Making any sort of bread can require time and energy, and it also can take some trial and error.  Getting just the right ingredients, mixing at the right speed and for the correct amount of time, and learning how to work with yeast needs some practice before you feel confident that the loaf is going to come out correctly more often than not.

You might choose to start with a basic white bread, but then you could move up to using wheat flour or a multigrain bread for some variety and substance.  Even making a quick bread like banana or pumpkin bread, though, might taste better when there are some additions to give it more substance.  Adding walnuts or chocolate chips, topping with a streusel or an icing drizzle, or finishing with butter or cream cheese just makes the basic bread so much better.

The same is true for a research essay.  Starting with a five-paragraph essay in high school can take some time, energy, and practice, and then you can move up to make things more interesting and give more substance as you increase in your skillset and confidence.  Expanding the body section to include more paragraphs and developing your ideas further by integrating sources improves your writing and your essay.

Integrating sources doesn’t only give your essay more substance or interest — it also provides credibility and shows that you’ve done your research and can insert your voice into the ongoing conversation on this topic!  You can use these outside sources to support what you’re saying and to show that you’re knowledgeable in this field.

This module focuses on integrating sources with academic integrity, using the material in a way that flows with your writing, and citing the material correctly.