Look for power language within sources - Ten strategies for creative source engagement - The parts of ten

APA style and citations for dummies - Joe Giampalmi 2021

Look for power language within sources
Ten strategies for creative source engagement
The parts of ten

In this chapter

Powering up sources to reach new connections

Extending a plethora of sources

Source engagement is the show-me-the-money part of academic writing, the difference between writing that impresses and writing that implodes. More than any other part of your writing, good sources and good engagement generate good writing grades. They also reflect a major difference between high school writing and college writing, and the best college writers master source engagement effectively.

Sources add value. They’re the evidence that validates the meaning behind the words. Ideas without sources are like printers without ink.

Source engagement requires a smooth transition from source citation, to source analysis, to source engagement. When it works, it’s like participating in a triathlon and smoothly transitioning from swimming, to cycling, to running. This chapter dives deeply into ten creative strategies that can help you transition successfully.

Look for power language within sources

When you analyze sources, capitalize on language that provides opportunities for strong engagement and that provides directions to help you advance the academic conversation and your argument. For example, if a source suggests that green energy is good for the environment, advance your argument with language such as this: “Endorsement of green energy also provides employment in the fields of retail, technology, construction, maintenance, and research and development. These jobs contribute to local economies and help fund local, state, and national taxes.”

Another source may suggest that national wireless networks reduce small business costs. You can advance the argument with language such as “support of small businesses also benefits education, and improved education improves the economy.”

Search your sources for language that represents broad applications — words like support, refute, agree, and disagree. Broad language has wider implications than limited endorsements such as somewhat agrees. Broad endorsements offer broad applications. Look for language that expresses strength, passion, anger, and compliance. When you find it, engage with it.