Citing References Within Your Paper

Type of citation 1st time citing a 2nd+ citation of a 1st time citing a 2nd+ citation of the
reference, using reference, using reference when reference in another
parentheses format at parentheses format at authors are named in paragraph with
the end of your the end of your your sentence authors named in
sentence sentence your sentence

One author -------- (Lee, 2007, p. same format as 1st Lee (2007) stated, “--- same format as 1st
82). time ------------” (p. 82). time

Two authors ------- (Smith & Jones, same format as 1st Smith and Jones same format as 1st
2004, p. 93). time (2004) found that “---- time
-” (p. 93).
(use & between
names) (use and between
names)

Three to five authors ---- (Simpson, Stahl, & ----------- (Simpson et Simpson, Stahl, and As well, Simpson et al.
Francis, 2004, p. 10). al., 2004, p. 18). Francis (2004) argued (2004) found ------- (p.
(All subsequent that ----------- (p. 10). 18).
citations use et al.) (uses et al. format)
(uses et al. format)

Six or more authors ------------- (Kallai et same format as 1st Kallai et al. (2011) said same format as 1st
al., 2011, p. 121). time that “----------” (p. time
121).

Organizations, --------- (TransCanada, same format as 1st TransCanada (2006) same format as 1st
2006, p. 11). time reported that ------ (p. time
institutions, etc. 11).
as group author

Group author, no ----------------- (World ---------------- (WHO, World Health WHO (2010) reported
page numbers (use Health Organization 2010, Fostering Organization (WHO, on the problem,
web page headings [WHO], 2010, Health Security, para. 2010) found that ------ saying that
and paragraph Fostering Health 8). --- (Fostering Health
numbers) Security, para. 1). Security, para. 1). --------- (Fostering
(World Health Health Security, para.
Organization is written as
(Name of group (Name of group 8).
an acronym in subsequent
author and its citations)
author and its (World Health Organization is written as
acronym are written) acronym are written) an acronym in subsequent citations)
Type of citation 1st time citing a 2nd+ citation of a 1st time citing a 2nd+ citation of the
reference, using reference, using reference when reference in another
parentheses format at parentheses format at authors are named in paragraph with
the end of your the end of your your sentence authors named in
sentence sentence your sentence

No author - article --------- (“Ancient same format as 1st *The article “Ancient As well, “Ancient Tool
(use shortened title of Tool,” 2009, p. 6). time Tool Makers Makers Discovered
article in quotation Discovered Fire Fire Treatment”
marks in place of (Full title is “Ancient Treatment” (2009) (2009) included
author’s last name) Tool Makers summarized ----- (p. discussion of----- (p.
Discovered Fire 6). 8).
Treatment)

No date available ----------------- (Buzan, same format as 1st Buzan (n.d.) explained same format as 1st
(use n.d.) n.d., p. 23). time that -------------- (p. time
23).
USING SIGNAL PHRASES:
COMMON WAYS OF WORKING WITH SOURCES
The ways in which you introduce, follow, and discuss your summarized, paraphrased, or quoted
source will help indicate your take on the ideas you’ve just cited. We call these moves “signal
phrases,” since they signal your position for the reader.

Indicating an Author’s Perspective:

X (acknowledges, agrees, claims, demonstrates, emphasizes, suggests) that ______.
X (admits, argues, believew, complains, concedes, reveals) that ______.

Introducing a Quotation:
According to X, “_______.”
X, a noted educator, claims, “_______.”
In her book, X maintains that “_______.”
In X’s view, “_______.”

Explaining Quotations:
In other words, X believes _____.
In making this comment, X is suggesting that _____.
The essence of X’s argument is that _____.
X’s point is that _____.

Disagreeing, with reasons:

X is mistaken because she overlooks _____.
X’s claims that _____ is based on the assumption that _____, however _____.
By focusing on _____, X overlooks the deeper problem of _____.
X’s argument is contradictory. On one hand, he argues _____. On the other, he says _____.
Agreeing, with a difference:
X’s claim about _____ is useful because it sheds insight on the problem of _____.
X points out that _____. As a result, we have to reconsider _____.
X is right that _____, but he doesn’t consider _____.
I agree that _____, a point that needs emphasizing because _____.

Establishing why your claims matter:

Although few people have discussed _____, it is important because ______.
Ultimately, what is at stake here is _____.
My discussion of X is in fact addressing the larger mtter of _____.
It might be easy to overlook _____, but it is important to acknowledge that ______.

Models here have been adapted from They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing by Gerald Graff
and Cathy Birkenstein