EAP Paraphrasing and Citing Sources 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student writes: 'Research shows that exercise improves cognitive function.' No citation is provided. What is the likely problem?
- The sentence is too short to require a citation
- A specific claim derived from research requires a source citation (Correct answer)
- This is common knowledge, so no citation is needed
- The sentence needs a signal phrase but not a citation
Correct answer: A specific claim derived from research requires a source citation
Specific research findings must be cited even when paraphrased; without a citation, the reader cannot verify the claim or locate the original study.
Question 2: Which element is REQUIRED in every APA 7th edition reference list entry for a journal article?
- The volume, issue, and DOI or URL (Correct answer)
- The publisher's city and country
- The database from which the article was retrieved
- The total number of pages in the article
Correct answer: The volume, issue, and DOI or URL
APA 7th edition journal article references must include volume, issue number, page range, and a DOI (or URL if no DOI is available).
Question 3: In academic writing, which of the following is the BEST reason to paraphrase rather than quote directly?
- To make it harder for instructors to check the original source
- To demonstrate your understanding and integrate the source smoothly into your own argument (Correct answer)
- To avoid having to include a citation
- Because paraphrasing requires less effort than quoting
Correct answer: To demonstrate your understanding and integrate the source smoothly into your own argument
Paraphrasing demonstrates critical engagement with the source and allows writers to integrate ideas naturally into their own analytical voice.
Question 4: When using MLA style, where does the period appear in a sentence ending with a parenthetical citation?
- Before the closing quotation mark: 'text.' (Author page)
- Inside the closing quotation mark: 'text.' (Author page).
- After the parenthetical citation: 'text' (Author page). (Correct answer)
- Both before and after the citation
Correct answer: After the parenthetical citation: 'text' (Author page).
In MLA style, the sentence period comes after the closing parenthesis of the in-text citation, not before the quotation mark.
Question 5: What does it mean to 'synthesize' sources in academic writing?
- To copy sentences from multiple sources into a single paragraph
- To list all sources alphabetically in the text
- To combine ideas from multiple sources to support, contrast, or develop a single analytical point (Correct answer)
- To use only one source per paragraph to avoid confusion
Correct answer: To combine ideas from multiple sources to support, contrast, or develop a single analytical point
Synthesis involves connecting ideas from two or more sources to build a cohesive argument, rather than simply summarizing each source separately.
Question 6: A student cites a study but misrepresents its findings to support their argument. This violates which principle?
- Proper formatting conventions
- Academic honesty, specifically fabrication or misrepresentation of evidence (Correct answer)
- The requirement to use primary sources
- The rule against using secondary sources
Correct answer: Academic honesty, specifically fabrication or misrepresentation of evidence
Misrepresenting a source's findings to support a claim is a form of academic dishonesty because it distorts evidence and misleads readers.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of a correctly formatted APA 7th edition in-text citation for a direct quote?
- (Martinez 2022 p.14)
- (Martinez, 2022, p. 14) (Correct answer)
- (Martinez; 2022; p. 14)
- (2022, Martinez, page 14)
Correct answer: (Martinez, 2022, p. 14)
APA 7th edition parenthetical citations use commas to separate author, year, and page number, formatted as (Last name, Year, p. #).
EAP Paraphrasing and Citing Sources 5
A student writes: 'Research shows that exercise improves cognitive function.' No citation is provided.
What is the likely problem?