Book

Writing with Sources

by Gordon Harvey

📖 Overview

Writing with Sources serves as a guide for students and writers on the proper methods of incorporating and citing source materials in academic writing. The book covers essential topics including quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing, and documenting sources. Harvey breaks down citation practices into clear steps and provides examples of both correct and incorrect source usage. The text addresses common questions about plagiarism, fair use, and the differences between various citation styles. Through concrete demonstrations and straightforward explanations, Writing with Sources equips readers with tools to evaluate sources and integrate them effectively into their work. The concise format allows quick reference for specific citation questions while building comprehension of academic integrity principles. At its core, this handbook speaks to fundamental questions about knowledge creation and the relationship between original thinking and building upon others' ideas. The text emphasizes writing as a conversation between scholars across time and disciplines.

👀 Reviews

Readers describe this as a practical guide for academic citation and source integration. The book's concise length (88 pages) and clear examples make it popular among college students and instructors. Likes: - Step-by-step instructions for quoting and paraphrasing - Brief but thorough coverage of citation basics - Examples that demonstrate both good and bad source usage - Focus on incorporating sources naturally into writing Dislikes: - Some find the price high for its length - A few readers note the content could be found online - Limited coverage of citation formats beyond MLA/APA Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (54 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (31 ratings) "Perfect for undergrads struggling with citations" - Amazon reviewer "Helped me understand when and how to quote vs paraphrase" - Goodreads reviewer "Would be better as a handout than a $20 book" - Student reviewer on Reddit

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A Writer's Reference by Diana Hacker This handbook provides comprehensive guidance on source documentation, academic writing conventions, and research practices across disciplines.

Research Strategies by William Badke This text focuses on information literacy skills including source evaluation, database searching, and incorporating research into academic writing.

The Elements of Academic Style by Eric Hayot This writing guide explains how to craft scholarly prose and integrate sources while developing an academic voice.

🤔 Interesting facts

🔖 The book was first published in 1998 and has become a standard text at Harvard University, where Gordon Harvey served as Assistant Director of the Expository Writing Program. 📚 The guide specifically addresses one of the most common challenges among college writers: how to effectively integrate and acknowledge sources without plagiarizing or merely summarizing. ✍️ Harvey developed the concept of "progressive documentation," which encourages writers to document their sources fully from the beginning rather than adding citations as an afterthought. 📖 The book's latest edition includes updated guidance on citing digital sources and social media, reflecting the evolution of academic writing in the digital age. 🎓 The principles outlined in the book were developed through years of working with Harvard undergraduate students and observing their most frequent writing challenges and mistakes.