All information sources are not created equally. Sources can vary greatly in terms of how carefully they are researched, written, edited, and reviewed for accuracy.

Secondary sources discuss, interpret, analyze, consolidate, or otherwise rework information from primary sources.

Primary sources are direct, firsthand sources of information or data

If you know that you are only looking for articles, you can exclude sources like interviews or abstracts from your search.

Weak thesis statement: Advertising companies use sex to sell their products. A thesis is weak when the statement is too broad.

writers need a thesis statement to provide a specific focus for their essay and to organize what they will discuss in the body of their writing.

. Your introduction should state the issue at hand, establish your position regarding it, describe your paper’s organization, and identify the scope of your coverage.

“Transform Your Paper: Follow these six steps to effectively revise and improve your writing, ensuring clarity, organization, and precision.”

but the former sounds less aggressive and accusatory,

Peer review can feel scary because you may feel uncomfortable sharing your writing at first, but remember that each writer is working toward the same goal:

you should be looking for general consistency and clarity.

stick with transition words that actually have meaning and purpose.

Three common ways to structure a paper are chronological order, spatial order, and order of importance. Choose the order that will most effectively fit your purpose and support your main point.

outright fabricating is not.

Not all online search engines’ results will be useful or reliable.

why you are writing (to inform, to explain, or some other purpose) and for whom you are writing.

“a social group that communicates at least in part via written texts and shares common goals, values, and writing standards, a specialized vocabulary and specialized genres.”