WEEK 11: Understanding Research Skills

Vitally important in developing academic writing skills is the knowledge of citing sources properly. Barrie
Olson emphasized the importance of citation as a “disciplinary values”. According to him, foremost
among other writing skills is the knowledge citation that students should learn. Citation means choosing
better sources, integrating their work into another’s work and acknowledging the sources.

Students faced a great deal of academic challenges especially in writing. Incorporating other people’s
research and ideas into your own papers and projects is very easy. However, you need to guard against
attributing the source is an academic offense. It is considered a rule to give credit to the researchers
while making your own significant contributions based from what has been written. There are three
options in presenting evidence from a source. Paraphrasing, quoting and summarizing. This lesson will
introduce summarizing as a will discuss Grammar: the past tense and past perfect tense.

Objectives

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

a) Summarize the content of a given passage;

b) Recall the steps in summarizing
c) Use past tense and past perfect tense.

Citing Sources Using Summary

A summary is a shortened form of facts from an original piece of writing. It is a third of the original
text depending on the purpose of the writer.

Summarizing involves putting the main ideas your own words, including only the main points. Once
again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source. Summaries are significantly
shorter than the original with a complete overview of the source material.
Example:

In summarizing you give the most important information about a published piece of
writing in 1 or 2 sentences. It should be the main idea of the passage.

Distinguishing Two Actions In the Past

Setting the context

Read the passage and underline the verbs.

 In telling of things that have happened in the past, it is sometimes necessary to tell of one thing
that happened before another.

The SIMPLE PAST TENSE describes actions or situations that began and ended in the past.
 Time expressions used: weeks ago, later, in the past, in 1995.
Adverbs of frequency normally come before the verb.
Past tense is formed by adding –d and –ed to the base from of the action verb (regular verbs).
It is also formed by adding –t, a change or no change in the spelling for irregular verbs.

Two past The PAST PERFECT TENSE is used to tell about earlier of happenings

I had caught a fish before Phil baited his hook.

She had already left before I could offer him a ride.

She had worked at the post office before 1999.

I knew that you had not seen a rodeo before.

He described sights we had already seen.

I realized that you had already heard the record.

Practice:

Think of a series of historical events. Construct 5 sentences using past tense and past perfect tense.

Example: Ormoc Flashflood and Yololanda Tradegy

Sentence: Ormoc had experienced flashflood before it experienced Yolanda Tragedy.

You have learned in this module that summarizing of the ways of citing sources. You summarize if it is a
longer passage and don’t forget to cite the source. You also learned the two aspects of past tense.

Glossary

Citation – any academic material taken from other sources, incorporating it into one’s work and
commending the author or writer whom the original work was adapted.

Summary – a shortened form of an original text.

Past participle – are a nonfinite verb form in English that perform, also referred to as –en participles,
passive participles, and perfect participles?
WEEK 12: Understanding Research Skills
Developing research skills involves a better understanding of published materials. Research requires
writers to glean from other sources and incorporate the information to your ideas. This is important as
you need to show that you have understood the materials that you have studied and that you can use
their ideas and findings in your own way. In fact, this is an essential skill that needs to be developed by
every student. Firstly, this module will discuss quotation as a means of citing sources. When we use
someone else’s exact words, we quote the original author, and we show this by using quotation marks.
But as much as we are free to quote, use quotation sparingly and carefully. Your paper should not
present a collection of quotation because you are not reproducing the ideas of others but should add
something to the point you are making,

Secondly, lesson 2 of this module will focus on the Future Tense.

Objectives:

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

a. Construct a well – developed essay using direct quotation correctly.

b. Construct sentences using future tense.
c. Use future continuous tense;
d. Determine the uses of different future aspect.

Citing Sources Using Direct Quotation

Direct quotation is using an author’s exact words to support your claim. Quotations must match the
source document word for word and must be attributed to the original author.

Way of Using Quotation

Direct Quotations should be used sparingly. They should be significant to your argument. You may
quote a whole sentence or just a few words. Quotation marks are used around the quotation.

Examples:

a) Dr. Time Sung, chairperson of the engineering department, said that the budget cuts were a
“disaster for the university. Our department will not be able to compete for the best new
faculty.”
b) Psychologists reveal the following reasons why people fall in love: couples believe that they are
created for one another; they believe that they find a perfect partner to raise babies together;
they want to extend their domain and increase their effectiveness as individuals; they find
 chemistry in a romantic relationship and; they are deeply attracted to one another. Simply put,
Albert Enstein once said, “Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love.”

2. You may quote a whole sentence or just a few words.

Example:

Pippa Long stocking, one critic complained, is not a girl at all “but a boy in disguised”

3. If it helps you make your point, you may quote an entire passage.

 In quoting more than five lines, start the quote on a new line after double-spacing and
indenting ten spaces.
 Single – space the quotation
 No quotation marks are used around the quote – its block form identifies it as a quotation.

Example:

When asked what her first job in this country was like, Mrs. Lynch started to laugh:

Oh, it was terrible. I worked for a rich family – in the kitchen, you know. I was the cook’s assistant.
That meant I did all the chopping, all the stirring, and all the clearing up. I scrubbed that kitchen until my
hands bled. I lasted almost a year, but I quit marrying Joe. That’s when I started my iown catering
business in my kitchen.

In using direct quotation, you must:

a. Choose quotation that fits smoothly in your writing.

b. Discuss it.
c. Use active verbs to introduce it. (refer to table 1 below)
d. Put it in the most strategic place in the composition.
e. Sometimes, leave out some words to condense the quote.
f. Use parenthetical documentation or in-text citation to avoid plagiarism.

Table 1 Most frequent reporting Verbs

When to use Direct Quotation

a. When the writer wants to show that an authority supports his idea most especially in research.
b. When the author wants to present a position or argument to evaluate or comment.
c. When the quote has symbolic language historically.
d. When quote’s meaning distorted when summarized or paraphrased.

________________________________________________________________

Quote if you use another person’s words. You must not use another person’s words as your own; do not
quote if the information is well-known in your subject area. Please note, that some subjects, for example
chemistry, hardly ever use direct quotation.

_________________________________________________________________

Aspects of the Future Tense:

The Simple Future Tense; the Future Continuous Tense; and The Future Perfect Tense

Setting the Context

Read the passage and underline all verbs.

Family Life in the 21st Century

What are photos of a family gathering in 2050 going to look like Will families in urban areas across the
world grow smaller? Will the very poor in rural areas continue to have large number of children? Will
there be mostly older people in such a photo? Probably. Why? Because people are living longer and
staying healthier, and people in economically rich societies are having fewer children. For example, in
the United States in 1980, people over 65 made up only 11.3 percent of the total population.
Furthermore, in the 1950s, the average family had 4.8 children, while in the 1980s, it had 1.3 children.
How many children will be in an American family photograph in the year 2050? Will all the faces smiling
at the digital camera be senior citizens?

- Adapted from Mosaic Grammar 1

The Simple future tense expresses intentions, and it can be used to express requests, promises, offers,
and predictions.

A. Uses of Simple Future Tense

1. Simple future with will is used for:

a. Future predictions: Hannah will be 8 years old next year.
b. Spontaneous decision: I’ll the phone.
 2. Be going to is used for the following:
a. Future predictions (more informal than will):
Hannah is going to be 8 years old next year.
b. Future intentions (based on prior decisions):
Rudy and Ruby are going to get married in October.
c. Future certainly based on current condition or present evidence: Pauline is going to
have a baby.
3. Present progressive is used for the following:
a. Future plans that have already been made: I am marching in parade next week.
4. Simple present is used for the following:
a. Fixed scheduled events: We get paid next Friday.
If the train arrives, we’ll beat rush hour getting home.

 In using the simple present or present progressive indicating future aspect, the
simple present is more forma; and impersonal and is not very common except
with travel arrangements.

Ex. Anne arrives today.

 With present progressive and be going to –

 Present progressive is more common and emphasizes that the arrangement have already been
have.
 Be going to focuses on the speaker’s plan and intentions.

Examples:

I’m staying at Solaire. (Arrangement is already made)

I’m going to stay at Solaire. (Plan/intention)

B - Simple Future versus Future Progressive

 The Future progressive is used for the possibility of change with regard to some
future event.

Example:

Simple Future: We will go to Everglades National Park on our vacation. (Definite

plan)

Future progressive: We will be going to Everglades National Park on our vacation.

(Less definite in that it allows for a change in plans)

C – Simple Future versus Future Perfect

 The future perfect marks an event, an activity that is complete before some
other time in the future or some other future event:

Example:

By the year 2030, nanotechnology will have become accessible to all.

Megan will have moved by the time she completes her studies.

 Simple Future alone suggests that the event/ activity begins with the time
mentioned:

Example:

Nanotechnology will become accessible to all by the year 2030.

Megan will move when she completes her studies.

____________________________________________________________________

Lessons in this module have provided you with the definition of direct quotation and the ways of using
quotation. Also, grammar points’ highlighting the different aspects of Future Tense is added to the
lessons for language mastery. Remember the basic forms of the different aspects of the future tense:

Simple future tense: will + verb (base form)

Be going to + verb (base form)

Future progressive tense: will be + verb (-ing form)

Be going to + verb (-ing form)

Future perfect tense: will have + verb (base form)

____________________________________________________________________

Direct Quotation – restatement of the author’s exact words. Uses quotation marks around the
quotation.

Quotation marks – with the symbol ( “” ), are used to enclose all parts of a direct quotation, quoted
words and phrases within a sentence, titles of short works of music and poetry, lectures, technical terms
in non-technical writing and well – known expressions.
WEEK 13: Understanding Research Skills
You have learned in the previous modules about quoting and summarizing as ways of citing sources. This
module will discuss the last part of citing sources – paraphrasing. In Lesson 2, you will learn about
English words with foreign origin. Knowledge of these vocabulary terms will give you confidence as they
increase your level of preparedness in any academic tasks you may encounter in a college coursework.

In school or in any profession, we produce different types of document and other forms of work by
which using resources from other people are unavoidable. A good academic practice requires that we
are expected to appropriately acknowledge all contributing sources. In writing an essay, we often use
our own words to put over someone else’s thoughts and ideas. While there are some words that we
cannot change (especially the names of people, places, chemicals, and so on), we should also aim to
change the structure of the passage, perhaps by reordering the thoughts and ideas. This is paraphrasing.
When we paraphrase, we need to make it very finish. If we include our own examples, we should make
it clear that these are our thoughts and not those of the original author.

Objectives:

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

a. Apply correct technique in paraphrasing

b. Identify different ways of citing sources used in research skills;
c. Identify the meaning of English words borrowed from other languages

Citing Sources Using a Paraphrase

A paraphrase is a piece of next in an academic paper, borrowed from an original source and written in
your own words. Paraphrasing is common in all fields, but it is the primary way to report evidence from
sources in the natural sciences and qualitative social sciences.

When to paraphrase:

1. When a source’s ideas or information, but not its language, are important to your argument (for
example, if the result of a study of earthworms supports your claim, but its exact language
doesn’t matter)
2. When you can state the ideas of a source more clearly or concisely than the original.
3. When a source uses technical terms that are unfamiliar to your readers
4. When you use many passages from sources (so that you can avoid having too many quotations).
 Notice the above paraphrase sample uses both quote and paraphrase. Again, a paraphrase
involves more than minor changes in the vocabulary and word order of a source. The point of
paraphrasing is to present ideas in your own words; if you aren’t going to change the wording of
the source significantly, you might as well quote it directly. The advantage of paraphrase is that
it helps you refine your own understanding of the source and then present that understanding
to your audience. You just have to make sure to set it off with quotation marks.

 Notice that the example of paraphrase above indicates the source – the title of the article and
the year of publication separated in parentheses. It is necessary to cite your source since the
ideas you’re summarizing or paraphrasing came from someone else. This is a way of avoiding
plagiarism.
 English Words with Foreign Origin

Some English words that we use today originate from foreign words. Here are the lists:
Glossary

Paraphrase – is putting another person’s ideas into one’s own words using one’s own sentence
structure and style of writing. A paraphrase simplifies a selection; it does not necessarily shorten it. It
can be longer than the original source.

Plagiarism – is the uncredited use, either intentional an unintentional, of somebody else’s words or
ideas.

Quotation – uses the writer’s actual words that support your argument. It is enclosed with quotation
marks depending on the number of lines of the quotation.

Summary – is shorter than the original source but contains the main points of the author. It is an
overview of the source material.
WEEK 14: Citation and Documentation in Academic Writing

This module presents the styles of documentation and citation systems, differentiates the MLA
and APA format, and demonstrates the two most widely used styles on referencing. Academic
writing especially in the field of research constitute rules. These rules require proper citation.
Familiarity of these rules is critically important to safeguard against plagiarism, also refers to as
an academic offense. It is an act of taking either intentionally or unintentionally other’s words as
one’s own. On the other hand, proper citation gives integrity to one’s work.

At the end of these modules, you will be able to,

a. Apply appropriate citation format in research skills;

b. Compare differences of the two citation formats;
c. Use correct citation format in referencing

Styles of Citations and Documentations

Documentation provides a list of relevant materials gleaned from other sources in writing a
research paper or other writings done in academic or professional contexts. The value of a paper
is seen in the documentation. Whether primary or secondary sources, they should be cited to
reflect accuracy of information.

Reasons for Citation:

1. Defense against plagiarism

 Citing sources is a tool any writers or researchers must do to avoid accusations of plagiarism.
However, Olson (2013) suggested citation should be taken as a “mechanism” when writing a
paper not just a “defense against plagiarism accusations”. In doing so, students will be
motivated to choose better sources, incorporating them into their works and citing them
properly.
2. To acknowledge indebtedness
 Citation is a sign of respect because it recognizes the work and achievements of previous
scholars. The researcher or writer has to acknowledge sources of materials whether in a
form of paraphrase and summary, quotation (either directly or indirectly) whether primary
or secondary source. It is done for ethical concerns that the writer is indebted to the
different ideas and works of others which contribute to the completion of his or her paper.
3. To establish validity of evidence
 Citing the sources gives the reader veracity of information which support his or her ideas.
4.
5. To provide cross – references
 Readers can trace the origin of ideas for further research .Furthermore, citations guide the
readers into works that have been done and pointing to the gaps still needed for further
study.
6. To establish an “intellectual network”
 According to Feak and Swales (2009), citation informs the reader of the relevant works of
the writers, thus establishing an “intellectual network”.
7. To establish authority of work
 Citations persuade readers on the ideas contributed to the academic field.

Styles for Documentation

Most researchers use the following styles:

A. Note Citation

Note citation is the older style of citing authorities. There are two kinds of notes in documenting
sources materials: the endnotes and footnotes.

a. Endnotes- refers to notes indicated at the end of the sentence in parenthetical

documentation format.
b. Footnotes- document source materials of a page. This is now seldom used.

Examples of Footnotes:

For a book:

1. Carter, Michael. “Ways of Knowing, Doing, and Writing in the Disciplines.” College
Composition and Communication 58.3 (2007): 385-418

For a magazine article:

2. Josephine B. Anderson, “Foods to Avoid when You Have Kidney Stones”, Training Manual for
Health Focus, November 15, 2016, p.2

For a newspaper article:

3. Johnny Manalo, “- Post Dated Politics,” Manila Standard, September 20, 2014,p.25

For an encyclopedia:

4. William Markowitz, “Time, Measurement and Determination of, “Encyclopedia Americana

(2005), XXXVI, 633a – 33c.

Special forms of footnote references:

These are the Author – Latin – Abbreviation format.

1. Ibid.- stands for ibidem, which means “in the same place”. This is used to refer to the same
reference material used by the same author to avoid repetition. Underline ibid to show
italics.
Examples:
1
Laurentina P. Calmoorin, 1984, Educational Measurement and Evaluation, (Manila:
National Book Store, Inc..),p.157
2
Ibid. (Page cited the same from the first reference)
3
Ibid. Page 202. (Page cited different page number but the same source material from
the first reference.
2. Op. cit. – Latin, opera citato, meaning, “the work cited”. It is used when the same reference
material to the same author is cited not consecutively to different page to refrain from
repetition. The author’s surname must be repeated to identify the work cited, followed by
the abbreviation op.cit. The pages are abbreviated followed by a period.
Example:
1
Fred Lindon, Reflection of an Entrepreneur (New York: Harper, 2010,p.5
2
Antonita Ravidad, The Banes and Bones of Technology (California: Milton Inc, 2004)
pp.55-70
3
Avelino, op, cit.,p.283. (references to Avelino are not consecutively and different pages
in his work cited.)
3. Loc.cit – Latin, loco citato, meaning “ the page cited”. It is used when the same reference
material; of the same author is cited not consecutively in the same page.The only difference
between two is that op.cit . is cited to different page while oloc.cit. is cited in the same page.
Example:

1
Dan Melzer, “Writing Assignments Across the Curriculum: A National Study of College
Writing. “ College Composition and Communication (C&E books Store, 2009), pp.240-
261.
2
Mcdonald, Susan Peck.” Data-Driven and Communication (Thomson Publishing,1989),
pp. 411-435.
3
Swales, loc.cit.( This abbreviation is used because the reference is to page 411 also).

4. Infra.- refers to the place “after place cited “ and is applied when the same source material
has been discussed or stated after the page. For example, in page 153 or Chapter 4 of a
research paper, Friedman’s too –way ANOVA is also presented, hence, gootmate is infra,pp,
300-301.
Example:

13
Infra,pp.300-301
5. Supra – means “before place cited.” This is used when the source has been cited and
discussed before the place. For instance, in page 62 of a research paper in Chapter 4, the
 frequency of subject is discussed but this has been presented in page 30 or Chapter 3, thus
the footnote is supra,p.30.
Example:
1
Supra, p.30
B. Parenthetical Citation – most commonly used today because of the method of documenting
the resources are organized. It is commonly used in the sciences, Language and Literature.

Forms of Parenthetical Citation

1. Author and Work – the format used in the Modern language Association (MLA) style for
Language and Literature researches.
2. Author and Date- the style used in the American Psychological Association (APA),
common in science and business researches.

Two Citation Systems used in Academic Writing

1. Modern Language Association (MLA) – the author and work format. Use in Humanities,
Languages, and Literature
Guidelines for this format:
a. Write authors’ last name in the text of your paper, followed by the page number in
parentheses. However, in the first reference, indicate the author’s full name in the
beginning while the page number is enclosed in parentheses after the borrowed
pera. Subsequent citation will refer simply to the author’s surname.

Example:

Janet Emig pioneered the technique of the “think out” procedure for collecting
information about student writing processes (220-221)

b. Place in parenthesios the authors name and the page reference immediately
following the text material.

Example:

Comprehensible input is sufficient for language acquisition (Krashen 39)

c. In citing the entire work and not a specific passage or text material, write only the
author’s name in the text and omit any page number.

Example:

Frodesen summarizes current controversies about the role of grammar in writing.

American Psychological Association (APA)- the author and date, format, use in school
sciences.
 Guidelines for this format:

a. Write the surname of the author and the year of publication enclosed in
parentheses.

Little (1994) states that a high level of correctness is required for effective
communication in formal and written discourse.

In his findings (Little,1994), a high level of correctness is required for effectiveand

written discourse.

In 994, Little revealed that …

Distinguishing Between MLA and APA Format

For instance, a study on a cancer cells from 1956 may not be as relevant as a study on
cancer cells from 2012. Thus, whenever evidence in the form of citation is introduced in
an APa- style paper, the date is included to alert the reader to the timeliness of the
piece. In MLA, which is commonly used in the humanities, timeliness isn’t as important.
For example, a literary interpretation of Hamlet from 1972 is just as relevant and
significant as one from 2011.

To date, even Language and Literature follows an APA format especially in Research, thesis or
dissertation due to the timeliness of the date being given importance. Citation system depends on the
format followed or recommended by your institution. For a comprehensive guidelines using APA format,
refer to APA manual -6th edition, second printing.

Table 1 shows the differences between MLA and APA Format

APA MLA
Sample in-text citations Wilhoit (2009) explains that a Wilhoit explains that a simple
simple claim is when “you have a claim is when “you have a single
single assertion to report” (p. assertion to report” (59).
59).
Sample works cited and Wilhoit, S (2009). A brief guide to Wilhoit, Stephen. A Brief Guide
reference list citations writing academic arguments. to Writing Academic Arguments.
New York: Longman New York: Longman, 2009. Print.

Table 2 shows the guidelines in the Bibliographical references for the two formats.

BIBLIOGRAPHY APA MLA

Guidelines - Author’s surname and - The bibliography must
initials for the first and be written in a separate
middle names. page.
- Followed by the year of - Type the title “Works
publication enclosed in Cited” one inch from the
parentheses, and then top of the page.
place a period. - Name of authors should
- Start you reference list be arranged
on a new page and type alphabetically, surname
the title “References” at first.
the center of the page. - Leave at least two
- Entries should be written spaces between the title
alphabetically, according and the first entry. Use
to the author’s surname. double space throughout
- Both in the parenthetical and observe hanging
and references: write indention.
the abbreviation n.d.
means “no date” for any
publication date. (small
letter n.d)
Example References Works Cited

Davies, A (1991). The Native Wilson, Rob and Ariel Foreman.

Speaker in Applied Linguistics. Literature in Critical Perspective.
Edinburgh: Edinburgh University 3rd ed. New York: Simon, 1980.
Press

Glossary
Bibliography – refers to the list of source material used by the writer or researcher in which the
surnames of authors are arranged in alphabetical order.

Citation – is an indication (signal) in the text that this (material) is not ours; we have “borrowed” it (as a
direct quote, paraphrase pr summary) from someone or somewhere else.

Documentation – is the stylized process of indicating sources in the text (citation) and giving full details
(references) to enable another reader to locate the sources.
Endnotes – refers to notes indicated at the end of a sentence in parenthetical documentation.

Footnotes – refers to a kind of note in documenting sources placed at the foot or bottom of a page with
superscript.

Ibid – refers to “in the same place”. It is applied to consecutive footnote with similar reference material
to the same author in order to avoid repetition.

Infra – refers to “after place cited”. It is applied when the same source material has been discussed or
stated after the page.

Literature Cited – refers to the list of source materials cited in the text of a research paper, thesis or
dissertation which is applicable for publication purposes and the surnames of authors are alphabetically
arranged.

Loc. cit – refers to the “place cited” It is used when footnote of the same reference, materials to the
same author is cited not consecutively in the same page to avoid repetition.

Op. cit – refers to “in the work cited”. It is employed when the footnote of the same reference material
to the same author is cited not consecutively to different page number to refrain from repetition.

Reference – gives full details of the source cited in the work; the parts or elements of the reference
should be noted in a consistent order.

Research – maybe defined as a scientific investigation of phenomena which includes collection,

presentation, analysis and interpretation of facts that links man’s speculation with reality.

Style guide – is published manual gives guidance on citation and references to help ensure that
documentation is expressed consistently, including all the elements needed for sources to be identified.
Commonly used styles are APA and MLA.

Supra – This means “before place cited” It is a footnote employed when the source material has been
cited and discussed before the page.