UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN

FHEL1024 ACADEMIC ENGLISH

TUTORIAL 1: ACADEMIC SOURCES AND APA REFERENCING
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TASK 1: SELECTING AND EVALUATING SOURCES
Suppose you are given the task of writing an academic paper on the topic Dangers of Ecstasy.
Consider the following sources that you find via a search engine online. Which would you
explore further into to aid you in your fact finding for your paper? Provide at least 3 reasons for
your choice. Share your points of view with the class and your tutor.

TASK 2: MAKING NOTES

Expanding now from the Task 1, read the following passage. Proceed then to create your own set
of notes based on the points you have learnt from the text. (You may choose to create notes in
either linear form or a mind map).

The Danger of Ecstasy (MDMA)

In almost all cases of MDMA-related deaths in Britain, overheating of the body and
inadequate replacement of fluids have been noted as the primary causes of death. However, in
the United States, studies appear to show that other causes are to blame since no deaths from
overheating have yet been reported. (Oliver, 2009; Terrins & Poe 2010; and Weedingson, 2011)*.
Based on Lakes (2011)*, it seems that normal healthy people are unlikely to die as a result of
taking MDMA, but people with pre-existing conditions such as a weak heart or asthma may react
in extreme ways and are well-advised not to take it.
Not all physical problems associated with the drug are immediate. Jeepers (2009)*
reported that medium term and long term effects have been reported which are quite disturbing.
Medium term effects include the possibility of contracting the liver disease hepatitis, or risking
damage to the kidneys. However, animal studies such as those reported in Johnston (2010)*, Tan
and Horace (2011)* and Gregson (2014)* show no such damage, and cases of human liver or
kidney damage have so far only been reported in Britain. Nonetheless, evidence to date suggests
that alcohol and Ecstasy taken at the same time may result in lasting harm to bodily organs.
There is evidence that MDMA causes long term cellular damage to the brain. The most
common method of detection is to cut out a section of the brain, usually an animals, and
measure the level of the chemical serotonin. (Jennings & Hillary, 2011*) This is performed
weeks or months after use of a suspect drug. If the serotonin level, which is lowered as a result of
the use of many drugs, fails to return to normal, then it is probable that the drug in question has
caused damage to the cells of that part of the brain. Ecstasy has been implicated in causing brain
damage in this way (Louise, 2009*), but in most cases the serotonin level returns to normal.
Perhaps the most damning evidence urging against the use of Ecstasy is that it is
undoubtedly an addictive substance, but one that quickly loses its ability to transport the mind,
while it increases its effect upon the body (Fen & Yee, 2012*). Because one becomes quickly
tolerant of its effect on the mind, they can forgo its use for a while in order to experience again
its full effect. Any substance which produces such a strong effect on the user should be treated
with caution.

*Please note that ALL CITATIONS provided in this text are INVENTED. They are used in
this text activity purely for class discussion purposes and do not reflect any existing name,
year or publication.
TASK 3: APA REFERENCING
Instructions: Make corrections to the citation, including spacing, punctuation, eliminating
unnecessary information, or re-ordering the references. You can assume that all spellings are
accurate; all the information needed to correct the references is provided.

References
Balagura, Steve. (1968). Influence of Osmotic and Caloric Loads Upon Lateral Hypothalamic
Self-Stimulation Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 66, 325-328.

National Commission on Writing in American Schools and Colleges. (2003). The neglected R:
the need for a writing revolution. Retrieved from.
http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/writingcom/neglectedr.pdf.

Abel, S.E., Fox, P.T., Posner, J.P. (1998). Positron emission tomographic studies of the cortical
anatomy of single word processing. Nature, 331, pp. 585-589.

Codon, D. E. (1994, January 10).Kids growing up scared. Newsweek, volume 73, pp.43-9.

Klatzky, R. L. (1980). Human Memory: Structures and Processes (Second Edition). Friedman:
San Francisco.

Swaminathan, N. (2007). Eating Disorders. http://psychologytoday.com/conditions/eating.html.