What it looks like
An example from Criminology.
Wilson and Kelling (1982) argued that visible disorder, such as broken windows, leads to more serious crime. The theory shaped policing in New York in the 1990s.
Wilson and Kelling (1982) argued that visible disorder, such as broken windows, leads to more serious crime. Field experiments in the Netherlands offer some support: people were more likely to litter and steal where an area already showed signs of disorder (Keizer et al., 2008). But Sampson and Raudenbush (1999) found that disorder and most crime shared the same neighbourhood causes, rather than one causing the other. If they are right, the policing the theory inspired in New York may have targeted a symptom rather than a cause.
Why markers write it
Markers want to see that you understand a topic as a debate, not a set of facts. Using one source per point suggests you found evidence for what you already planned to say; setting sources against each other shows you know where the field disagrees and why. Most UK upper-band criteria mention wide reading and critical use of the literature.
How to fix it in your next essay
- 1Find the main disagreementFor each topic, ask who disagrees with the key source and why. Review articles and recent journal papers are the quickest way in.
- 2Pair sources in the same paragraphPut a supporting and a challenging source side by side, then say which is more convincing.
- 3Read beyond the reading listTreat the list as a starting point. Follow its references, and check who has cited the key papers since.
Phrases that help
How much it costs
Wide, critical reading is usually named in the 2:1 and First descriptors of UK marking schemes. Without it, an otherwise well-argued essay often stays in the 2:2 or low 2:1 range.
Other ways markers say it
- “More engagement with the literature needed”
- “Limited engagement with sources”
- “Needs wider reading”
- “Engage more critically with the reading”
- “Situate your argument in the literature”
Often written alongside
Common questions
- How many sources should I use?
- There’s rarely a fixed number — check your module guidance. Markers care more about how sources are used than how many appear in the list.
- What counts as “the literature”?
- Usually peer-reviewed journal articles and academic books in your field. Textbooks and lecture slides are a way in, not the literature itself.