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MXC Research 101

Using Sources

So you've found all your sources. Now it's time to put it all together:

  1. Make sure you have enough sources. Are all your questions answered? Can you think of any follow-up questions your reader may have? If you have read everything you can find on your topic, you're ready to synthesize your research.
  2. Synthesis is making connections between the information you have found. This is the step that turns information or facts into knowledge or understanding.
  3. You are attempting to summarize your sources, but also explain how they overlap and work together.
  4. Use transitions such as agrees, disagrees, concurs, elaborates, clarifies, etc.
  5. Be specific about how sources support your assertions or conclusions.
  6. Cite sources carefully, using quotation marks and footnotes/parenthetical references when needed! For more information on citations, see the citing sources page on this guide.

How to Read a Scholarly Paper

Is this article relevant to my research? A guide to skimming - infographicAnatomy of a research article infographic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click to enlarge images

Synthesize your sources - video

Quiz yourself!

Choosing & Using Sources: A Guide to Academic Research by Teaching & Learning, Ohio State University Libraries is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.