Aim: This exercise aims to help you improve your in-text citation in APA-style citations. In-text citation is sometimes also called in-text referencing, and means telling the reader where you found the information. This is done by giving the author's family name, the year of publication and, if possible, the page number(s), although some sources, such as Internet pages, do not have page numbers. For students studying the ELC's English for Academic Purposes course, this exercise will help you to prepare for the long academic essay writing assignment. (Click here for the MS Word version of this exercise.)
Language Analysis:
Examples of in-text citation verbs and verb phrases:
Chan (, p.16) states
that the Internet is a useful research tool.
Cheung (, p.16) suggests
that the Internet is a useful research tool.
Fu (, p.16) indicates
that the Internet is a useful research tool.
Gao (, p.16) points
out that the Internet is a useful research tool.
Ho (, p.16) presents
evidence which shows that the Internet is a useful research tool.
For a controversial topic: Hui (, p.16) argues that that the Internet is a time-saving research tool.
Do not use 'says', because it is bad style. Also, do not use 'claim', because this means that you think that the information may not be correct. The 2001 EAP book advises that, 'at this early stage of your academic writing career avoid using verbs implying criticism of a writer; e.g. "claim".'
Examples of the layout of the components of in-text citations:
According to Kwan (, p.16),
the Internet is a useful research tool.
Kwok (, p.16) states
that the Internet is a useful research tool.
Lim () states that that the
Internet is a useful research tool (p.16).
'The Internet is a useful research tool', states Mok ( , p.16).
'The Internet is a useful research tool' (Or, , p.16).
Common Errors:
Referencing Resources on the Internet
Tips
Tip for Question 1:
It's a problem with the subjects and words showing the writer's action. Back to Q.1.
Tip for Question 2:
It's a problem with subjects. Back to Q.2.
Tip for Question 3:
It's a problem with the date. Back to Q.3.
Tip for Question 4:
It's a problem with the style of the verb. Back to Q.4.
Tip for Question 5:
It's a problem with the verb. Back to Q.5.
Tip for Question 6:
It's a problem with the name and the punctuation. Back to Q.6.
Tip for Question 7:
It's a problem with the verb or brackets. Back to Q.7.
Tip for Question 8
It's a problem with the style. Back to Q.8.
Tip for Question 9
It's a problem with the date. Back to Q.9.
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