Final Answer:
An academic writer practices "source mining" by systematically searching for, evaluating, and extracting relevant information from diverse and credible sources to support their research or scholarly work.
Step-by-step explanation:
Source mining is a crucial skill for academic writers as it involves a thorough exploration of various resources to gather pertinent information for their research. The process begins with defining the research topic and identifying key concepts. Once the writer has a clear understanding of what they are looking for, they initiate the search for scholarly articles, books, and other reputable sources. Utilizing academic databases, libraries, and online repositories, they meticulously sift through a multitude of materials to locate information that aligns with their research objectives.
Critical evaluation of sources is an integral part of source mining. Academic writers assess the credibility, relevance, and reliability of each source to ensure the information they extract is of high quality and contributes meaningfully to their work. This involves considering the author's expertise, the publication venue, the methodology employed, and the recency of the information. By scrutinizing sources, writers can distinguish between reliable and questionable information, ensuring the integrity of their research.
Once relevant sources are identified and evaluated, academic writers proceed to extract the necessary information, incorporating it into their work while adhering to citation standards. Effective source mining allows writers to enrich their content, provide robust evidence for their arguments, and contribute to the scholarly conversation in their field. In essence, it is a meticulous and strategic process that enhances the depth and credibility of academic writing.