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Oftentimes, students think, "I need a source because the assignment requires it; therefore, here's a source." But, we use sources for several purposes:

To introduce a point.
To contrast a point.
To provide evidence to support a point. (You might be familiar with them when you use appeals to logos in your papers (i.e., data, facts, figures).)
To align ourselves with authorities or experts. (This might seem familiar to those instances when we use appeals to ethos to support our arguments.)
To define a concept, illustrate a process, or clarify a statement.
To set a mood.
To provide an example.
To amplify or qualify a point.

For this lesson, then, we will continue drafting the analysis and critique essay and will focus on using sources effectively in our documents. We want to use sources to create something specific inside our essays. They must serve a purpose and be analyzed by you, the writer. Make sure you are revising and polishing the essay as a whole at this point.

For this lesson, you'll be revising, editing, and proofreading your essay in order to submit the final draft. As you finish up the essay, then, consider the following:

Revising involves focusing on your paper's development and organization. Revision is essential and requires time and reflection. It consists of thinking critically about your arguments: how are they structured, how do you account for your readers' needs, and what support or research do you include to illustrate those arguments? It's important, then, to write your papers well before the due date--so that you have time to focus on your text's development and organization.

Editing involves reading your paper at the sentence-to-sentence level, focusing on style, grammar, and mechanics. Students typically focus on editing to the detriment of their paper's overall success because, while an essay may have grammatically correct sentences, it's not useful if the arguments and research aren't convincing.

Proofreading involves reading your paper for typographical errors, e.g., extra spaces, periods, missing words.

Some strategies to help revise, edit, and proofread your papers include:

Start early. It's challenging to get perspective if you're hurrying to finish writing your paper, much less trying to edit and proofread it.
Step away from the paper. Write the complete draft and walk away from the essay for a couple of days. Clearing your head and revising the paper with fresh eyes helps you to spot weaker sections and sentences.
Utilize online and textual resources, like the Purdue Online Writing Lab, Colorado State University Writing Studio, your textbook, spell check/grammar check, and Grammarly. Grammarly has a free and subscription service that can help you identify errors and give you suggestions or tips to improve your writing.
Get outside feedback. Visit your on-campus and online Writing Center or ask a friend or your parents to read your paper and offer suggestions.

For this lesson, then, you will: