APA style and citations for dummies - Joe Giampalmi 2021
Synthesizing: engaging with sources
Preparing for conflict: source engagement
Practicing safe cites: writing and citing sources
Source engagement is like a party where guests talk with the host, talk with each other — and everyone goes home happy. Think of source engagement as a conversation, not an argument. Your goal is to create a linguistic symphony that extends, refines, and implicates ideas.
The tone (see Chapter 5) of source engagement is professional and conversational, avoiding the shouting and assertiveness of a party. It avoids strong language such as “must,” “should,” and “needs.”
This list includes some immediate questions to ask your professor about source engagement:
· Are both narrative style and citation style source references acceptable?
· Which tense is preferred for signal phrases, present or past?
· Which tense is preferred for source engagement, present or past?
· Which tense is preferred for summary and paraphrasing?
· Are page references required for paraphrase citations?
Here’s a sample of synthesized source engagement:
Tipton’s long-term study of profit sharing in the workplace found that even the most marginal profit-sharing environment increased profits, improved work morale, and reduced absenteeism. He further found that employees interacted more outside the workplace than employees in traditional environments (2019). Jayson’s studies focused on employee retention in profit-sharing environments and reported similar successes (2018). Larson analyzed owners of profit-sharing businesses and found some reluctance because “owners risk the capital and deserve financial rewards for those risks.” Larson also found that employees showed very little compassion for owners who relinquished profits to employees (2019, p. 128).
The previous synthesized source engagement model contains examples of narrative-style source references; the author’s names begin the sentences (Tipton, Jayson, and Larson). Refer to the section, “Rehearsing: Preparing Sources,” earlier in this chapter for more about source reference styles (narrative and citation).
Tipton’s study of profit-sharing in the workplace is summarized. Jayson focuses on one phase of Tipton’s study, employee retention. Larson approaches Tipton’s study by focusing on the reluctance of business owners. The paragraph synthesizes a conversation among three sources, with each one adding a dimension of discussion.
The following sections demonstrate types of source engagement (“conversations” between and among your sources) that critically analyze your sources and support your argument.
Author and source
The most common form of source engagement is you, the author, engaging with the author of the source.
Here’s a sample of author and source engagement:
Romano (2021) argues that scholastic teams provide a venue for successful social interaction among teenagers. He explains that encouragement from teammates provides “a supportive environment for social interaction risks” (p. 142). My high school athletic experience supports Romano’s research. I was an introvert until my participation on the co-ed volleyball team. My peers accepted me as a dependable teammate, which was especially important to me since I was not a gifted athlete. Their acceptance of me built self-confidence to interact with my peers outside the athletic environment.
The signal phrase “argues” introduces the paraphrase of the source: “scholastic teams provide.” The source engagement begins with the change to the first person “My… research,” indicating that you, the author, are telling the anecdote about your scholastic team experience, supporting Romano’s research. The anecdote extends the paraphrase.
Here’s another example in citation style:
Scott introduced a plan of backburning hundreds of acres of national forestland serving as a reservoir to “prevent sweeping wildfires.” He explained that the burning would follow environmental procedures established by the federal government (Scott, 2020, p. 241). I am a proponent of active forest management, a strategy that can save lives and thousands of dollars of property.
The signal phrase “introduced” initiates Scott’s plan to backburn forests. Source engagement begins with the change to the first person (I) and agreement with the forest management strategy.
Source and source
Your symphony of source engagement also includes sources talking with sources. Here’s an example of a source-and-source engagement:
Broad (2020) supports equal privately funded campaign spending for all political candidates, believing a candidate’s economic advantage is their political advantage. She proposes a pool of private funding divided equally among political candidates. Spruce (2020) agrees with Broad, but opposes federal funding. Spruce wants to avoid political expectations of private donors.
The signal phrase “supports” identifies Broad’s commitment to “privately funded campaign spending.” The signal phrase, “agrees … but,” identifies Spruce’s position and qualifies his agreement.
Here’s another example of citation style:
Boundaries for offshore fishing rights are often established with sensitivity toward protecting wildlife as well as protecting fishing industries (Daley, 2018). Established fishing boundaries in recent years have resulted in overfishing, unsatisfactory wildlife protection, and financial pressures on the fishing industry (Kingsley, 2018).
Daley introduces the neutral statement identifying guidelines for establishing fishing boundaries. Kingsley enters the conversation by expressing dissatisfaction with the boundary establishment plan.
Source, source, and author
A complex form of source engagement is a conversation between two sources and the author. Here’s a sample:
Diego (2020) analyzed affordable universal healthcare and concluded that it’s “the most basic responsibility of a government showing care for its citizens” and that after five years, it pays for itself in the form of a healthier workforce working more productive hours (p. 234). Cinelli (2020) opposes affordable healthcare, arguing that costs will become uncontrollable because of medical conditions of an aging population with pre-existing conditions. I agree with Diego’s belief that providing universal affordable healthcare for its citizens shows government’s responsibility to protect basic life. I disagree with Cinelli’s calculations that medical costs of an aging population cannot be controlled. People are living longer because they are practicing good health habits.
The signal phrase “analyzed” identifies Diego’s overview of universal affordable healthcare. The signal phrase “opposes” shows Cinelli’s opposition to Diego. The switch to the first person “I” clarifies you, the author, in the conversation. You extend the conversation and “disagree” with Cinelli.
Source, source, and source
Another variation of source engagement includes a conversation among three sources. Here’s an example:
Schultz (2020) studied student loans and discovered that increases in student loan availability parallel increases in tuition at major private universities. The Center for Economic Responsibility (CER, 2019) found that the college graduating class of 2015 entered the workplace with an average of $45,000 in student debt on an average starting salary of $43,000. Fifteen percent of their annual income was allocated to student loan repayment. Vissor (2019) reported that loss of economic power of five classes of graduates produces a ten-percent annual reduction in the Gross National Product. Schultz supports universities’ temporarily capping tuition and temporarily capping increases in student loans until both can be studied. The CER endorses reducing interest on student loans, thus increasing students’ buying power.
The signal phrase “studied” introduces Schultz’s discovery related to student loan and tuition increases. The signal phrase “found” introduces the CER’s finding of students’ loss of earning power attributed to student loan debt repayment. Schultz extends the conversation, offering a plan to increase students’ spending power. The CER enters the conversation and “endorses” an additional plan to increase students’ buying power.
Primary sources as engagement
Primary sources are original accounts of a creation credited by experts who had direct connection with the source, such as original photographs, diaries, interviews, surveys, works of art, government documents, and speeches. Topics such as historical research and art appreciation frequently depend on primary sources. Primary research sources are uncommon for most college research topics. Verify with your professor their inclusion for topics such as historical research and art appreciation.
Original research, such as studies that include controlled groups, are also identified as primary research of primary sources. Original research is frequently required for theses and dissertations, requirements for advanced degrees.
Primary sources represent another variation of source engagement, such as you, the author, engaging in “conversation” with a comparison of two pieces of art. What follows are examples of primary sources used in engagement:
The poultry industry released a survey (“The Yoke’s on You”) showing the increasing popularity of eggs over the past five years (Ryan, 2020). A number of healthy heart organizations question the unhealthy value of too many yokes (Schutts, 2021).
The poultry survey is introduced, followed by the author’s engagement, questioning the unhealthiness of eating too many eggs.
The Civil War diary revealed archaic medical practices (by today’s standards) for treating battlefield injuries. Adam O’Brien, a private in the Union army, wrote that “a doctor’s bag of instruments included a bloody saw as his primary tool for treating gangrene” (Morris, 2018, p. 243), as cited in Simms, 2015, p. 254). Fortunately, trauma treatment has improved over time. Still, trauma could be significantly reduced today if countries stopped fighting wars.
The diary entry, which includes a partial quote, describes Civil War trauma treatment. Author engagement includes commenting on the archaic treatment, followed by an opinion about war in general.
The original 1939 photograph showed men, women, and children wearing oversized wool clothing, waiting in food lines. Many adults appear to be socializing as children play in small groups around them (Coleman, 2019), as cited in Herman, 2015). The photo shows the connection between unemployment at the time and the need to provide food for those who could not afford it.
Description of the photo is followed by engagement of the author, who comments on unemployment and food lines.