2.2.10 Using sources
In this activity test your knowledge of how to effectively use and correctly reference a source.
The excerpt below comes from an original text by Nuttall (2002). Read this paragraph and keep it in mind as you work through each of the five multiple choice questions.
Original text: Philosophy can be divided into three main areas: metaphysics, dealing with the nature of the world at the most abstract level; epistemology, dealing with whether or not we can have knowledge of this world; and moral and political philosophy, dealing with the questions of conduct within the world.
Reference: Nuttall, J. (2002). An introduction to philosophy. Polity Press.
Have these five students used this source correctly?
1. Student's text: There are three main areas of philosophy which are: metaphysics, to do with the nature of the world; epistemology, which is about whether or not we know the world; and moral and political philosophy, that is about our behaviour within the world (Nuttall, 2002).
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No, actually they haven't. Although the writer has cited the source, this is too close to the original wording. If you paraphrase you must use your own words and sentence structure.
Correct! Although the writer has cited the source, this is too close to the original wording. If you paraphrase you must use your own words and sentence structure.
2. Student's text: Metaphysics, epistemology, and moral and political philosophy are the three main areas of philosophy.
3. Student's text: According to Nuttall (2002), there are three key areas in philosophy which he lists are metaphysics, epistemology, and moral and political philosophy.
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Correct! The writer has paraphrased and cited the source. They've also made it clear that these are Nuttall's ideas. You need to distinguish between your ideas and other people's.
Actually, the answer is yes. The writer has correctly paraphrased and cited the source. They've also made it clear that these are Nuttall's ideas. You need to distinguish between your ideas and other people's.
4. Student's text: One of the three main areas of philosophy is metaphysics which deals "with the nature of the world at the most abstract level" (Nuttall, 2002, p.10).
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Correct! The writer has quoted accurately and cited the source with a page number. If you quote directly, you need to indicate the page number so the reader will know exactly where the quote can be found in the text.
Actually, the answer is yes. The writer has quoted accurately and cited the source with a page number. If you quote directly, you need to indicate the page number so the reader will know exactly where the quote can be found in the text.
5. Student's text: Philosophy deals with questions about how we relate to the world - its nature, our understanding of it, and how we behave in it (Nuttall, 2002).
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Correct! This is fine. The writer has summarised the ideas and correctly cited their source
Well done! You have finished this section.
Continue on to the next section, 2.3 Adopt good study practices.
Actually, this is OK. The writer has summarised the ideas and correctly cited their source

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