Your research essay is only as good as your reference list.
As a university instructor and tutor, the first thing I do prior to reading a student’s research essay is to review the reference list. I do this to determine what the essay is built on: the reference list is the foundation of the paper. A reference list illustrates to the reader how thoroughly the author has researched the answers to a question and how they solved a problem. The list provides a barometer to gauge the depth the author researched and engaged with their sources, as well as if they choose high quality references.
A strong essay usually has strong references. What I mean by this is that the references are well vetted by the author. For example,
(1) They have selected peer reviewed sources (e.g. journal articles) and other credible sources.
Peer reviewed scholarly journal articles have been vetted by qualified members of that particular discipline or field prior to publication. These experts review and evaluate submitted articles in order to determine if they meet the required standards. The experts’ mandate is to protect and maintain the quality and integrity of the scholarly journal. Not all scholarly or academic journals have a peer review process; therefore, it is important that the author evaluate these sources to determine their quality (see below).
Other credible sources are references that the author has thoroughly evaluated. For example, the author has determined:
a. The source is published or posted online by a reputable source.
b. The source was written by a reputable author (e.g., the source author is writing on a topic in which they have academic experience).
c. The source is current (not older than 5-10 years).
d. The source has notes, citations and a bibliography.
e. The source has already been reviewed by others in the field or from other relevant disciplines.
f. The source has been frequently cited by others.
(2) Their references strongly support their claims, counterclaims, reasons and evidence.
The author has taken the time to find good sources, checked their accuracy and skillfully engaged with them. What this means is that author has carefully read through a number of sources on their topic, found one’s that support their research question, claims, reasons, etc., as well as ones that challenge their position. They essentially don’t pick the first sources they find in order to get the essay over with, but rather go in depth and do a thorough analysis. This would include finding new strong evidence and/or evidence that contradicts a claim or an opposing position by another author. They also checked the accuracy of their references to determine what is written by other authors’ is factually correct, not misquoted or misinterpreted. The author also used the selected references accurately (e.g., not misinterpret, or misquote them to fit into their own narrative) in their research essay, therefore not propagating misinformation. Lastly, the author’s final reference list is flawless for style with no errors, as well as the citations are incorporated correctly and quotes are used minimally and are original (e.g., not used by other sources).
(3) Their references also include sources that are unique, original and/or not have been cited by other authors.
The author has included sources that are not used by others. They found unique and interesting sources to support their work (e.g., a quote from a movie, a line out of a poem) or added personal examples (e.g., if author writing on sweat lodges, perhaps they participated in one). These sources can contribute to your work as they help build a strong and interesting essay, which piques the interest of the reader. If you are passionate about your work, your reader will be as well.
To conclude, I recommend that you complete a workshop on researching from your local college, university library or from a tutor. I can ensure you that the time it takes to complete the workshop will ease your overall research workload. I also found that students who have researched their topic thoroughly, will find ‘writing’ easier, and less stressful. These students tend to have more to say, are more passionate and incorporate unique and interesting references into their essay.
Dr. Nelsen
Sharpest Pencil Tutoring Inc. can help you with your academic journey.
© Nelsen, 2024
