Game Purpose

What is the point of playing this game?

The purpose of this game is to help you discern between high quality and low quality sources. When writing argumentative essays, you must support your ideas with peer-reviewed scholarly sources. This game will help you learn how to write argumentative essays with quality sources.

How do I play this game?

Game Play

This is an individual game. The questions will vary by type, but the theme is scholarly source discernment. Each set of questions will have instructions. Follow the prompts as they come.

Before you play, let's review the difference between scholarly and not scholarly sources. Please read the text on the slide that proceeds this slide.

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Round 1: Determine the scholarly value of a source. For each question, determine whether or not the source is scholarly.

But National Geographic is educational...why is not scholarly?

Here is why...

Not all educational sources are scholarly sources. Scholarly sources require a particular amount peer review. Most scholarly sources will be produced in connection with a university. National Geographic is reliable, but not technically scholarly. It would be acceptable to use a source like this once or twice in an academic paper, but one should not rely on it.

Round 2: Discern between sources. For each question, pick the best source. This source should be both scholarly and reliable.

Round 3: Scenarios -- For each academic scenario, choose the best source.

But wait...why was there no scholarly option for the last question?

Common Exceptions to the "Scholarly Only" Rule

In situations where you need quick reliable statistical data, it is acceptable to use official sources that are not technically peer reviewed or done in an academic style. Government agencies such as a the Census Bureau are just as reliable as academic journals. The data they have is more accessible that statistical data from scholarly sources.

Scenario Reflection

Not all academic scenarios are the same...

You may have noticed that all the academic scenarios presented were different. When discerning sources, your choices will differ depending on the situation.

Game Purpose Reflection

I hope you enjoyed this game and improved your skills in the area of source selection. Remember, the quality of non-fiction writing is heavily dependent on source selection. You can have the best arguments, ideas, and writing style, but without quality sources you will lose people!