Academic writingLesson 2 of 3 in the course Annotated Bibliography: Gathering, Evaluating, and Documenting Sources

Academic Source Use: Citation, Annotation, and Synthesis

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Citations identify the sources behind a writer’s ideas and give readers a way to locate those sources. This lesson introduces common academic citation styles, the information citations typically contain, and the reasons accurate documentation matters.

A citation is a set of information that references a source used in research. A style is a set of rules for citing sources in academic writing. Citation styles establish consistent ways to present source information so readers can identify and find the works a writer has used.

All flashcards

What is a citation?
A set of information referencing a source used in research. It helps readers identify and locate that source.
What is a citation style?
A set of rules for citing sources in academic writing. It standardizes how source details are presented.
Where are APA, MLA, and Chicago/Turabian commonly used?
APA is often used in education, psychology, and science; MLA in the humanities; and Chicago or Turabian in business, history, and fine arts.
What information may appear in a citation?
Depending on the source and style, a citation may include author, title, publisher, publication date or location, journal details, a website link, and sometimes a DOI.
Why do writers cite sources?
Citations acknowledge intellectual property, distinguish a writer’s ideas from borrowed material, and help readers locate and verify the sources.

Quiz questions

  1. What is a citation?Answer: A set of information that references a source used in research.
  2. What should a student generally do when an instructor assigns a citation style?Answer: Use the assigned style and consult a reliable guide when needed.
  3. Why might the title begin an MLA citation when a webpage has no listed author?Answer: The title supplies the first identifying element when no author is available.
  4. How does an annotated bibliography typically differ from an abstract?Answer: It commonly evaluates a source and reflects on its research usefulness.
  5. What does synthesis do in academic writing?Answer: Combines ideas and explains their relationships to develop new conclusions.

Based on Writing Guide with Handbook by Michelle Bachelor Robinson, Maria Jerskey, featuring Toby Fulwiler (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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