Te Kete Wānaka
Learning, Teaching and Library
Supporting your ideas with evidence
All academic writing draws on the ideas and findings of other researchers and writers. So, in most assessments, you'll refer to information you have found in sources.
Your writing needs to show the reader you have:
- read widely and understood the sources
- read the sources critically and developed your own point of view or conclusion about the information (sometimes called an academic argument)
- used the information as evidence to back up your points.
When you use information from sources, it's important to smoothly integrate that information with your own ideas, show how and why the evidence supports your points, and clearly distinguish your ideas from the source information.
1. Integrate points and evidence
Use the basic ‘building blocks’ of academic writing: points backed up with evidence (ie examples, research findings, expert opinion, theories, facts, statistics).
- In each paragraph, introduce a key point that supports the overall theme of the entire piece of writing. Usually, the key point is obvious in the first few sentences.
- Then provide evidence to support and further develop the point. It is important to show the reader the connection between the evidence and your point, so discuss how the information supports your point or why the information is significant. Clearly reference to strengthen your work.
2. Distinguish between your points and the evidence
In your writing, make it clear ‘who is talking’, by clearly distinguishing your points from the information you have found in sources. We often call this having a strong writer’s voice. Making it clear what your ideas are and what are the ideas of others also helps you avoid plagiarism.
Aim to:
- interpret or explain the evidence
- point out connections between the pieces of evidence (common themes, logical links, gaps, agreement, disagreement)
- show your point of view about the evidence (comment on implications, significance, value)
- paraphrase or summarise much more often than quote.
Remember, when you use information you found somewhere else, you always need to provide an in-text citation and reference.
Get Individual Advice
Talk to Academic Success or attend one of our workshops for help with your study.
