Using Marker Feedback to Improve Your Work:

Using Sources and A Reasoned Argument

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
Louise Livesey
Academic Skills Adviser
 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
 1.Reasons for using sources

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
 2.Categories and types of sources

Primary sources Secondary sources

This is evidence that comes This includes material

directly from the people produced about the event or
involved in the event or phenomenon, including the
phenomenon in question. commentary or interpretation
of others.

and Activity 1: Primary and secondary sources

3.Choosing which source to use
 4.Basics of quoting, paraphrasing
and summarising

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 source
 you 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 source
 providing 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.
 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: ?
 References

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.
 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?