Why is it important to critically analyze sources?

1 .Find a scholarly article in the GCU library. Copy an excerpt from the article. The excerpt should be the length of a paragraph (approximately four to five sentences long). Post the excerpt as your initial paragraph with your paraphrase of this excerpt directly underneath using appropriate APA in-text citation format. Use the “APA Formatting Tutorial” found in the class resources to help you.
In addition, select at least two posts that your classmates have made and comment on what they did well with their paraphrasing, and what they could have done differently. These posts will count toward participation in accordance with the Student Handbook.
The DQ response must be 150-200 words and have at least one citation and one reference in APA style.
2. Why is it important to critically analyze sources? Why are scholarly sources more appropriate for academic research?
The DQ response must be 150-200 words and have at least one citation and one reference in APA style.
3. How is conducting graduate-level research different from research you did in your undergraduate program? Review the LopesWrite resource found in the Class Resources. How do you ensure you have not unintentionally plagiarized in assignments resulting in a high similarity score from LopesWrite? Provide specific examples.
The DQ response must be 150-200 words and have at least one citation and one reference in APA format.

ANSWER

**Question 1:**
Scholarly Article Excerpt:
“In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the impact of climate change on agricultural practices. Researchers have found that rising temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns pose significant challenges to crop production. This has led to an urgent need for adaptive strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on agriculture” (Smith & Johnson, 2022, p. 45).

Paraphrase:
According to Smith and Johnson (2022), there is a rising concern regarding the influence of climate change on farming methods. They argue that the changes in temperature and rainfall patterns present substantial difficulties for crop cultivation. Consequently, there is an immediate requirement for adaptive measures to alleviate the repercussions of climate change on agriculture.

**Question 2:**
It is crucial to critically analyze sources because it ensures the reliability and credibility of the information used in research. Critical analysis allows researchers to evaluate whether the sources are based on sound research methods, accurate data, and unbiased perspectives. Scholarly sources are more appropriate for academic research because they undergo a rigorous peer-review process, ensuring their quality, accuracy, and relevance to the research topic. Scholarly sources are authored by experts in the field, providing a higher level of expertise and authority. Additionally, they include proper citations and references, which allows researchers to trace the origin of information and verify its accuracy.

**Question 3:**
Graduate-level research differs from undergraduate research in terms of depth, complexity, and the expectation of originality. At the graduate level, research is expected to contribute to the existing body of knowledge in the field. This means that research questions are more focused, and the methodology employed is often more sophisticated. Graduate research also involves a higher level of critical analysis and synthesis of existing literature.

To ensure that assignments do not unintentionally result in a high similarity score from LopesWrite, students should carefully paraphrase and cite sources correctly. It’s essential to use your words to explain and analyze the information rather than relying heavily on direct quotations. When directly quoting, use quotation marks and provide proper citations. Additionally, always use a reference management tool to keep track of your sources and citations to ensure accurate and consistent referencing throughout your assignments. Reviewing and revising your work before submission can also help identify and rectify unintentional plagiarism issues.