Skill Focus: identifying academic sources
ESL Area: EAP, college, writing, research
Worksheet Download: finding-academic-sources-worksheet.docx
An academic source is a study or article that has been published by an academic publication (book or journal). In this publication process, the work is peer-reviewed, thereby ensuring it has met a certain standard in research/accuracy.
This is a simple worksheet that asks students to review a list of URLs and determine which are academic sources. Afterwards, they are asked to find an academic source of their own. For answers, see below.
Academic Sources: Worksheet Preview
Conducting Research: Identifying Academic Sources
- Book: Professionalism: Skills for Workplace Success, 4th edition, by Lydia Anderson and Sandra Bolt (Preview here: https://www.pearson.com/store/p/professionalism-skills-for-workplace-success/P100000557783)
Part 1: Questions
A) Which of the above sources are academic peer-reviewed sources?
B) Which source(s) is/are the least reliable and therefore unsuitable for an assignment? What makes them seem unreliable?
Part 2: Finding a Source
Imagine you are writing an essay on the value of punctuality (being on time). Find an academic source on this topic and paste its link or information below.
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Optional Extension
If you want students to practice writing an APA (or MLA) Reference entry, you could include a question in Part 1 asking students to write Reference page entries for each academic source.
Academic Sources: Worksheet Answers
Part 1 A)
- Source three is a published book from a recognized publisher; in the publication process the information was most likely peer-reviewed (there was definitely a review process). This source should be accepted as an academic source.
- Source four is from an academic journal and is therefore a peer-reviewed source.
- Note: Source #2 may be debatable among teachers. The webpage here, from Havard Business Review, is just a webpage like any other. There is no indication that this has had any review or been tested with rigor. Furthermore, the post is not written in academic style nor does it contain references. Because it's from Harvard, you could say that it is a reliable source but is not peer-reviewed.
Part 1 B)
- Source 5 seems like the least reliable. Clues: advertisements and memes abound, tone is not serious, lack of in-text citations/references, etc.
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I hope you find this worksheet useful for your classes.
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