Perhaps the most commonly asked questions by students when given any assignment is how many sources to use in their papers. While this is a legitimate question, the answer is not straightforward. As you write your paper, you must provide in-text citations for the borrowed information, followed by respective references in the bibliography section. However, the number of sources to use in a paper will depend on several factors, including the type, subject/topic, instructions from the professor/instructor, length, and content of the paper.
This guide discusses everything you should know about the number of sources to include in a paper. Our academic writing experts will also talk about why it is essential to provide sources for your ideas and why you should not use many references, among other things.
A source for your paper emphasizes your points and gives it credibility. However, your ideas should drive the paper when relying on outside sources. The best way to ensure that you do this is by considering what information your target audience expects. The following are ways you can effectively use sources:
When writing most academic and professional papers, you use summarizing, especially to present a whole or section of a text in a shortened form.
Summarizing provides a broad overview of the work for readers to understand. It is only necessary when there is no need for all the information in the text. You can also summarize when all the ideas from a text or source do not directly apply to the subject that you are discussing.
The length of the summary depends on the material you are summarizing and its significance. Before writing, ask yourself whether you have enough space to summarize the material.
Sometimes you may want to use the author's words verbatim in your paper to define specific concepts; this is called direct quotation.
Information directly borrowed from the author should be placed in quotation marks to tell readers that that information belongs to someone else. You should also provide the correct in-text citations, including the page, paragraph, or line number, depending on the formatting style and the source from which you are lifting the direct quote.
Quoting word-for-word from someone else's work without including quotation marks and in-text citations leads to direct plagiarism.
This involves putting someone else's words in your own words while keeping the author's original meaning. Unlike a summary, paraphrases are much more detailed and require paying attention to a single idea at a time.
Paraphrasing is done when you want to make it easier for readers to understand the text because it is too complicated. Thus, to do this, take the words from the text and rewrite them. Just remember not to lose the authors meaning.
When writing a paper, summarizing or paraphrasing is best than using direct quotes. If you want to use a direct quote effectively in your paper, only use it when the author said it better than you would.
You commit mosaic plagiarism when lifting phrases from a source without quotation marks or replacing an author's word with a synonym while keeping the same structure and meaning. It happens to most people as they paraphrase ideas from sources, which is why you should cite your paper as you write. You can use online citation management tools such as Zotero, BibMe, Citefast, etc., that generate format-specific in-text citations and organize your reference list. Plagiarism has no place in academia; it is shameful to fall prey to it.
Related Reading: How to paraphrase from a source effectively.
Before we jump into the importance of using sources in your essay, academic writing is set apart from other forms of writing (informal and creative writing) because it develops from what others have written and refers to it. Thousands of researchers have dedicated their time, if not their lives, to research to bridge the knowledge gap. Therefore, citing sources is simply giving them credit for their ideas.
Citing your work allows those reading the piece to locate the sources to learn more about your presenting ideas. It tells your readers where you got the information.
Remember, academic knowledge advances discussing a topic or idea to narrow the knowledge gap. Therefore, when you cite scholarly sources in your essay, research paper, thesis, or any academic piece, you help your future researching self and others to locate the sources quickly. It also shows that you have mastered the art of academic writing, which is essential for academic, personal, and career growth.
You can write an academic essay based on what you think you know. An academic essay is supposed to show that you have done the research and can therefore articulate in your writing. Therefore, whenever you provide in-text citations, you tell readers you consulted an expert for your shared information.
Instructors will sometime provide materials, book chapters, or journal papers for reading before writing an assignment. The assigned readings are crucial in answering the question in the assignment. Therefore, if you read and use them in your paper, include them as sources.
We have mentioned that referencing shows you have an expert opinion. However, did you know it deepens your understanding of the topic? You are required to use two sources per paragraph. What this means is that you are supposed to use two separate sources to support your ideas.
Therefore, do not view sourcing as a way to show that you have researched. Take it as an opportunity to broaden your own understanding and that of the readers. Readers can locate these sources for further research and learn more about your topic.
When you cite your sources consistently and accurately, you avoid plagiarism in your writing, which is a serious offense in academia.
Plagiarism is a serious academic offense that involves using someone else's work as your own. You are likely to be suspended or expelled from your institution if caught. When you pass the ideas of others as your own, you misrepresent your academic achievements, which is a lack of academic integrity. It is a serious issue within the scholarly domain and can be punished. This could lead to a failing grade. Accidental plagiarism happens when you neglect to cite the sources, misquote sources, and unintentionally paraphrase a source using the exact words, sentence structure, and group of words without attribution (acknowledging the source of information).
As a scholar or a researcher, your reputation matters significantly in the scientific world. An adequately cited work proves that you read and researched widely before writing the research paper. For this reason, your peers will respect you more for your work. It also helps place it in the context of the topic based on available evidence.
How Many Sources to Include in a Paper
There is no right or wrong answer. Having more references in a paper does not mean that your work is of high quality and that you will get a better grade. Your paper is dependent on how well you can express your ideas. That said, the amount of research needed and the literature available will determine how many sources to use in your paper.
Not all types of essays need references. A descriptive essay, for instance, focuses on what you have seen, heard, and tasted; hence, there is no need to add any reference since every idea and experience is your own. A critical essay may also not need references because it is based on your experiences. On the other hand, other papers, like argumentative essays, require that you back your ideas with concrete evidence. Therefore, you must include sources in these papers.
The number of references will depend on the length of the essay. The longer the paper, the more the references. A 500-word essay should have at least three sources, but a 1000-word essay will have 8-12 references. For an 8-page essay, the average number of sources is eight, and for 20 pages essay, you will need at least 20 sources.
For a research paper, use an average of 45 references. The majority of research papers have between 8-102 sources. However, this number will depend on the research design you are working with. Consider the following:
Sometimes it becomes confusing as to what number of sources to use in research for a peer review. Many people will say at least 20 references, but others will say it could be more or less than 20. Nevertheless, determining the exact number depends on what is needed in the paper.
Additionally, most research papers require a minimum of one source per paragraph. This is equivalent to having one source per 150 words. You can also use a source more than once in your paper. For instance, if you cite in the first paragraph in the body section, use it again in the third or fourth paragraphs.
Several factors determine the number of sources to include in your paper. These include:
Some instructors give specific instructions on what an essay should contain, including the number of references. Teachers sometimes do this because they understand the confusion of reviewing multiple sources for a paper. If your instructor has specified the type of references to use and how many, it is best to stick to that number.
The type of paper you write will determine how many sources to use. Whereas some papers need a few sources, others require multiple sources. For instance, systematic reviews and meta-analysis involves reviewing multiple existing studies. So, the sources included in these papers will be exhaustive. On the other hand, papers like case reports only need a few sources.
Many institutions set rules concerning how many sources to use in a research paper. For instance, some schools advise students to use only peer-reviewed sources in their papers. Others will advise their students not to go beyond several sources. Some schools will tell students that the number of sources should equal the number of essay pages. Some colleges will say that the number of sources will depend on the program a student is taking. For instance, social science programs, physics, and ecology tend to have a more significant reference list than medical programs. In addition, the type of niche will influence the number of sources to use in a paper, for example. A topic that requires high research will require many sources.
To be safe, it is best to check with your school, marking scheme or ask previous students about the correct number of sources needed in a research paper.
Related Read: How long is a typical research paper?
Sometimes you may choose a topic that is complicated and has a lot less information. This could be a relatively new topic in a new field with limited study. If so, you must work with the limited research materials available.
How long your paper is will determine the number of sources to use. A three paper will need only a few sources compared to a 10-page essay. The more pages your paper needs, the more critical the information will be and, thus, the need for more references.
Yes, it is possible to have too many sources on paper. This may shock many students, but having more sources does not improve your paper. A general rule of thumb is to have a maximum of three, but this will depend on the type of paper you write. There are several reasons why it is not advisable to have many sources in your paper:
Please note that to ensure that your paper is worth readers' time, you should answer the following questions:
Make sure these answers are evident in your writing.
Then again, there is a benefit to using many sources, especially on longer papers such ad research proposals, dissertations, capstone/project papers, and theses, because it shows:
Related Readings
There are certain things you should keep in mind when using references in your academic paper:
The number of sources to use in your paper depends on the type of paper you are writing. You may need a few sources or a whole page of them. For a regular academic paper, there is no right or wrong answer. The most critical element is that you clearly articulate your ideas. Provide a citation for every borrowed idea to show readers where it originated clearly. Remember that the aim is to show that you have done the research.
Overall, if your instructor has not given you specific instructions for how many sources to include in a paper, use your better judgment. Most importantly, remember markers go for quality over quantity.
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