2 Ways to Paraphrase using In-Text Citation

In-text citation is including a small bit of a whole citation along with information that has been paraphrased so the reader can use that piece of source and find the whole citation on the reference page for further reading. It can be done in 2 ways: embedding and referencing.

For example, let's use a book. This is the full citation using Son of Citation Machine:  Van Allsburg, C. (1993). The sweetest fig. Boston, MA: HMH Publishers for Young Readers.

Embedded citing is done when the source is part of the paraphrasing such as According to Van Allsburg (1993), figs can be magical and eating them changes a person's life.  See? The source for the book is part of the paraphrased information.

In a referenced citing, the paraphrasing information would read Figs can be magical and eating them changes a person's life (Van Allsburg, 1993). With referencing the in-text citing happens after the paraphrasing is stated. Notice how the in-text citation comes before the period.

Embedded....citation is part of the paraphrasing
Referenced....citation comes after the paraphrasing

Making Notes

Research revolves around questions and the answers that spring from them. The process of taking notes is actually Making notes...reading information, and summarizing it in original words. Index cards are used for notes, and now spreadsheets. Sources are given a code and that code is used for each note made from that source. This is done for two reasons: to keep order and to avoid plagiarism. A note is anything that answers the question.

Sources and notes can be coded on  a spreadsheet, which makes it easy to cut and paste notes into a paper later on IF THE NOTES WERE PARAPHRASED AND IN-TEXT CITED as the notes were made. Notice how my source was coded with a capital A, and all my example notes are linked to their sources with the same code: A-1 (for the first note), A-2 (for the second note), and so on.

Citation machine expedites the process of preparing the citation and in-text citation. Make sure to use APA format!

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Active Voice in the Fig Orchard

Active voice is a way of writing that is direct and to-the-point. It is clear and free from unnecessary words that do nothing to clarify the meaning of a sentence. Unlike other ways to write taught in English classes, such as narrative and expository, active voice is used in scientific writing. Examples of writing converted to active voice:

In the research for figgy pudding, you can easily see that puddings are made the way you make fruitcakes. Your oven setting is the same, your ingredients are similar, but the container you use is different.

Active voice: In the research for figgy pudding, it appears to be made much like fruitcakes. Ingredients and oven settings are similar, but the baking container is different.

Differences: you's are deleted, number of words went from 36 to 26, the meaning is clearer and more direct.

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Thank You Notes

A well-placed note of gratitude will pave the way for future good will and assistance. Researchers rely on the kindness of others, sometimes more than once. Expressing appreciation is part of the authentic data packet because it is a professional courtesy that pays off in the long haul.

How to do it? Begin with an acknowledgement of what the person did that was helpful.

Briefly explain how he/her efforts was a benefit.

THEN say thank you. It is important to lay the foundation of the thanks before you say it --that's why the previous sentences come first.

mentalfloss.comNotice how the Thank you. came at the end....it has more impact.

This one starts by celebrating the party, and the hostess' efforts to make a special event. Again, Thank you. comes after the foundation for the gratitude has been established. Learn this skill, ply it often, and life will be smoother!

Google Trends

Google provides statistical information to Google Docs customers (Cloud users, you!). By entering a keyword into the Google Trend search box, the number of searches are compared to a peak number (100) over time. Over a long time period, there can be a pattern to the general public interests. Entering several keywords gets a multiple-line graph so those terms can be compared.

Using this information can inspire new questions about a project. For example, below I have a chart showing the pattern erupting over time for searches involving various fruits: fresh figs, fig preserves, fig bread, and fig pudding.
Notice what happens when I use fig jelly, fig bread, fig pudding:

This pattern makes me ask "What happened between June and July 2008 that suddenly made fig jelly so popular?" Remember, these are results generated from Google from the search made through them....Googling something. the keywords someone used to search a topic can easily change results since a search engine operates on two truths -- it only gives what it has, and gives what it thinks the searcher wants. 

For example, in this one I search fruits: figs, apples, dates, and lemons. Look what happened:

We know Americans do not care two figs for dates, certainly not this level. If I had to bet I'd say Google interpreted 'dates' to mean 'dating' and not the oval Mediterranean fruit.

Surveys

Surveys are a common way to generate authentic data. By giving a list of questions to a group of people, enough answers can be put together to recognize trends. Objectivity is the priority since genuine answers will lead to genuine results. Asking 'leading questions', where a person is led toward an answer will leave the surveyor with uncertain results: are the patterns being notice true? or were they the opinions of the person building the survey?

Broad considerations

Introduction should be neutral and include several pieces -- statement of what the survey is and what it is supposed to do; a statement about the anonymous nature of the survey; directions for answering the survey; what to do when completed; a thank you for participating statement

This is a survey about figs investigating how figs are viewed in rural Frederick County. All the answers will be combined to achieve a broad understanding about this fruit in an area known for apples. Your answers will be anonymous. Please answer the questions as directed. When complete, click submit. Thank you for participating in this survey about figs.

Questions should reflect what is sought; ordered to be easy at first, get harder (more thoughtful), then easy at the end; avoid charged or leading words/phrases

A neutral question: What experience have you had with figs?

A charged/leading question: When have you eaten seedy figs?

See how the first one asks for information whereas the second one us suggesting figs are seedy and therefore not tasty?

The end of the survey generally has demographic questions about age, gender, etc.

Authentic Data

Authentic Data is the line where a retrieval project becomes research. Authentic data proves, disproves, or adds to existing knowledge about a topic and can take the shape of surveys, interviews, and/or experiments. All involve questions...lots of questions. Sometimes, one really good question can do it all!

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