LPE2503 ACADEMIC WRITING

LECTURE NOTES 2
[WEEK 5 – 7]

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1.
Topics:

1. Plagiarism in Academic Writing

2. Using and Citing Sources
3. Reference List
4. In-text citations
5. Reporting Verbs

PLAGIARISM IN ACADEMIC WRITING

Plagiarism is the act of taking ideas, words, or data from a source without properly
acknowledging the original author(s). In the academic context, ideas, words, and
data are considered the intellectual property of those who first conceived or recorded
them. This principle applies to both published materials like books and journals, as
well as unpublished sources such as lectures, theses, or students' essays—all of
which must be appropriately credited. Additionally, this obligation extends beyond
textual content to include various types of work, such as graphs, illustrations, and
website resources.

Plagiarism is considered an academic crime. It can be

easily identified by lecturers using text-matching
software, such as Turnitin. Upon the detection of
plagiarism, students face potential consequences
ranging from a failing grade on an assignment to the
possibility of failing an entire course, and in severe
cases, even expulsion from the university. Hence, it is
imperative for all students to grasp the concept of
plagiarism, as well as acquire the skills necessary to
avoid it.

There are two types of plagiarism: intentional and unintentional. Intentional

plagiarism occurs when writers deliberately incorporate someone else's words or
ideas and claim them as their own. In contrast, unintentional plagiarism occurs when

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writers use the words or ideas of others without proper acknowledgement, often due
to a lack of knowledge on how to do so. Here are examples of plagiarism:

Intentional Plagiarism Unintentional Plagiarism

● Copying, downloading, or purchasing ● Not knowing the need to acknowledge
written work produced by others, and sources.
claiming that work as your own. ● Paraphrasing incorrectly and retaining
● Not giving proper credit to sources after a large portion of the original text.
incorporating some of their ideas and ● Citing the wrong sources
words into your assignment. unintentionally.
● Reusing the same assignments and
submitting them for different courses.

Therefore, avoiding plagiarism is not simply a matter of providing references or

changing a few words. It entails the effective use of appropriate methods and skills to
ensure that your writing adheres to the academic conventions.

EXERCISE 1

Work with a partner to evaluate the following acts and determine if they constitute
plagiarism.

Acts Plagiarism
Yes/No
1. Copying a paragraph but changing a few words and providing a
citation.
2. Copying a short article from a website without proper citation.
3. Taking two paragraphs from a classmate’s essay without citation.
4. Using a graph from a textbook and acknowledging the source.
5. Quoting a text from a source, giving a citation but not using
quotation marks.
6. Using information considered to be general knowledge, e.g.,
Malaysia is suffering from the haze due to the reemergence of
transboundary haze pollution from Indonesia.
7. Using a paragraph from an essay you previously wrote and
submitted in the previous semester without proper citation.
8. Using the results from your own research, such as data obtained
from a survey, without citation.
9. Engaging in discussions with classmates on an essay topic and
incorporating some of their ideas into your own work.
10. Citing information but misspelling the author’s name in the citation.

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 11. Copying ideas and sentences generated by AI, such as ChatGPT.
12. Copying AI-generated texts and properly citing the AI model, such
as ChatGPT.

Although plagiarism primarily involves the act of copying someone else's work, its
definition is not always straightforward. This exercise illustrates that plagiarism can
be both intentional and unintentional. For instance, in Act 10, when an author's name
is misspelt, it technically qualifies as plagiarism, but it is more a lapse of attention
than an intentional act. In Act 9, if your lecturer encourages group discussions
followed by individual essay writing, it does not constitute plagiarism. Moreover, self-
plagiarism, as seen in Act 7, is a possibility to be aware of. Determining what falls
under the category of general or common knowledge, as in Act 6, can sometimes be
challenging. When uncertainty arises, it is always advisable to provide proper
acknowledgement to the source.

EXERCISE 2
Compare the five paragraphs below to the following original paragraph. Determine
which paragraphs may be considered plagiarised and which are not.

Smelly VR

Smelly VR, also known as olfactory virtual reality, is an emerging technology designed to
enhance the immersive experience of virtual environments by incorporating scents and
odours. Recent human-machine interfaces highlight the importance of human sensation
feedback, including vision, audio, and haptics, associating with wide applications in
entertainment, medical treatment, and VR/AR. Olfaction plays a significant role in human
perceptual experiences, which is equally important to visual and auditory feedback. As
one of the typical five senses, olfaction has shown a crucial influence in shaping human
lives, as most aspects of daily life associated with olfaction come from manmade
materials, industry, transport, household products, etc. For example, olfaction can help us
building up a relationship between a mother and a child, picking out the preferred foods,
and getting warned of dangers.

(Source: Liu et al.,2023, p.1)

Paragraphs Acceptable/
Plagiarised
1. Smelly VR, or olfactory virtual reality, enhances virtual
environments by adding scents. Human-machine interfaces stress
sensory feedback like vision, audio, and haptics, benefiting
entertainment, medicine, and VR/AR. Olfaction is crucial,
alongside vision and hearing. Our sense of smell impacts daily life,
aiding emotional bonds, food choices, and safety awareness (Liu
et al., 2023).

2. Scented VR, also referred to as olfactory virtual reality, is an

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 emerging technology crafted to enhance the immersive quality of
virtual environments by integrating aromas and scents. Modern
human-computer interfaces underscore the significance of human
sensory input, encompassing aspects such as vision, audio, and
haptics, with broad applications in entertainment, healthcare, and
VR/AR domains. Olfaction plays a substantial role in human
perceptual encounters, holding equal importance alongside visual
and auditory inputs. Olfaction has demonstrated a profound
influence on shaping human existence, as the majority of aspects
in daily life linked to scent arise from manmade materials, industry,
transportation, household items, and more. For instance, the
sense of smell contributes to establishing emotional connections,
selecting preferred foods, and alerting us to potential hazards (Liu
et al., 2023).

3. “Smelly VR, also known as olfactory virtual reality, is an emerging

technology designed to enhance the immersive experience of
virtual environments by incorporating scents and odours. Recent
human-machine interfaces highlight the importance of human
sensation feedback, including vision, audio, and haptics,
associating with wide applications in entertainment, medical
treatment, and VR/AR. Olfaction plays a significant role in human
perceptual experiences, which is equally important to visual and
auditory feedback. As one of the typical five senses, olfaction has
shown a crucial influence in shaping human lives, as most aspects
of daily life associated with olfaction come from manmade
materials, industry, transport, household products, etc. For
example, olfaction can help us building up a relationship between
a mother and a child, picking out the preferred foods, and getting
warned of dangers” (Liu et al., 2023, p. 1).

4. Smelly VR, also called olfactory virtual reality, is a new technology

that adds scents to virtual environments to make them more
realistic. Recent human-computer systems stress the importance
of our senses, like vision and hearing, in various fields like
entertainment, healthcare, and VR/AR. Our sense of smell, known
as olfaction, is just as vital as what we see and hear. It plays a
significant role in our daily lives, influencing everything from the
materials we use to the products we encounter. For instance, it
helps us form bonds, choose our favourite foods, and stay alert to
potential dangers (Liu et al., 2003).

5. Smelly VR, also known as olfactory virtual reality, is an emerging

technology designed to enhance the immersive quality of virtual
environments by integrating scents and odours. This innovation
aligns with recent advancements in human-machine interfaces,
where sensory feedback, including visual, auditory, and haptic
cues, has found widespread applications in areas like
entertainment, medical treatment, and virtual and augmented
reality (VR/AR). Olfaction, one of our five primary senses, holds a
crucial role in shaping human perceptual experiences and is
equally important alongside visual and auditory feedback. In daily
life, we encounter various olfactory stimuli from manmade sources
such as industry, transportation, household products, and more.

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Avoiding Plagiarism in Academic Writing
To avoid plagiarism, several methods allow you to ethically incorporate others’ ideas
to support your own ideas. Below are three commonly used methods:

I. Using proper citation and referencing conventions;

II. Using direct quotations;
III. Using indirect quotations (Paraphrasing and Summarising).

2. USING AND CITING SOURCES

a. Selecting and Evaluating Sources

Selecting Sources
Depending on the nature of your academic writing and the specific discipline, you will
need to select and use different sources to support your points. When selecting
sources for inclusion in your writing, they should not only be relevant but also
credible.

EXERCISE 3
Which of the following types of sources are both academically acceptable and
credible for inclusion in your writing?

No Sources Acceptable Reasons

(Yes/No)
1. Journal articles
2. Academic books
3. Magazines and newspapers
4. Dictionaries and encyclopedias
5. Wikipedia entries
6. Any entries from websites
7. Theses and dissertations
8. Assignments from peers
9. Blog posts
10. Lectures

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Evaluating sources
After selecting the sources for inclusion in your writing, it is essential to check their
reliability. You can use the following list as a guide.

b. Citing and Referencing Sources

When incorporating words or ideas from external sources into your writing, it is
imperative to acknowledge them through proper citation and referencing. This
practice serves several essential purposes:

I. Giving credit to the originator of the idea.

II. Aiding readers in distinguishing between your original ideas and
contributions from other sources.
III. Providing readers with the means to locate and explore the
references used in your writing.
IV. Demonstrating that you have utilised reliable sources to support your
points.

Different academic disciplines may employ various citing and referencing

conventions, including APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and IEEE. Always consult with
your lecturers to determine the preferred documentation style in your field of study.

In the case of LPE 2503 Academic Writing, the required citation and referencing
style is the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition, which
encompasses the following elements:

i. In-text citations

ii. References

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3. REFERENCE LIST

Documenting your sources involves two essential components: citing sources

within your writing and creating a reference list. The format of information in the
reference list corresponds to the in-text citations used in your document. These two
parts of the documentation process work together to give proper credit to your
sources and enable readers to locate them easily.

In-text citation: Zubair et al. (2023) argue that heavy social media use can be linked to
depression and other mental disorders.

Reference list Zubair, U., Khan, M. K., & Albashari, M. (2023). Link between
entry: excessive social media use and psychiatric disorders. Annals of
Medicine and Surgery, 85(4), 875-878.

General Formatting Guidelines for APA Reference List

● Double-space all entries.

● Begin the first line of each entry at the left margin; indent subsequent lines by
five spaces.
● Use the author’s full last name and the initial of their first name.
● When there are multiple authors, separate their names with commas and
place an ampersand (&) before the last author’s name.
● The reference list should include surnames and initials for up to 20 authors.
● In cases where the author’s name is unknown, write the title of the article.
● Arrange the entries alphabetically, either by the author’s name or the title of
the article.
● End each item in an entry with a full stop (.) unless the entry ends with a web
address.

APA Reference List Formats for Specific Types of Sources

Each source type follows particular guidelines for its appearance on a reference list.
For detailed information on various source formats, consult the Publication Manual of
the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition, or visit
http://www.apastyle.org/ for further guidance.

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9
A Quick Referencing Guide to the APA Style

Commonly Cited Sources

1. Journal Article

► Single author
Chhatwani, M. (2022). Mortgage delinquency during COVID-19: Do financial literacy
and personality traits matter? International Journal of Bank Marketing, 40(3), 494-
510. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBM-05-2021-0215

► Multiple authors
Ntiamoah, E. B., Li, D., Ameyaw, B., Sarpong, D. B., Ankrah, M. T., & Nyamah, E. Y.
(2022). A data-driven approach to mitigating food insecurity and achieving zero
hunger: A case study of West African countries. Natural Resources Forum, 46(2),
157-178. https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-8947.12248

2. Book

► Single author
Gurley, T. W. (2020). Aeroponics: Growing Vertical. Routledge.

► Multiple authors
Teh, C., Tan, A. N., & Hoo, J. Y. (2023). Essential Organic Chemistry. Sunway
University Press.

► E-book
Nydegger, R. (2018). Clocking in: The psychology of work.
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com

3. Website

Format: Author’s Last Name/Corporation/Group/Organization's Name. (Year webpage was

last updated/published, Month Day if given). Title of page: Subtitle (if any). URL

► Webpage
World Health Organisation. (2023, March 17). Dengue and severe dengue.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-
dengue

► No author and date

Causes of global warming. (n.d.). Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/science/global-warming/Causes-of-global-warming

► No date
Branch, S. (n.d.). What are the health benefits of hibiscus tea? Livestrong.com.

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 https://www.livestrong.com/article/119463-health-benefits-hibiscus-tea/

Citing Asian Authors

Author Rule Example

Malay International Publication: Mohd Azidan Bin Abdul Jabar

names Last name
Cite as: Jabar

Reference as: Jabar, M. A. A.

Malaysian Publication: Mohd Azidan Bin Abdul Jabar

Omit Bin/Binti
Cite as: Mohd Azidan Abdul Jabar

Reference as: Mohd Azidan Abdul Jabar

Chinese Family name first, Ng Chwee Fang

Names followed by the author’s
initials. Cite as: Ng

Reference as: Ng, C. F.

Family name first Florence Toh Haw Ching

followed by the English
name’s initials and the Cite as: Toh
author’s initials.
Reference as: Toh, F. H. C.

Indian and Omit d/o, s/o, a/l, a/p Vijayaletchumy a/p Subramaniam
Sikh Names
Cite as: Subramaniam

Reference as: Subramaniam, V.

Manraj Singh Cheema

Cite as: Cheema

Reference as: Cheema, M. S.

EXERCISE 4
Provide references for the following sources in APA style.
Source Journal
a. Title Language Choices between Partners in Bilingual
Relationships
Author Agnieszka Stepkowska
Date of publication November 2021
Journal title GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies 11
Volume and Issue 21, 4
Page number 110-124
DOI http://doi.org/10.17576/gema-2021-2104-06
___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

b.
Source Book
Title Innovation Management and New Product Development
Author Paul Trott
Date of publication 2021
Edition 7
Publisher Pearson

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

c. Source Webpage
Title Cancer Prevention
Organisation National Cancer Society Malaysia
Date of publication No Date
Website https://cancer.org.my/get-ahead/cancer-care/prevention/
__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

d. Source Journal
Title Gender, Ethnicity and Unpaid Domestic Work Before and
During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia
Authors Hemarubhini David Chelliah, Boo Harn Shian, and
Premalatha Karupiah
Date of publication 22 September 2023
Journal title Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities
Volume & Issue 31, 3
Page number 975-993
DOI https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.31.3.04
__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

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e.
Source Webpage
Title Singing
Author Unknown
Date of publication 15 September 2023
Publisher Britannica
Website https://www.britannica.com/art/singing

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

EXERCISE 5
Provide a reference list in APA style by compiling all the references in Exercise 4.
Arrange them in alphabetical order.

References

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4. IN-TEXT CITATIONS
An in-text citation is a reference incorporated within the body of an academic text.
The exact format of an in-text citation varies according to the citation style required;
for example, in APA style, an in-text citation is composed of the following elements:

I. Author’s last name

II. Year of publication

There are two ways to write your citation:

a. Within the sentence citation

● The name of the author and the year of publication are placed in front of a
direct quotation or paraphrase.
● This method is used to highlight the author (Author-centred).

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 Citing your sources within the sentence (Author-centred)

Peranzo (2023) argues that digital transformation plays a pivotal role in the pursuit of
green and climate-neutral economies in Asia.

b. At the end of the sentence citation

● The name of the author and the year of publication are placed at the end of a
direct quotation or paraphrase.
● This method is used to highlight the information you have paraphrased or
quoted from an author (Idea-centred).

Citing your sources at the end of the sentence (Idea-centred)

Digital transformation plays a pivotal role in the pursuit of green and climate-neutral
economies in Asia (Peranzo, 2023).

Citation Situations
1. Direct Quotations

Occasionally, you may want to quote the exact words of another author. You quote
directly when:

● the idea is well-known;

● the wording of the original author is precise;
● the exact words of the author would lend support to your idea;
● by changing the original structure, the idea could not be delivered as
accurately as the original.

The danger of using too many direct quotations in your writing is that, in the end,
your writing may contain nothing more than other people’s ideas. It is crucial to have
your own opinions and ideas in your writing. Therefore, use direct quotations
sparingly and only when necessary.

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When quoting directly, you will need to:

● put quotation marks around quoted material;

● put the page number after the quoted material in parentheses;
● put a full stop outside the parentheses.

Citing within the Kadir (2022) explains that “Utility cycling is described, in contrast to
sentence: recreational cycling, as the use of a bicycle as a mode of transport for
practical purposes, such as commuting to and from work, education,
shopping, or visiting family and friends” (p. 1017).

Citing at the end of “Utility cycling is described, in contrast to recreational cycling, as the use
the sentence: of a bicycle as a mode of transport for practical purposes, such as
commuting to and from work, education, shopping, or visiting family and
friends” (Kadir, 2022, p. 1017).

2. Source with More Than One Author

When a source has two or more authors, you must use slightly different citation
formats.

Source with two ● List the authors in the order they appear in the source.
authors: ● Use the word "and" between the authors' names within the text and
use the ampersand (&) when using the end of sentence citation style.

Citing within the Yong and Saad (2023) observe that ESL students preferred the
sentence: project-based learning approach as it was more effective,
invigorating, and empowering than traditional lecture-style teaching.

Citing at the end of ESL students preferred the project-based learning approach as it was
the sentence: more effective, invigorating, and empowering than traditional lecture-
style teaching (Yong & Saad, 2023).

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 Source with three or Include only the surname of the first author followed by ‘et al.’.
more authors:

Citing within the Zubir et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional online survey among
sentence: veterinary and medical students in their clinical years at a Malaysian
university to assess the students’ knowledge, attitude, and practice
concerning COVID-19.

Citing at the end of A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among veterinary and
the sentence: medical students in their clinical years at a Malaysian university to
assess the students’ knowledge, attitude, and practice concerning
COVID-19 (Zubir et al., 2021).

3. Unknown Author

Sometimes, the author’s name is not provided. In such instances, you should cite
as follows:

● Use the source title in place of the author with quotation marks;
● Include the year;
● Use the full title in the first citation. In subsequent citations, use the first few
words of the title.

Citing within the “Bharatanatyam: The ancient Indian art” (2023) explains that
sentence: Bharatanatyam is a classical dance style of India, which is indigenous
to the Tamil Nadu region.

Citing at the end of Bharatanatyam is a classical dance style of India, which is indigenous
the sentence: to the Tamil Nadu region (“Bharatanatyam: The ancient Indian art”,
2023).

Subsequent citation: “Bharatanatyam” (2023) illustrates that the dancers wear bells around
their ankles, jewellery around their waist and neck and makeup to
enhance their eye and facial expressions.

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4. Groups as Authors

Some sources are authored by government agencies, corporations, organisations,

or associations without an author’s name provided. In such cases, you should cite
as follows:

● use the full name of the organisation in the first citation;

● if the organisation’s name is long, shorten the name in subsequent citations,
i.e., use abbreviations or acronyms;
● include the year in all citations.

Citing within the The Woman’s Aid Organisation (2020) claims that stalking is
sentence: widespread and affects Malaysians negatively, and existing laws do
not adequately help Malaysians who experience stalking.

Citing at the end of Stalking is widespread and affects Malaysians negatively, and existing
the sentence: laws do not adequately help Malaysians who are experiencing
stalking (Woman’s Aid Organisation, 2020).

Subsequent citation: The WAO (2020) explains that most Malaysians who experience acts
of stalking are unaware of the protection available.

5. Unknown date of publication

In situations where no publication date is provided for a text, which is often the case
with many websites, insert the abbreviation ‘n.d.’ in place of the year of publication.

Citing within the Petterson (n.d.) claims that the chances of adopted children to develop
sentence: normally are highly dependent on the attitudes of their parents.

Citing at the end of The chances of adopted children to develop normally are highly
the sentence: dependent on the attitudes of their parents (Petterson, n.d.).

6. Information taken from more than one source

When you are making statements such as ‘Several studies have discovered’ or
‘Many researchers have found that’, you should cite as follows:

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If you have cited multiple studies from the same author(s) who support the same
point, arrange the citations chronologically based on their earliest publication date.
For example:

Same author(s): Several studies by Arreta-Lopez and Carrasquilla-Diaz (2016, 2018,

2021) support the implementation of school programmes to prevent the
risks of virtual harassment.

Additionally, if the information is taken from more than one source published by
different authors, you should:

• list authors in alphabetical order within the same parentheses;

• separate names with semicolons for citations at the end of the sentence.
Different author(s): Many researchers have claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic has
contributed to the deteriorating state of mental health in the community
(Cielo et al., 2021; Gritsenko et al., 2020; Parzi & Abd Karim, 2020).

Cielo at al. (2021), Gritsenko et al. (2020), and Parzi and Abd Karim
(2020) claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the
deteriorating state of mental health in the community.

7. Indirect Source

Often, sources contain paraphrases and quotes from experts. You may want to use
information from these sources that originates from individuals other than the
source’s author(s). In such situations, you should:

● include both the original author and year and the author and year of the work
where quote/idea was found;
● use a citation at the end of sentence format;
● write “as cited in” and the last name of the author(s) of your source.

Citing a direct quotation

A common definition of “mindfulness is paying attention to your life, here and now,
with kindness and curiosity” (Saltzman, 2000, p.1, as cited in Kane, 2020, p. 117).

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Citing paraphrased information

Mindfulness means focusing on the present moment, showing kindness and a

genuine curiosity towards it (Saltzman, 2000, as cited in Kane, 2020).

In the two examples above, Kane is the source in which Saltzman's idea was found.
You would acknowledge both Saltzman and Kane in the citation, but you would only
cite Kane in your reference list.

EXERCISE 6
Write in-text citations in APA style using the information below.

1.
Author : Edith Debrenti
Date : 23 October 2023

a. Citation within the sentence:

______________________________________________________________

b. Citation at the end of the sentence:

______________________________________________________________

2.
Author : Wagaki Gicheru and Nyawira Mwangi
Date : Not Available

a. Citation within the sentence:

______________________________________________________________

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 b. Citation at the end of the sentence:

______________________________________________________________

3.
Author : Unknown
Title : When science and empathy meet
Date : 1 July 2020

a. Citation within the sentence:

______________________________________________________________

b. Citation at the end of the sentence:

______________________________________________________________

c. Subsequent citation:

______________________________________________________________

4.
Authors : Megan Spacciapoli, Mara Viana, Oliver Saunders Wilder, Jillian
Sullivan, Tia McCallum and Barbara Wilder-Smith

Date : 20 December 2022

a. Citation within the sentence:

______________________________________________________________

b. Citation at the end of the sentence:

______________________________________________________________

5.
Study 1 : Sepideh Hassani and Susanne Schwab

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 Date : 21 December 2021

Study 2 : Tove Leming and Lisbeth Bergum Johanson

Date : 6 October 2023

a. Citation within the sentence:

______________________________________________________________

b. Citation at the end of the sentence:

______________________________________________________________

5. REPORTING VERBS
Incorporating verbs in your in-text citations, such as ‘Zach argues’ or ‘Rizvi explains’,
helps you integrate source materials smoothly. This citation technique also
demonstrates that you are actively engaged with the source materials. During the
writing process, you are not advised to use the same few verbs repeatedly, such as
‘Lim said’ and ‘Awang stated’.

Before choosing a reporting verb, it is crucial to thoroughly read the source materials
and gain a clear understanding of the author’s claims. Once you have selected a
verb, ask yourself whether the verb accurately conveys the author’s intended
message. It is your responsibility to ensure that others’ work is reported accurately.
Below are examples of useful reporting verbs that can be incorporated in your
citations.

Reporting something the author did

analyse, assess, calculate, conclude, demonstrate, describe, determine, discover, discern,

examine, establish, find, identify, investigate, notice, observe, prove, report, show, study

Reporting something the author stated

‘Weaker’ ‘Stronger’

comment, describe, discuss, point out, affirm, clarity, conclude, emphasize,

note, remark, write explain, identify, maintain, stress, stipulate

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 Reporting the author’s opinion
‘Weaker’ ‘Stronger’

accept, believe, consider, question, query, advocate, argue, assert, claim, contend,
see, speculate, suggest, suspect, think, conclude, deny, maintain, recommend,
view, propose reject

The APA style emphasises the use of the simple present tense, simple past
tense, or present perfect tense when discussing an author’s ideas or writing. Below
are examples:

● Kim (2021) argues …. (simple present tense)

● Samad and Tan (2019) demonstrated … (simple past tense)
● Singh (2018) has suggested … (present perfect tense)

There are certain conventions to follow when citing someone’s work. Words like
‘says’, ‘tells’, and ‘asks’ are typically used in oral conversation and are not suitable
for formal academic writing. The following table illustrates some appropriate words to
use when reporting the work of others.

When you mention a published work for the first time, you may follow the basic
patterns below:

Michta (2023) comments … Ferrari’s confirm …

concludes … (2017) establish …
explains … findings maintain …
indicates … show …
notes …
observes …
remarks …
states …

Nunan et al. advocate the view … The analysis of shows …

(2018) hold the position… the financial suggests …
present arguments to report from the denies …
emphasis… National Cancer
propose… Society of
Malaysia (2022)
Martiana’s emphasises …

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 (2020) study illustrates …
points out …
proposes …
shows …
suggests …

For the second or subsequent mentions of your sources within your paraphrase of
a linked point, you may use these patterns below:

Mitchta (2023) further asserts …

points out …
suggests …

Nunan et al. (2018) additionally advocate …

argue…
emphasise…
explain…

EXERCISE 7
Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate reporting verbs from the box.

write suggest conclude

1. Lee and Adam (2020) _____________ that the new drug has a significant impact
on reducing cholesterol levels.

lists suggests highlights

2. Bakar (2018) _____________ the importance of early childhood education in the

development of cognitive skills.

argues defines says

3. Ibrahim (2023) _____________ that the current tax policy is ineffective in

reducing income inequality.

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 claim propose mention

4. Wilson et al. (2021) _____________ a new research-informed policy to address

cyberbullying in schools.

suspect report accept

5. The research findings by Visvanathan et al. (2021) ___________ that there is a

strong correlation between regular exercise and improved mental health.

EXERCISE 8
Provide citations within the sentence or at the end of the sentence using the
information below. Use suitable reporting verbs when necessary.

1. Author: Emily Roberts

Publication Date: 15 September 2017
Paraphrase: Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining good
cardiovascular health.

Citation:

2. Author: Malaysian Climate Change Group

Publication Date: 5 February 2020
Paraphrase: The primary cause of climate change is the emission of
greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.

Citation:

3. Authors: Grace Steele and Christian Grey

Publication Date: 16 March 2022
Paraphrase: Global economic trends impact small businesses more than

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 large corporations.

Citation :

4. Authors: Samantha Conde, Aviv Elor, and Sri Kurniawan

Publication Date: 12 August 2021
Paraphrase: Technology has revolutionised the way we approach
education.

Citation:

5. Authors: Ahlam Ali Salim Halali, Lilliati Ismail, Arshad Abd Samad, Abu
Bakar Razali, Nooreen Noordin

Publication Date: 2 December 2022

Paraphrase: Libyan students struggle to speak English due to the lack of
opportunities to use the language in Libya.

Citation:

6. Source Title: “Meditation and Mindfulness”

Publication Date: 3 January 2020
Paraphrase: Meditation can significantly reduce stress levels.

Citation:

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