Assingments % - "How to Effectively Summarize Scholarly Sources for Your Final Project"

For this part of the final project, you will use the John Jay library databases or Google Scholar to locate 5 scholarly or credible sources on your chosen topic
What is a scholarly or credible source? For your project, you should be relying on sources that have credibility. Appropriate sources would be articles written by experts in the field, articles found in peer-reviewed journals, published documents from well-known research groups (e.g. Pew Research), and reports published by government agencies (e.g. NIH, CDC). Inappropriate sources would include popular websites (e.g. about.com, ehow.com, Wikipedia) or media outlets (e.g. Fox, MSNBC, WSJ, NY Times, Forbes, etc.). These sources do not always accurately report their findings and are sometimes prone to bias. If a website or article fails to report the credentials of the author and does not provide citations for the information contained in the article, chances are it is not a scholarly source and therefore should not be used.
Submit a summary of each article using the attached worksheet. In your own words, identify the key findings of the article. Do not simply state what the article was about (e.g. “This article talks about cyberbullying.”). What specific information did you learn from your source? (e.g. “Cyberbullying has become a popular means of abuse among teenagers, affecting about half of all young people.”) The purpose of this summary is to prove that you have actually read and understood each of your sources. Your summaries should be 2-3 paragraphs in length. Do NOT simply copy and paste the abstract or any other part of your source! This is plagiarism and is a violation of university policy.
The purpose of this assignment is to 1) ensure that you are using appropriate, scholarly sources, and 2) to make sure you are on track for your final project

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step 1: Understand the Assignment Requirements

Locate 5 scholarly or credible sources using Google Scholar or John Jay Library Databases.
Summarize each source in your own words in 2-3 paragraphs.
Clearly state the key findings—not just what the article is about.
Do NOT copy and paste from the source (this is plagiarism).
Use the attached worksheet to submit your summaries.

Step 2: Search for Scholarly Sources

Use Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com) or the John Jay Library Databases.
Look for peer-reviewed journal articles, research studies, or government reports (e.g., NIH, CDC, Pew Research).
Avoid Wikipedia, media outlets, blogs, or opinion pieces.

Step 3: Organize Your Sources

For each source, record:

Title
Author(s)
Publication year
Journal or organization
URL or DOI (if applicable)

Step 4: Write Your Summaries (2-3 Paragraphs Each)

How to Structure Each Summary:

1st Paragraph: Identify the Source and Its Purpose

What is the article about?
Who conducted the research?
What methods or data did the study use?

Example:

The article by Smith & Jones (2021) examines the impact of cyberbullying on adolescent mental health. The researchers conducted a survey of 1,000 high school students to analyze the psychological effects of online harassment. Their goal was to identify patterns in cyberbullying behavior and the long-term emotional consequences for victims.

2nd Paragraph: Key Findings and Relevance

What important information did you learn?
How does this source contribute to your project?

Example:

The study found that 47% of teenagers have experienced cyberbullying, with victims showing higher rates of anxiety and depression compared to non-victims. Additionally, social media platforms were identified as the most common medium for online harassment. These findings are crucial for understanding how digital communication contributes to modern bullying behaviors and support the need for stronger online safety regulations.

Step 5: Check for Accuracy and Plagiarism

Ensure that all summaries are in your own words.
Do NOT copy abstracts—this will be flagged as plagiarism.
Keep your writing clear, concise, and factual.

Step 6: Submit Your Work

Fill in the attached worksheet with your 5 article summaries.
Double-check that all sources meet the scholarly criteria.
Proofread for grammar and clarity before submission.

“How to Effectively Summarize Scholarly Sources for Your Final Project”