Using Marker Feedback to Improve Your Work:

Using Sources and A Reasoned Argument

Louise Livesey

Academic Skills Adviser

This workshop will...

− Introduce the two types of sources and the process of choosing sources

− Provide a basic overview of how to use quotations, paraphrases and summaries in your written work

− Explain what a reasoned argument is and how to develop one

The Plan…

1.Reasons for using sources

2.Categories and types of sources

3.Choosing which source to use

4.Basics of quoting, paraphrasing and summarising

5.What a reasoned argument is

6.Taking a position

Feedback: Your reading for this assignment was limited

What tutors want you use…• sources to obtain a depth of knowledge and not

just those on the reading list• different types of sources • a wide range of sources• sources to support your arguments

1.Reasons for using sources

2.Categories and types of sources

Primary sources Secondary sources This is evidence that comes directly from the people involved in the event or phenomenon in question.  

 This includes material produced about the event or phenomenon, including the commentary or interpretation of others.

and Activity 1: Primary and secondary sources

3.Choosing which source to use

Quotations: use when…

the specific words are crucial to your point

you make a very specific point you analyse or challenge the view

expressed you need strong support/authority adding impact to an introduction/

conclusion

4.Basics of quoting, paraphrasing

and summarising

Paraphrasing: use when… the wording of the source is less

important than the meaning of the sourceyou change the organization of ideas for

emphasis simplifying complex arguments,

sentences, or vocabulary.clarifying technical passages or

specialized information

4.Basics of quoting, paraphrasing

and summarising

Summarising: use when… the wording of the source is less

important than the meaning of the sourceproviding a brief overview of a text condensing the material omitting extra information from the

source material to focus on the author’s main point/s

simplifying complex arguments, sentences, or vocabulary.

4.Basics of quoting, paraphrasing

and summarising

Quotation example:

According to Roger Sipher, a solution to the perceived crisis of American education is to ‘abolish compulsory-attendance laws and allow only those who are committed to getting an education to attend’ (31).

4.Basics of quoting, paraphrasing

and summarising

Paraphrasing: ‘Schools should be for education. At present, they are only tangentially so. They have attempted to serve an all-encompassing social function, trying to be all things to all people. In the process they have failed miserably at what they were originally formed to accomplish.’

Answer:

Roger Sipher concludes his essay by insisting that schools have not been able to fulfil their primary duty of education because they try to fill multiple social functions.

4.Basics of quoting, paraphrasing

and summarising

Summarising: Activity 2

Answer:Roger Sipher makes his case for getting rid of compulsory-attendance laws in primary and secondary schools with six arguments. These fall into three groups—first that education is for those who want to learn and by including those that don't want to learn, everyone suffers. Second, that grades would be reflective of effort and elementary school teachers wouldn't feel compelled to pass failing students. Third, that schools would both save money and save face with the elimination of compulsory-attendance laws.

4.Basics of quoting, paraphrasing

and summarising

5. What a reasoned argument is

Feedback:

‘your work is more descriptive than critical’

‘there is not enough depth’ ‘you need more analysis’

‘you’ve included too much description’‘you did not apply much critical thinking;

need to use more critical analysis or thinking’

do not panic

5. What a reasoned argument is

Process stage Example

Claim claim Manchester United has won more Premiership football titles and so is the best Premiership football team ever

Claim claim Manchester United has the most successful football league manager ever in the history of football and so is the best league football team ever

Claim claim Manchester United has won more domestic and European cups than any other football team and so is the best European cup winning club ever

Argument Manchester United is the best team to have played football ever

Reasoned argument Manchester United is the best team ever to have played football (my dad et al)

5. What a reasoned argument is

Engaging analytical thinking by 

looking at something (whether tangible or conceptual) before you start your reading for your initial impressions

breaking it down into its constituent parts using analytical thinking of close observation

Employing critical thinking by

asking questions of the origins of ideas, the assumptions behind the ideas, and the applicability of the ideas

evidencing your conclusions and findings from this questioning process.

keeping an open mind about the application of this knowledge to address a problem or answer a question

6. Taking a position

6 different ways of responding to any argument, theory, practice or concept. You can:

• Agree with it • Reject or disagree with it • Concede it has merits but needs qualifying• Propose a new opinion • Reconcile seemingly different (opposite?) stances • Connect or synthesise to develop a new approach

6. Taking a position

‘Manchester United is the best team ever to have played football’

• Agree: Indeed, Manchester United are the best (evidence)

• Reject: Disagree, other teams have done well in other areas (evidence)

• Concede: Yes they are the best or the top in a number of areas but consider, x,x,x (evidence)

• Propose: Liverpool are the best team (evidence)• Reconcile: ?• Synthesise: ?

Sipher, R. (1977) So That Nobody Has to Go to School If They Don't Want To. The New York Times. 19.12.1977. p. 31. [online] Available at: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/563/03/ [Accessed 18.9.2014]

 

University of Houston-Victoria. (2014) Decide when to Quote, Paraphrase & Summarize. Victoria: University of Houston-Victoria. [online] Available at:

http://www.uhv.edu/StudentSuccessCenter/style/quote.aspx [Accessed 14.8.2014]

 

Van den Brink-Budgen, R. (2010) Critical Thinking for Students. 4th Ed. Oxford: How To Books Ltd.

References

Academic Skills Advice Service

• Where are we? Chesham Building B0.23• What do we do? Support undergraduate students with

their academic skills by running clinics and workshops, having bookable appointment slots, and enabling students to drop-in for Instant Action.

• Who are we? Michael and Helen specialise in Maths Support; Lucy and Russell advise students on study skills; and I (Louise) deliver the workshops

• When can you come for help? Everyday both face to face and on-line

• How do I get in touch? Email: academic-skills@brad.ac.uk or website www.brad.ac.uk/academic-skills

Any questions?