a research article so you can find the key information.
Try reading the journal article in the following order, rather in the order in which it is written:
Reading the abstract first will let you know if the article is relevant to your topic and if you should read further. Reading and Understanding Abstracts. If you decide to read further, you are looking to figure out:
Next, read through the introduction and ask yourself these questions:
Finally, read the discussion and conclusion sections. The discussion is where the authors will provide meaning and context to the data and findings from the Results area. The conclusion will often summarize the findings and why the reader should care. Consider these questions:
As you read, take notes on the article by highlighting sentences of significance and how the information supports what you are writing in your paper. If you have created an outline for your paper, now is a good time to document where you can include the information from the article as supporting evidence in your writing.
Integrating sources into an academic writing assignment is important because it strengthens your arguments and provides evidence to support your claims. By referencing the work of experts and scholars, you demonstrate that you have conducted thorough research and are informed about the topic. This not only adds credibility to your writing but also shows your ability to engage with existing knowledge and contribute to academic conversations.
Watch the video below for a more in-depth introduction to the concepts above. Regardless of which method you choose, you must cite your sources!