Making an Academic Writing

By SIRI SENA BABA HAMID Library Science Department 2010

First step

Understanding types of reference sources Types of information Acknowledging your sources Making a Reference List Do not do Plagiarism Note for teachers!

Types of Reference Sources

Index

Gives citations to periodical articles, books, conference proceedings, and other information sources

All the information youd need to find a source in print

Many print indexes now exist as electronic databases

Abstract

An index that gives citations to information sources AND summaries of each item Many print abstracts now exist as electronic databases

Almanac

Usually a single volume Compilation of statistics and other facts Often published yearly

Almanac

Atlas

Book of maps and geographical information May focus on places/spaces

Road atlas Historical atlas Atlas with statistical information

May focus on places over time

May focus on differences between populations

Bibliography

Compilation of sources of information Provides literature on a specific subject or by a specific author Often the EASIEST way to begin research on a topic

Biographical Dictionary

Sources of information about the lives of people Short entries

Chronology

Presents information organized by date Can cover brief or long time periods

World War I vs. all of human history

May be subject-specific subject-

Dictionary

Confirms spelling, definition, pronunciation Tells how words are used Gives synonyms & antonyms, as well as word origins May be general or subject-specific subject-

Directory

Lists names and addresses of individuals, companies, organizations and institutions Telephone books = directories

Encyclopedia

Covers knowledge, or branches of knowledge, in a comprehensive but summary fashion May be general or subject-specific subjectMain entries generally alphabetical from A to Z BUT the index is the most effective way to access information

Gazetteer

Dictionary of geographical places names NO MAPS

Guidebook

Provides detailed descriptions of places, as well as geographical facts and maps Intended for travelers

Handbook

Treats one broad subject in brief, or gives a brief survey of a subject

Manual

Specific work that tells how to do something, or how something operates

Yearbook

Covers trends and events of the previous year May be general in coverage, or limited to one subject or place

Making References

Acknowledging Sources in Academic Writing (Author-Date System, based on American Psychological Association, APA)

Which should you use?

APA: psychology, education, and other social APA: education, sciences. MLA: MLA: literature, arts, and humanities. AMA: medicine, health, and biological sciences. AMA: Turabian: designed for college students to use Turabian: with all subjects. Chicago: Chicago: used with all subjects in the "real world" by books, magazines, newspapers, and other non-scholarly publications. non-

Academic Writing?

At university a large percentage of your written work is based on the ideas of other writers. Therefore, it is important to let the reader of your writing know where you found your ideas. Whenever you have taken something from another author, (that is, you have taken an author's theory, opinion, idea, example, conclusion, or findings), you must say where the original can be found. In other words, you must acknowledge and cite your sources. This is important whether or not you use the author's own words.

Academic Writing

Academic writing might be defined in many ways, there are three concepts that you need to understand before you write your first academic paper. Academic writing is writing done by scholars for other scholars. Academic writing is devoted to topics and questions that are of interest to the academic community. Academic writing should present the reader with an informed argument.

1. 2.

3.

Differences Between Academic and Personal Writing

Personal Writing
Tells a story Non-technical vocabulary I at the centre

Academic Writing
Comments, evaluates, analyses Subject-specific vocabulary I as observer and commentator

Information comes from the writers Information comes from sources and experience refers to what others say Personal views and feelings Evidence and arguments Conventions for citation

Documentation

Information which is exclusively the idea or outcome of someone else work, you must use documentation. The material you need to documentation. document appears either as a paraphrase, a paraphrase, summary, or a direct quotation in your summary, writing. (Bell, K., 1990. p. 402)

Documentation

Using documentation demonstrates the extent of your knowledge, builds the readers trust in your opinions, and increases your ethical appeal. (Bell, K., 1990, p. 402)

Documentation

2 ways to document your work:

1.

Internal documentation

In-text Inreferences

2.

External documentation

OVERVIEW

The American Psychological Association (APA) style, is widely accepted in the Social Sciences and Education. The APA citation format requires parenthetical citations within the text rather than endnotes or footnotes. Citations in the text provide brief information, usually the name of the author and the date of publication, to lead the reader to the source of information in the reference list at the end of the paper.

WHY should you acknowledge your sources?

to show that you have read and understood the research published in your area of study to lend authority to what you are writing to strengthen your argument to support your own ideas to provide details or background to what you are writing to provide interest.

WHEN should you acknowledge your sources?

Whenever you use a source of information:

as your inspiration as the source of a theory, argument or point of view for specific information such as statistics, examples or case studies for direct quotations (using the authors exact words) to paraphrase or summarise an authors work

HOW do you choose your sources?

When you are taking something from another source, you are taking it out of its original context and putting it into a new context your own assignment. You must make sure it fits properly into this new context.

This means:

it must be relevant to your argument it must join neatly with what comes before and after it must make logical and grammatical sense.

HOW do you acknowledge your sources?

1. In-text Referencing 2. Reference List

1. In-text References in Author-Date Style (APA)

Many forms of referencing are acceptable. Ask your lecturers which form of referencing they prefer. Most lecturers at the Universities in Malaysia prefer the American Psychological Associations (APAs) version of the Author/Date system, which is outlined below. Whichever system you use, you must follow it consistently; don't mix footnotes with Author-Date, for instance. In-text references in the Author-Date system should contain only the following information, in this order: 1) the surname of the author/s 2) the year of publication of the text 3) the page number/s of the text (usually for direct quotations, particular ideas and concepts).

For example:
Peterson (2005, p. 31) states that A recent research study (Jones & Jackson, 2004, p. 27) reveals

You need to provide an in-text reference if you:

a. use a long direct quotation (three lines or more), b. use a short direct quotation (two lines or less) c. use an indirect quotation by either paraphrasing or summarising

a. Long Direct Quotations

A direct quotation consists of the actual words used by an author, in the same order as the original text. In other words, it is a direct copy (quotation) of 40 or more words which is separated from the rest of the text as a freestanding block and does not require quotation marks. Indent it 5 spaces from the left hand margin and use the same font size as the text with double-line spacing. Give page number(s) as well as author and date.

For example:
Language is subject to change, just as everything else in the world is. As Aitchison (1981, p.16) puts it: Language, then, like everything else, gradually transforms itself over the centuries. There is nothing surprising in this. In a world where humans grow old, tadpoles change to frogs, and milk turns into cheese, it would be strange if language alone remained unaltered. In spite of this, large numbers of intelligent people condemn and resent language change, regarding alterations as due to unnecessary sloppiness, laziness or ignorance. In other words, people should not get upset or angry because language use varies from generation to generation, because this is a natural process that cannot be stopped.

b. Short Direct Quotations

A short direct quotation is inserted directly into the text without separating it from the rest of the paragraph. Use opening and closing quotation marks, and give the page number.

For example:

Here the writer has chosen a few words from the passage that are relevant to the topic of the paragraph. Notice again how the writer then adds a comment to explain more fully what is meant by the quotation, and how it relates to the topic of the paragraph.

c. Indirect Quotations (paraphrasing and summarising)

Paraphrasing

When you paraphrase, you write an authors idea in your own words, although you can use some of the authors own words as well. This is preferable to direct quotes, as the reference fits more neatly into your own style of writing. It also shows that you really do understand what the author is saying. It is important to acknowledge the author with name and date.

For example:

Summarising

A summary gives an outline of the main points of a passage, chapter or book.

For example:

Note that page numbers are usually not required with indirect quotations. Ask your lecturers whether they require page numbers with paraphrasing or summarizing.

2. The Reference List

The Reference List is a list of all sources used in your assignment. It is different from a bibliography which includes all the sources you consulted including some not cited in your assignment. At the University in Malaysia most lecturers require a reference list.

Reference list

You should give a list of all the sources you have referred to in your work. Your reference list must provide full and accurate details, as it is the means by which the reader can follow up your sources. There are some standard conventions that you must follow, and some stylistic conventions that are more flexible.

Lets make comparison

InIn-text referencing and reference list

Take note:
Additional information can be obtained from the American Psychological Association Website:

http://www.apastyle.org/elecsource.html

What is plagiarism?
(And why you should care!)

Definition:
Plagiarism is the act of presenting the words, ideas, images, sounds, or the creative expression of others as your own.

Students. If:

you have included the words and ideas of others in your work that you neglected to cite, you have had help you wouldnt want your teacher to know about,

Two types of plagiarism:

Intentional

Unintentional

Copying a friends work Buying or borrowing papers Cutting and pasting blocks of text from electronic sources without documenting Media borrowingwithout documentation Web publishing without permissions of creators

Careless paraphrasing Poor documentation Quoting excessively Failure to use your own voice

Excuses
Its okay if I dont get caught! This assignment was BORING! Ive got to get into ??? U.! My parents expect As! I was too busy to write that paper! (Job, big game, too much homework!) Everyone does it!

My teachers expect too much!

Rationale for academic integrity (as if it were necessary!)

When you copy you cheat yourself. You limit your own learning. Is your academic The consequences are not worth the risks! reputation valuable It is only right to give credit to authors to you? whose ideas you use Citing gives authority to the information you present Citing makes it possible for your readers to locate your source Education is not an us vs. them game! Its about learning to learn! Cheating is unethical behavior

Is this important?

What if:

Your architect cheated his way through math class. Will your new home be safe? Your lawyer paid for a copy of the bar exam to study. Will the contract she wrote for you stand up in court? The accountant who does your taxes hired someone to write his papers and paid a stand-in to take his major tests? Does standhe know enough to complete your tax forms properly?
(Lathrop and Foss 87)

Do I have to cite everything?

Nope!
Facts that are widely known, or Information or judgments considered common knowledge Do NOT have to be documented.

Hooray for common knowledge!

Whats the big deal?

You can borrow from the works of others in your own work!

Use these three strategies,

Quoting Paraphrasing Summarizing

To blend source materials in with your own, making sure your own voice is heard.

This next section is for teachers!

Preventing plagiarism

Set a climate where academic integrity is valued Design thoughtful assignments Set up checkpoints throughout the process:

Drafts, outlines, organizers, preliminary Works Cited

Keep portfolios of student writing Vary assignments and topic suggestions each semester Describe the degree to which collaboration is acceptable to your students Require an annotated bibliography Shorter papers are okay

Reference:
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Association, 5th ed. (2006). New York: American Psychological Association.

 Siri Sena Baba Hamid / IPG Kampus Darulaman 2010