A well-placed reference, quotation, or paraphrase from an outside expert can make all the difference when you are making an argument. In fact, many academic writing assignments require you to include these types of supporting arguments to support your case. These supporting arguments can convince your reader that other respected, intelligent individuals share your perspective; it can argue your point with winning style or rhetorical power; and it can prop up your argument where you may need help.
In this unit, we explore how to leverage the work of others to strengthen your argument, while you ensure that you (and not the individual you reference) take the spotlight. We also address plagiarism and the steps you can take to avoid it.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 7 hours.
Read this article. You can incorporate evidence into your essays in a number of ways. Try using various types of evidence in your writing including quotations, summaries, paraphrases, data, illustrations, and photographs.
Read this chapter and take note of how sources can be used poorly. How can you avoid this in your own writing?
Read this article and watch the video. Is it possible to quote too much? How do you know if you are choosing the best information for your essay?
Read this article on main points and sub-claims. How do main points differ from sub-claims? How can you support sub-claims in your writing?
Read this article about supporting claims in your writing. Why is it important to provide support for every point or claim in your writing? Where can you find additional support?
Read this article about selecting good sources. Why is it important to evaluate your sources before using them in an essay? What problems may arise if you do not evaluate your sources for currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose?
It may sound strange, but an important element of argument writing is anticipating what people who disagree with you might say. By acknowledging that there is a alternate opinion and then refuting that opinion, you build your ethos as a writer. When we show the reader that we understand the full conversation surrounding a topic and can hold our ground in a debate, the reader is more inclined to trust our argument.
Read this article about the reasons we use counterarguments and strategies for integrating them into your own writing.
Citing in academic writing serves a variety of purposes. First, it holds you accountable to your research and clarifies what you wrote and what someone else wrote. This avoids the problem of plagiarism, because you've given credit to those whose research you used. Second, proper citation differentiates where your sources leave off and your own ideas begin. Writing is a lot of work, and you've thought long and hard about your topic – make sure you get credit for your ideas and connections. Third, it builds your ethos as a writer.
When a reader knows that the writer conducted research into a subject, the reader can be confident that they're reading credible information. Read this overview about the reasons we cite and the different types of citation styles used in academic writing.
Plagiarism is when a writer uses the words and ideas of someone else and passes them off as his or her own. Put simply, plagiarism is stealing the work of others. Properly integrating source material and citing allows writers to use ideas while still giving appropriate credit to the original author. When does paraphrasing turn into plagiarism? How can you avoid plagiarism when incorporating the works of others into your writing?
This article explains how writers can paraphrase properly without accidentally committing plagiarism. This skill takes some practice, but can be accomplished by using your own words even when describing someone else's ideas. As you read, think about the best ways to integrate source material into your own writing. How will you use your sources appropriately in your essay?
While it's best to use your own words whenever possible, there are times when it becomes necessary to include large amounts of cited material. For example, when an author defines a specific term, or an well-known expert made an important statement. To cite large amounts of material, use a block quotation to set it apart from your own words. Read the following article for instructions on how to format a block quotation in MLA format.
Read this article to learn about formatting longer quotations as block quotes in APA format.
Read this article to learn how to format shorter quotations.
Read this article to learn when to paraphrase and when to quote. What is the difference between quoting and paraphrasing? When should you choose one over the other?
There are times when you will want to paraphrase a source, but you still need to quote some parts of it. This is done by mixing quotes with paraphrasing. Read this article for instructions on how to do this and how to correctly format the citation that follows.
Citation styles serve different purposes and have different emphasis. APA, for example, requires writers to include dates, so the reader is aware of the currency of information. MLA emphasizes page numbers for easy look-up. Chicago style uses footnotes so that in-text citations don't distract the reader. Read this overview on locating reference information to familiarize yourself with the different types of citation styles used in academic writing.
Read this article to learn the correct way to format in-text citations using MLA style. MLA (Modern Language Association) style is one way to format an essay and document sources. MLA is commonly used in the humanities. Each citation style values something different and MLA values location (for example, what book was referenced and where you may find a quote in that book). What kind of essay would you write that would use MLA style?
Read this article on the correct way to format your Works Cited pages using MLA citation.
In this practice exercise, proofread and finalize the essay you prepared in Unit 1 following the MLA style guidelines. The topic for that essay is:
"What does it take to succeed in an Internet-based college course?"
APA style is commonly used in education, social science, and psychology. Each citation style values something different, and APA values the currency of information (when it was written or produced). When do you think APA style would be useful for you?
Read this article to learn the correct way to format in-text citations using APA style.
Read these guidelines on APA formatting.
Review this page on the correct format for APA reference pages.
Chicago style is another way to format an essay and document sources. Writers often use Chicago style to document the sources of historical research. Chicago style values readability by putting in-text citations in footnotes rather than in the paragraph. When do you think you might use Chicago style?
Read this article to learn the correct way to format citation notes and bibliographies using Chicago style.
Read this article. Placing modifiers properly makes your writing more clear.
Read this article. Pronouns and their antecedents must agree in number and gender.
For this assignment, you will read and respond to this excerpt by John Muir.
Write an essay (750 to 1,000 words) that analyzes "Hetch Hetchy Valley, The Yosemite" by John Muir.
You might include your responses to the following in your essay:
Feel free to search the Internet to learn more about John Muir's life and work, and some of the social conventions he discusses, to respond more thoroughly to these questions. Use the editorial process we discussed regarding prewriting and academic writing as you write your essay. Remember to incorporate focus, cohesion, and style to make your writing more effective to your audience.
After you have completed your first draft, use the Toulmin method to evaluate your argument (claim, grounds, warrant, qualifier, and rebuttal). Revise your essay as needed. After you have completed your second draft, read your essay aloud to someone else. Revise and edit your work to address any relevant suggestions and questions. As always, remember to properly cite the authors or copyright holders of any material you reference or paraphrase. It can be especially useful to read your work aloud, to yourself or to a friend.
Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.