How many sentences contain references? 2.2 Citing verbs
It is important that you learn how to cite information in a correct way. There are certain conventions to follow when citing someone?s work. Words like “say”,“tell”, and “ask” are normally used in oral conversations but are not appropriate in formal academic writing. The following table illustrates some appropriate words to use for reporting the work of others.
Verbs for saying claims believes thinks assumes indicates Jalal (1993) notes that …
remarks states shows points out
More Verbs for saying suggests considers hypothesizes concludes comments emphasizes that… Jalal?s (1993) study illustrates
proposes establishes maintains
Verbs responding to others’ opinions accepts admits agrees that … The analysis of the Jalal?s report doubts
6
denies argues comments
Verbs for saying a second time asserts explains Jalal (1993) further/additionally confirms
maintains advocates
that …
Poor patterns show that the writer has a mere grasp of the literature:
Jalal (1993) says that …The Asian Development Bank (1992) states that … Leach and Mearns (1995) argue that …
Better sample shows some critical thinking and sentence variety:
Jalal (1993) reports that his study of … shows … The findings are supported by the Asian Development Bank (1992) replication of … Although both these studies focus on …. They have ignored … According to Leach and Mearns (1995), …
2.2.2 Read three extracts on the issue of poverty and crime. Use the verbs above to cite opinions on poverty and crime.
7
A study by McClatchy Newspapers, released in March finds that the ranks of the severely impoverished are rapidly escalating. The study found that the percentage of poor Americans who are living in extreme poverty has reached a 32-year high. Today nearly 16 million Americans live in “deep or severe poverty.” This is defined as individuals living at half of the federal poverty line. This drastic rise in the level of poverty extends beyond the traditional ghetto and, reaches to suburban and rural communities. At the same time, the poverty rise creates severe social problems. By Joseph Williams, 2011 Starting from the 70s, studies in the US pointed more and more at the link between unemployment, poverty and crime. After that, other connections with income level, schooling, neighborhood quality, education, etc, were revealed as well. Fresh research from the UK even indicates that economic cycles may affect variations in property and violent crimes. But most important of all, the unmistakable characteristic of poverty and crime is that they?re both geographically concentrated in the same areas. In other words, where you find poverty is also where you find crime. And this reveals the strong connection between the two issues. By Carl Holmes, 2011 Sociologist and criminal justice scholars have found a direct correlation between poverty and crime. One economic theory of crime assumes that people weigh the consequences of committing crime. They resort to crime only if the cost or consequences are outweighed by the potential benefits to be gained. The logical conclusion to this theory is that people living in poverty are far more likely to commit property crimes such as burglary, larceny, or theft. By David Garland, 2012 3. Writing Practice
3.1 Using references
Use citation to develop your own argument.
Below are examples of parts of paragraphs using three different citation methods (The references cited have been invented for demonstration purposes only). These
8
methods can be called information prominent, where the focus of the sentence is only on the information being presented; author prominent, where the name of the author of the information is given prominence in the sentence; and weak author prominent, where the ideas of author(s) are given prominence, but authors? names do not appear in the main part of the sentence. Observe how the different methods contribute to the way in which the writer?s argument is developed.
Information prominent citation
Shrinking markets are also evident in other areas. The wool industry is
experiencing difficulties related to falling demand worldwide since the development of high-quality synthetic fibers (Smith, 2000).
This is the default style in many areas of science. However, there are two other options, which should also be part of a writer?s repertoire, for use when appropriate.
Author prominent citation
Shrinking markets are also evident in other areas. Smith (2000) argued that the wool industry was experiencing difficulties related to falling demand worldwide since the development of high-quality synthetic fibers. However, Jones et al. (2004) found that industry difficulties were more related to quality of supply than to demand issues. It is clear that considerable disagreement exists about the underlying sources of these problems.
Weak author prominent citation
Shrinking markets are also evident in other areas. As Smith (2000) pointed out, the wool industry is experiencing difficulties related to falling demand worldwide since the development of high-quality synthetic fibers.
3.1.1 The following is a chart describing people living on less than 1.25 dollars.
Look at the following chart and practice citing these figures by using three different types of citation.
Figure: Poverty headcount ratio at $1.25 a day (% of population)
9
Created By Swati Revankar from World Bank, 2012
Information prominent citation
Author prominent citation
Weak author prominent citation
10