Brody is working on finding appropriate research and sources for his paper on the Great Depression. His instructor requires at least one primary source. Which of the following is considered a primary source?

• A clip of an expert discussing the Great Depression in a renowned documentary
• The oldest possible article written about the Great Depression
• An article from a peer reviewed article he found using Google Scholar
• An interview with his grandfather who lived through the Great Depression

Which method is MOST likely to help you if you feel stuck and unable to start writing your first draft?

• Go back to the brainstorming phase. You obviously don't have enough ideas yet.
• Writing is not something you should force. Wait for the mood to strike, and then write like crazy.
• Read over the research and sources you've gathered until the right idea strikes you.
• Just start writing! Even if the writing is messy, it gets your writing muscles working.

Which of the following should you most likely include in an effective introductory paragraph?

• An interpretation of a key piece of data.
• Your main piece of evidence, so readers can see it right away.
• An overview of the problem or issue you're discussing.
• A list of the sources you intend to use.

Why do so many professors ask students to rely on paraphrasing and summarizing more than on quoting when using sources in essays?

• Readers won't notice how many different sources are used when they're paraphrased or summarized, while quoting them makes them stand out on the page.
• Using a lot of direct quotes can confuse the reader, and paraphrasing and summarizing lets the author's own voice guide the discussion.
• Direct quotes are too long.
• Paraphrasing and summarizing are much easier skills for the beginning writer; quoting requires more advanced skills.