How many references should you use in a 4 to 6 page essay?

Answer

The best person to ask is your Instructor, to see what his/her expectations are for the essay. 

There is no official rule, as every paper is different with varying requirements specified by the Instructor.

If your Instructor is not clear, here are some general guidelines:

  • Usually 3-4 reliable sources should be sufficient.
  • This should be enough external information to complement your original thoughts/ideas.
  • With too many sources, the essay becomes a compilation of opinions from other writers instead of your own.

Thank you for using ASK US. Please contact us again if you have more questions.

  • Last Updated Sep 24, 2019
  • Views 25106
  • Answered By Baker Librarians

FAQ Actions

Was this helpful? 218 13

We'll answer you within 3 hours M - F 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Your Question
Your Info
Fields marked with * are required.