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Using Sources Effectively - Robert A. Harris, Christie J. Curtis

Using Sources Effectively

Strengthening Your Writing and Avoiding Plagiarism
Buch | Softcover
186 Seiten
2026 | 6th edition
Routledge (Verlag)
978-1-032-64379-3 (ISBN)
CHF 109,95 inkl. MwSt
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This sixth edition targets the two most prominent problems in current research-paper writing: the increase in unintentional plagiarism and the ineffective use of research source material. It has been thoroughly updated to cover developments in AI and ChatGPT, critical thinking, and digital developments in relation to social media.
The sixth edition of Using Sources Effectively targets the two most prominent problems in current research-paper writing: the increase in unintentional plagiarism and the ineffective use of research source material.

Designed as a textbook for both undergraduate and graduate courses, this book will help every student who uses research in writing. It was written to give students the knowledge and tools you can use to make your research-based writing more powerful and effective. The book includes Mini-Research Projects at the end of each chapter to sharpen your research and evaluation skills; a set of practical, useful rhetorical devices to help improve the clarity and impact of your writing; instruction in close reading to help you better grasp what an author is discussing or arguing; and strategies for organizing and positioning your sources to strengthen your central argument. The new edition has been thoroughly updated to cover developments in AI and ChatGPT, critical thinking, and digital developments in relation to social media.

With updated online resources, including lecture PowerPoints, an instructor’s guide, a quiz bank, and digital figures, as well as new “sidebar” and learning objective features in the book, this is an essential textbook for students across a range of disciplines who need a guide to research and writing and who are taking courses on academic writing.

Robert A. Harris (PhD, University of California, Riverside) taught English at college and university level for more than 25 years. He has also worked in the area of instructional design. Dr. Harris' other books include The Plagiarism Handbook and Writing with Clarity and Style: A Guide to Rhetorical Devices for Contemporary Writers. Christie J. Curtis (PhD, Interim Dean, Graduate Studies Chair, Professor, Biola University, La Mirada, California) has been teaching writing and grammar skills for more than 25 years. She currently chairs the committees of many graduate students as they seek to complete their theses. Dr. Curtis is the coauthor of the Grammar and Writing Series (Grades 3–8), which includes student texts (writing and grammar), student workbooks (writing and grammar), teacher’s guides, and online resources.

Preface to the Sixth Edition

Chapter 1: The Importance of Using Sources Effectively

1.1 Why Learn to Write Well?

Writing Is a Thinking Process

Writing Is a Learning Process

Writing Develops Lifelong Skills

1.2 Why Learn Research-Based Writing

Research Makes Writing Easier

Research Writing Allows You to Contribute to the Great Conversation

1.3 Why Use Sources in Papers?

Research Sources Provide Context

Sources Strengthen Argument

Sources Add Interest to Your paper

Sources Provide You With New Ideas

Sources Keep You Up-to-Date

Sources Reveal Controversies

Sources Help You Understand How Reasoned Argument Works

1.4 Why Use Sources Effectively?

Effective Use Instills Trust

Effective Use Aids Persuasion

Effective Use Shows Engagement

1.5 Why Cite Them All?

Cite to Help Your Reader

Cite to Show Respect for Fellow Knowledge Workers

Cite to Avoid Plagiarism

1.6 Are Sources the Whole Idea?

Your tTinking Is the Star

Sources Need Something to Support

Sources Need Interpreting

It's the Great Conversation Again

Review Questions

A Little Rhetoric: How Much Emphasis?

Now You Try

Chapter 2: Finding, Choosing, and Evaluating Sources

2.1 Start by Understanding the Assignment

What Is the Purpose of the Paper?

What Are the Specific Requirements for the Paper?

Who Is Your Audience?

2.2 Select the Kinds of Sources You Need

Choose the Kind of Information You Need

Take a Shortcut to Selection

Choose Sources of Appropriate Scholarship

Choose Appropriate Primary and Secondary Sources

Avoid Choosing a Source Only Because You Agree With It

Avoid Quoting Standard Dictionaries

2.3 Search Strategies

Consider the Variety of Sources

Keep Track of Your Searches

Looking Online

Phrase the Search Terms Effectively

Go Beyond the Internet

2.4 Using and Abusing Internet Sources

Search for Reliable Sites

Looking Deeply into the Results

Understand the Context of Individual Pages

Use the Invisible Web

2.5 Evaluating Sources

Expertise

Accuracy

Reliability

Review Questions

A Little Rhetoric: Anaphora

Now You Try

Chapter 3: Preparing Your Sources

3.1 Collecting Sources

Save Your Sources

Get the Full, Exact Bibliographic Information the First Time

Save the Way Back

3.2 Keep Sources Organized

Start a Bibliography

3.3 Use Close Reading to Understand Your Sources

What Is the Purpose of the Information?

What Is the Level of Objectivity?

Analyze the Argument

Notice the Images and Analogies

Check Word Meanings for Accuracy

So What?

What Is Each Source Saying?

3.4 Take Careful Notes

Use a Labeling System

Quote Exactly

Keep a Quotation File

Keep Copies of Each Source With Your Notes

3.5 Positioning Your Sources

Purpose Indicators

Relationships of Sources

Create an Outline of Possible Source Uses

3.6 Protect Yourself Against a False Charge of Plagiarism

Protect Your Data and Passwords

Do Not Lend Your Paper to Someone Else

Report Any Theft Immediately

Save All Drafts and Notes

Save All Sources

Be Proactive

Review Questions

Mini-Research Project Controversies

A Little Rhetoric: Conduplicatio

Chapter 4: Quoting Effectively

4.1 Quoting Use and Abuse

When to Choose Quotation

Cautions About Quoting

Avoid the Fallacy of Vicious Abstraction

4.2 Introductory Strategies

Introduce Your Sources

Choose Introductory Verbs to Create Guiding Lead-In or Signal Phrases

Use Introductory Sentences With a Colon

Use an Introductory Phrase

Use the Appropriate Tense in Your Introductory Phrases for APA Style

Use Both Set-Off and Built-In Quotations

Use the Historical Present Tense for MLA-Style Papers

4.3 Quoting Strategies

Interrupt Quotations

Leave Out Some Words

Quote Phrases

4.4 Punctuating Quotations

General Conventions

Ellipsis

Square Brackets

Review Questions

Mini-Research Project: Misattributed Quotations

A Little Rhetoric Analogy

Now You Try

Chapter 5: Paraphrasing and Summarizing

5.1 Paraphrasing

What Is a Paraphrase?

Why and When to Paraphrase

Paraphrasing Ground Rules

How to Paraphrase

Cautions About Paraphrasing

5.2 Summarizing

What Is a Summary?

Why and When to Summarize

How to Summarize

Cautions About Summarizing

Source Limitations on Summarizing

5.3 Deciding Whether to Quote, Paraphrase, or Summarize

5.4 Beware of Thesaurusitis

Review Questions

Mini-Research Project: Comparing Summaries

A Little Rhetoric: Metabasis

Now You Try

Paraphrasing and Summarizing Activity

Chapter 5 Review: Acceptable Use or Plagiarism?

Potential Use 1

Potential Use 2

Potential Use 3

Potential Use 4

Potential Use 5

Potential Use 6

Chapter 6: Avoiding Plagiarism

6.1 What Is Plagiarism?

A Working Definition of Plagiarism

Intentional Plagiarism

Unintentional Plagiarism

The Fine Print

Self-Recycling

6.2 Why You Should Avoid Intentional Plagiarism

Intentional Plagiarism Harms Your Character

Follow the Golden Rule

Intentional Plagiarizers Cheat Themselves

Intentional Plagiarizers Never Know When They Will Be Caught

6.3 Guidelines for Citation

What Needs to Be Cited?

Do You Ever Have to Cite Yourself?

What About Common Knowledge?

Will My Paper Be Nothing but Citations?

6.4 Myths and Facts About Citing

The Public Domain Myth

The World Wide Web Myth

The Fair Use Myth

The Encyclopedia Myth

The Paraphrased Paper Myth

The Friend’s Permission Myth

The Named Source Myth

The Converted Words Myth

The Tiny Theft Myth

The Background Information Myth

Review Questions

Mini-Research Project: Famous Plagiarism Cases

Bonus Search

A Little Rhetoric: Rhetorical Question

Now You Try

Chapter 7: Putting It Together

7.1 The Simple Rule: Mark the Boundaries

Marking the Boundaries of Short Quotations

Marking the Boundaries of Long Quotations

Marking the Boundaries of an Unquoted Source

7.2 Marking the Boundaries in Problem Cases

How to Create a Second Boundary Marker

Marking the Boundaries for Non-Text Information

Review Questions

A Little Rhetoric: Hypophora

Now You Try

Chapter 7 Review: Boundary Markers

Source Text

Potential Use 1, APA Style

Potential Use 2, APA Style

Potential Use 3, MLA Style

Potential Use 4, MLA Style

Potential Use 5, APA Style

Chapter 8: Effective Use

8.1 Introduce the Source Thoroughly

Establish the Credibility of the Source

Provide Needed Background or Context

Recommend the Source

8.2 Discuss or Apply the Source

The Purpose of a Source Is Not Always Self-Evident

Explain the Source Beginning With an Interpretive Lead-In

Be Reasonable About the Effect of the Source

Provide an Example to Clarify the Source’s Point

8.3 Blend in Your Sources

Work Your Sources Into the Discussion

Combine Quoting With Summarizing

Use One Long, Many Short for Powerful Persuasion

8.4 Avoid Ineffective Use

Beware of Long Quotations

Avoid Overusing One Source

Begin and End Each Paragraph With Your Own Words

Be Sure Citations Match the References

8.5 Working With Sources That Disagree or Conflict

Identify the Source of Disagree

Criticizing Opposing Sources

Avoid Criticizing a Source Unfairly

Review Questions

Matching Exercise

Mini-Research Project: Logical Fallacies

A Little Rhetoric: Procatalepsis

Now You Try

Chapter 8 Review: Effectiveness

Chapter 9: Editing for Accuracy

9.1 Why Cleanup Is Crucial

9.2 Check Your Spelling

Check for Ordinary Misspellings

Check for Autocorrect Errors

Check for Confused Words

Use American Spelling

9.3 Watch Your Grammar

Comma Splice

Fused Sentence

Sentence Fragment

9.4 Watch Your Pronouns

Pronoun Agreement

Pronoun Reference

Indefinite Pronouns

Avoid the Ambiguous You

9.5 Check for Common Errors

Possessives

Subject-Verb Agreement

Dangling Modifier

Misplaced Modifier

Affect and Effect

Informality

Review Questions

A Little Rhetoric: Distinctio

Chapter 9 Review: Error Check

Chapter 10: Jump-Starting Your Writing

10.1 Synthesis Writing

A Definition of Synthesis Writing

Tapestry Versus Quilt Writing

Tapestry Weaving and Your Reader

10.2 Steering Wheels

Parataxis and Hypotaxis

Transitions

Transitions of Logic

Transitions of Focus

Transitions of Thought

Keyword Repetition

Synonyms

Pronouns and Possessive Pronouns

Demonstrative Pronouns and Adjectives

10.3 Using Flow Patterns

Patterns With Because

Conditional (If-Then) Patterns

Concession Patterns

10.4 Using Patterns with Sources

Use Scholarly Phrasing

The Source Supports Your Position

You Agree With the Source

The Source Disagrees With Your Position

You Rebut a Source That Opposes Your View

You Respond to a Source That Presents an Incontrovertible Objection

The Source Implies Something Without Stating It

The Source Makes an Unstated Assumption

Introducing Common Knowledge

Introducing Conflicting Views

Review Questions

Chapter 10 Activity: Synthesis Exercise

Chapter 10 Activity: True or False

Chapter 10 Activity: More Flow Patterns

A Little Logic: Conditional Syllogisms

Erscheint lt. Verlag 28.2.2026
Zusatzinfo 39 Tables, black and white; 6 Line drawings, black and white; 6 Illustrations, black and white
Verlagsort London
Sprache englisch
Maße 210 x 280 mm
Gewicht 453 g
Themenwelt Geisteswissenschaften Psychologie
Geisteswissenschaften Sprach- / Literaturwissenschaft Literaturwissenschaft
Sozialwissenschaften Kommunikation / Medien Kommunikationswissenschaft
ISBN-10 1-032-64379-X / 103264379X
ISBN-13 978-1-032-64379-3 / 9781032643793
Zustand Neuware
Informationen gemäß Produktsicherheitsverordnung (GPSR)
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