Selecting and evaluating academic sources
Learning Skills
Overview of this workshop
This module will focus on:
1.  Evaluating academic sources
2.  Selecting and organising information
3.  Writing an essay outline (introduction and
conclusion)
4.  Writing thesis statements
5.  Drafting assignments
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2
1] Evaluating academic sources
What are important academic sources in your area of study?
Evaluating information for academic purposes involves
taking care to select information that is reliable.
Apply 5 reliability tests to evaluate academic resources
(Brick, 2012, p. 59-62)
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3 Evaluating sources using 5 tests
1. 
test (Where does the information come from?)
-Who is the author? Has the author got expertise in the topic?
Is the source of information peer-reviewed?
2. Audience test (Who is the audience?)
-general / professional / academic audience
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4 5 tests
3. Transparency test (How is the information verified?)
-What evidence is provided? Where does it come from?
-Can data collection and data analysis be checked?
4. Objectivity test (Is the source of information objective?)
-What is the purpose of writing? For scholarly purpose?
For advertising?
5. Currency test (Is the information up-to-date?)
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5 Information about ‘evaluating information on the internet’
Macquarie University library website:
https://www.mq.edu.au/on_campus/library/research/
researching_your_assignment/evaluating_information_
on_the_internet/
Video:
http://libguides.mq.edu.au/content.php?pid=64300&sid
=2888485
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6 Task 1: Read the three sources given and apply the 5 tests
to evaluate the reliability of the information. Decide whether
you will select any of the texts to write a report for the
following topic:
The internet has fundamentally changed both the nature
and extent of bullying in schools.
(Brick, 2012, p. 64-66)
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7 2] Selecting and organising
information
Selecting information using 4 ‘S’ reading skills:
1. Searching (What is it about?)
-title, table of contents, description of book on back cover,
abstract, headings, sub-headings, tables, figures
2. Skimming (What are the main points?)
-introduction, conclusion, topic sentences
3. Selecting (Which information is relevant and useful?)
4. Studying
(Brick, 2012, p. 81-82)
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8 Task 2: Read Kieseker and Marchant (1999) using the
4 ‘S’ reading skills. Select relevant information to answer
the following essay question.
There has been some research suggesting that childhood
bullies may become adult bullies when they are older.
Analyse the effects of childhood bullying on adult bullies
and examine the economic implications of workplace
bullying.
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9 Organising information: Using Matrix (for synthesising ideas)
Points of analysis Source 1 (Kieseker & Marchant, 1999) Source 2 (Jones, 2003) Source 3 (Brown, 2011) Effects of Researchers found childhood bullying links between childhood bullying and workplace bullying (p. 64) … Economic implicaEons Direct and indirect financial expenses (p. 66)…. etc. COPYRIGHT © LEARNING & TEACHING CENTRE
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10 Organising
information: Using mind mapping
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11 Some common organisational strategies in academic writing
include:
1. Problem-solution
2. Comparison-contrast
3. Cause-effect
4. Classification
(In this workshop, we will only
look at problem-solution.)
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13 Problem-solution
Problem-solution organisation structure typically includes:
• 
• 
• 
• 
Description of situation
Identification of problem
Description of solution
Evaluation of solution
(Hoey, 1983)
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14 Task 3 : Read through the following abstract from a
journal article taken from a recommended reading list
for a Macquarie University postgraduate subject.
The abstract is organised according to the problem-solution
structure. Identify the parts of the text that correspond to
the 4 stages listed above.
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15 Snake bite is a common and frequently devastating environmental
and occupational disease, especially in rural areas of tropical
developing countries. (Description) Its public health importance has
been largely ignored by medical science. Snake venoms are rich in
protein and peptide toxins that have specificity for a wide range of
tissue receptors, making them clinically challenging and scientifically
fascinating, especially for drug design. Although the full burden of
human suffering attributable to snake bite remains obscure, hundreds
of thousands of people are known to be envenomed and tens of
thousands are killed or maimed by snakes every year. (Identification)
Preventive efforts should be aimed towards education of affected
communities to use proper footwear and to reduce the risk of contact
with snakes to a minimum through understanding of snakes’ behaviour.
(Solution) To treat envenoming, the production and clinical use of
antivenom must be improved. Increased collaboration between clinicians,
epidemiologists, and laboratory toxinologists should enhance the
understanding and treatment of envenoming. (Evaluation)
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16 3] Writing an essay outline
Essay structure
1. Introduction
-background information
-definition of key terms (optional)
-thesis statement
-preview of paper (outline of arguments)
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17 2. Body
Argument 1
•  topic sentence
•  developing sentences (examples/ evidence)
•  concluding sentence (optional)
Argument 2 etc.
(Same for arguments 2 and 3 etc.
Arguments ‘for’ and ‘against’ can be presented
in different order.)
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18 3. Conclusion
•  Restate thesis statement
•  Summary of arguments
•  Final comment (e.g., insights, comments, predictions,
recommendations ….)
Further reading: (Brick, 2012 Chp. 14)
Avoid….
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19 Task 4: Read the introduction of an essay from Brick (2012).
Analyse its structure.
Essay topic: Analyse the major causes of water shortage
in the world today. What arguments would you expect to
be included in the main body of this essay?
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20 During the 20th century, the world’s population tripled
while water consumption grew sevenfold. As a result,
in almost every area of the world today there is a serious
water shortage problem. (Background) While the causes
of this problem vary, most relate to the overuse of water
resources by humans. (Thesis statement) Mismanagement
and profligate use of available water supplies are a major
problem, as are water pollution caused by industrial use and
privatisation of water supply, which contributes to overexploitation of water resources. (Outline of essay)
(Adapted from Brick, 2012, p. 154)
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21 Task 5: Read the conclusion of the same essay on water
shortage. Analyse the structure of its conclusion.
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22 It is clear that the water crisis being experienced around
the globe is largely the result of poor water management.
(Restate thesis statement) Water is wasted on non-essential
or poorly planned projects without thought of replacement.
At the same time, water resources are being polluted as a
result of poor agricultural and industrial management
practices. Market solutions to the water crisis favour the rich
at the expense of the poor. (Summary) Immediate measures
must be taken to regulate the use of water internationally in
order to ensure that everyone has access to a safe and
sufficient source of water. (Final comment)
(Source: Brick, 2012, p. 156)
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23 4] Writing thesis statements
24 hAps://wikis.engrade.com/lisasimpsononthesisstate 25 Strong thesis statements take a position
1a. As a theme in workplace bullying, the question of gender raises
some negative and some positive aspects.
x
1b. As a theme in workplace bullying, the question of gender shows
an intriguing contradiction.
✔
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26 Strong thesis statements justify discussion
2a. There are many factors that can cause workplace bullying.
x
2b. ‘Meetings tourism’ is a subsection of the tourist industry.
x
2c. ‘Meetings tourism’ has emerged as a significant subsection of
the tourist industry.
✔
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27 Strong thesis statements are specific
3a. ‘Meetings tourism’ has emerged as a significant subsection of the
tourist industry.
✔
3b. ‘Meetings tourism’, which we define as travel associated with
attendance at corporate or association meetings, conferences or
conventions, has emerged as a significant subsection of the tourist
industry, both in terms of volume of travel and expenditure
generated.
✔✔
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28 Thesis statement in the Introduction ‘Meetings tourism’, which we define as travel associated with
attendance at corporate or association meetings, conferences or
conventions, has emerged as a significant subsection of the tourist
industry, both in terms of volume of travel and expenditure generated.
‘Meetings’ range from small business meetings of a few participants
to large conventions of, for example, professional associations which
might attract in excess of 20,000 delegates. The range of locations
within which these meetings take place is also broad, including hotels,
universities, sports venues, and specially built convention centres.
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29 5] Drafting assignments
Things to remember:
•  consider word limit and decide how much to write for
each part
•  jot down main ideas, no worries about grammar,
focus on content
•  develop each main idea into a paragraph with examples
and evidence
•  don’t finish you draft on the due date, leave a few days
for proofreading
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30 References
Brick, J. (2006). Academic Culture: A student’s guide to studying at university. Sydney: NaEonal Centre for English Language Teaching and Research, Macquarie University. Hoey, M. (1983). On the surface of discourse. London: George Allen and Unwin. Kieseker, R. & Marchant, T. (1999). Workplace bullying in Australia: A review of current conceptualisaEons and exisEng research. Australian Journal of Management and Organisa<onal Behaviour, 2 (5), 61-­‐75. Swales, J.M. & Feak, C.B. (2004). Academic wri<ng for graduate students: Essen<al tasks and skills (2nd ed.). Michigan: University of Michigan Press. Warrell, D. (2010). Snake bite. Lancet, 375, 77-­‐88. COPYRIGHT © LEARNING & TEACHING CENTRE
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