Reliable Source Sources

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When choosing sources for a research topic, the most important factor of a quality source is depth and reliability. That is the key to a strong, well-written, argument. Many times, one can find themselves fishing through an array of sources, not knowing which ones to use. A student may find a passage in a book or article that perfectly fits the idea of their research, and they think they have struck gold. They sit down, ready to write their masterpiece. They come to that point in their paper that is tailor-made for that perfect quote or idea; only to find that they understood the idea out of context, and to top it off; the author of this perfect source has no evidence to support any of what they have written. This source is worthless …show more content…

The source material that it references should come from a reliable resource. And secondly, its reliable resources should have reliable resources as well. Superior resources take time and patience to find, but will supply the researcher with a vast amount of material to refer to throughout their entire work.
Support sources would be considered the “Aerosmith” of the research world. They add stability to already proven material with assisting viewpoints from a similar perspective. They will not be enough to argue a point alone, but the researcher can use support sources to expand on ideas found in the main points of superior source material. Examples of support sources would be “The Chain Never Stops,” by Eric Schlosser; and the “Physicians Committee for Responsible …show more content…

They are not necessary, nor do they add any new perspective on a topic. They are only useful as an extension of a supporting or superior source. Examples of a filler source would be “Unconventional Medicine,” Dr. Neal Barnard’s interview with Alisa Bowman for “Spirituality and Health Magazine,” or “Slow Food USA,” (slowfoodusa.org) a website dedicated to those, whose belief is in an all-natural dietary plan. “Unconventional Medicine” doesn’t provide anything new, when compared to Dr. Neal Barnard’s previously mentioned book, “Program for Reversing Diabetes.” Although, it could be used to provide direct quotes from Dr. Barnard, himself. “Slow Food USA” provides, for the majority, opinion pieces, with no direct links to outsourced articles, or research sources. Their team is made up of executives, whose credentials are severely lacking, when compared with their mission; their website primarily has blog posts; and their publication is full of articles that primarily focus on where they are going and what they are doing in the world. The only use that a researcher would have with this particular website would be if one was researching the organization

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