Appendix GENG102 Version 41Associate Level MaterialAp.docx

Appendix G
ENG/102 Version 4
1
Associate Level Material
Appendix G
Finding, Evaluating, and Utilizing Credible Information
This course requires a higher level of research than you may
have undertaken in the past. You must find sources that are
reliable, related to your paper’s topic, and contain evidence to
support your claims and arguments. Take thorough notes while
you find these sources, and be careful to avoid plagiarism by
appropriately quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing your
sources.
Using the University Library
In previous courses, you used the Internet to research
information about different topics. In this course, you may still
use the Internet sparingly, but the University Library provides a
wider variety of resources that are more appropriate for formal
research papers.
The University Library includes the following resources:
· Databases. These databases contain magazine articles, journal
articles, newspaper articles, audio clips, and other types of
multimedia, statistics, articles with opposing viewpoints, and
much more. You can search through the databases by
specialization, subject, author, title, publication, and so forth.

· Research resources. Besides the databases, the library also
contains access to books, dissertations, theses, research in
Spanish, Canadian information, country profiles and economic
data, encyclopedias and dictionaries, and journal indexes and
abstracts.
· Writing and test-taking resources. The library also provides
guides for preparing for and taking different kinds of tests,
improving writing and grammar, and so on.
· Help. The library contains links to a Frequently Asked
Questions page, timely feedback from a librarian, a research
tutorial, and a library handbook.
As you search for sources, you may receive thousands of results
for a topic in the University Library. If that happens, you may
have to narrow your topic, or you may need to enter more
specific information in the search engine. The library tutorial at
http://www.apollolibrary.com/Library/tutorial.aspx provides
information for using Boolean search commands to expand,
limit, or refine a search for information.
Finding and Evaluating Credible Information
A credible source is one that is trustworthy, providing true,
accurate, and balanced information. Generally, periodicals,
journals, and other sources found in the University Library are
credible because they are written by professionals and must be
approved to be published. Many of the library articles are peer
reviewed—written by professionals and reviewed by other
professionals in the same area of expertise to ensure the
research is credible and trustworthy. On the other hand,
websites may be written by anyone, so credibility is usually
more difficult to determine.
In this course, you are required to find five to seven credible
sources. To show your credibility as an effective researcher,
you must select a variety of valid sources. Avoid using only

websites or using only books. Instead, you should gather
information from differing types of sources depending on the
assignment requirements.
Criteria for Source Reliability
How can you determine if an online source is reliable? Ask
yourself the following questions when reviewing a source:
· What is the purpose and affiliation of the organization or
author related to the article?
· What are the author’s credentials?
· Is the information current?
· When was the information last updated?
· Does the information cross-reference with other sources?
· Does the source contain bias without evidence to support the
claims?
When using books, you must ensure the information is not too
old. Generally, information should not be more than 4 years old
unless the research on the topic is still the most current
available. Sometimes, books contain more relevant and thought-
provoking research than other sources; for example, a book on a
literary topic would require more detailed analysis and lengthy
examples than an article might offer.
Journals, newspapers, articles, and other database sources are
normally reliable, but you should still check for biases or
unbalanced research.
Taking Notes

As you begin to find sources and take notes for your paper,
adhere to the following guidelines:
1. Scan the sources and then read the material more closely
when you find information that is relevant.
2. Write down pertinent information from the relevant sources,
but keep it brief. Large chunks of information take too much
time to record and are too difficult to use.
3. As you write down information, keep track of where you
found the material. Develop a system to cross-reference the
source with the notes you take from that source.
4. Print online sources and keep books until you are finished
with the research paper.
5. Allow a significant amount of time for this important part of
the process. Taking notes builds your research skills and will
ultimately help convince your reader by providing arguments to
support your thesis.
6. Realize that 80% of your notes should be in your own words,
with no more than 20% from quotations.
Before word processors were popular, researchers completed 3
× 5–inch index cards usually referred to as note cards. The
following is an example of a handwritten note card:

If you are typing your notes into a Microsoft® Word document,
you may still create note cards—they will just be electronic
cards rather than physical note cards you can hold in your hand.
The following is an example of a note card created in a Word
document:
Note Card 1
Topic: Working Teens: Benefits
Quotation: “4 out of 5 teenagers hold part-time jobs.”
Summary: Working teaches teenagers good work ethics,
responsibility, and time management.
Source: Smith, p. 5, para. 2
As you take notes, it is essential to keep track of what
information you gather from which sources. The quotations,
summaries, and paraphrases in your paper require
documentation. A reading later in the course will show you how
to document these sources in your paper. For now, be sure to
list your sources—by either author’s last name and page number
or title of the document and paragraph number—underneath
each note card.
Annotating Sources
Annotating refers to writing questions, comments, reactions,
and critical thoughts based on the sources that you read.
Annotating requires you to think critically about the
information you read rather than just accepting it at face value.

One of the most important reasons you annotate sources is so
you can ensure that the information and support you record
refers directly to your thesis statement.
Annotation Content
Your annotation should be acritical reviewthat evaluates the
source and its usefulness for your topic and for your paper.
Your annotation may include any or all of the following:
· Information. A summary of your findings
· Evaluation. What you thought of the information and how well
it supported your topic
· Comparison. How it compared with other books or articles
· Authority. The background of the author
The following is an example of an annotated source card:
Avoiding Plagiarism
Recall that plagiarism is taking someone else’s work and
presenting it off as your own. Plagiarism may be intentional,
meaning you did it on purpose, or unintentional, meaning you
forgot to add a citation or accidentally left out quotation marks.
For additional information, review the Plagiarism Guide at the
Center for Writing Excellence in the University Library.
Quoting, Summarizing, and Paraphrasing
You can avoid plagiarism not only by correctly citing your
sources but also by taking careful notes. You must set aside

adequate time for note taking, and you must be detail oriented
when keeping track of which note came from which source.
You do not need to cite common knowledge, information most
educated people know. An example of common knowledge is
that America entered World War II after the bombing of Pearl
Harbor on December 7, 1941.
The following types of information, however, do require
citations:
· Direct quotations (using the exact words from the source). Use
direct quotations when you want readers to benefit from the
expertise of a recognized authority or when you want to refute
your opposition’s point of view. Quotations consisting of 40 or
more words are called block quotations, which require special
formatting.
· Paraphrases (rephrasing the source material in your own
words). Recall that no more than 20% of your paper should
consist of quotations. When you want to include information
from other sources, but you do not want to increase your
number of direct quotations, consider paraphrasing the
information.
· Summaries (condensing information from the source material).
Summarizing is similar to paraphrasing but involves reducing
much larger amounts of information, even a whole article, to a
few words or sentences.
For examples of quoting, summarizing, and paraphrasing,
review the Plagiarism Guide at the Center for Writing
Excellence and the MyWritingLab assets located on the student
website.

Wrap-Up
During the research phase, pay special attention to the
following:
· Maintaining strong research in your paper makes your
arguments more convincing to your reader.
· Setting aside a significant amount of time to research is
essential for an effective paper.
· Keeping track of your sources helps avoid plagiarism and also
shows your readers you are a careful and conscientious writer.
You may feel a bit overwhelmed at first, but once you have
completed this important step in the research process, you may
see how valuable it is.
Topic: Depression and Greatness
Source:
Shenk, J. (2005). Lincoln’s melancholy: How depression
challenged a president and fueled his greatness. Boston:
Houghton.
Annotation:
By studying primary sources, Shenk theorizes that the president

suffered from clinical depression. The techniques Lincoln used
to deal with his mental illness also helped him to develop the
traits he needed to lead the country during the tumultuous years
leading up to and throughout the Civil War.
Author, page number, and paragraph number of the source
Direct quotation as well as summary of the information in the
researcher’s own words
Information used as a direct quotation from the source
Source # 2
Topic: Benefits of online education
The author highlights that “online education provides students
with the ability to go to school on a flexible schedule. This is
especially helpful for working students, single parents, or adults
who travel for business.”

The page number of the source
The topic area within the paper for which the information will
be used
Identifies the source as the second in the reference list
Appendix H
ENG/102 Version 4
1
Appendix H
Appropriate Style Guidelines
A central aspect of the Teaching-Learning Model at University
of Phoenix is the degree of emphasis placed on written and
verbal communication skills. To succeed in your college courses
and in your chosen profession, you must be able to
communicate in a clear, concise, and correct manner.

Universities and colleges normally require a standardized
format for written communication. By adopting one style for all
writing assignments, instructors are able to assess content and
apply the same evaluation techniques to all students’ papers in a
consistent manner. Following a formal style also adds
credibility and validity to your writing: It will be much easier
for your readers to follow the flow of your ideas and to locate
information in your paper.
Academic Honesty
Additionally, you must apply consistent style guidelines to
credit your sources, which helps you to avoid plagiarizing the
work of other authors and to maintain academic honesty.
Academic honesty is highly valued at the university—so highly
valued, in fact, that the following passage explaining the
importance of academic honesty is included in the syllabus for
every course:
University of Phoenix students utilize university resources with
honesty and integrity. These resources include, but are not
limited to, the online library, online consultation with faculty,
and registration systems. In addition to truthful representation
in these areas, students must acknowledge references from
original works, avoid plagiarism, and use writing and
formatting styles generally accepted as sound academic writing.
Academic dishonesty could involve the following:
· Having a tutor or friend complete a portion of your
assignments
· Having a reviewer make extensive revisions to an assignment
· Copying work submitted by another student to a public class
meeting

· Using information from online information services without
proper citation
APA Guidelines for Form and Appearance
What Is APA?
University of Phoenix requires APA style as the standardized
format in all programs. APA style is taken from the Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association. Many
colleges and universities use APA to format papers in
sociology, business, economics, nursing, social work, and
criminology courses.
All your academic papers must meet certain criteria for form
and appearance, including the following:
· Font
· Margins
· Spacing
· Page numbers
· Title page
· Headings
· Numbers, abbreviations, and lists
· Tables and figures
The requirements for the above items are outlined in Ch. 1 of
the Associate Level Writing Style Handbook, available on the
student website.
Also, review the example of an APA-formatted sample paper at
the Center for Writing Excellence in the University Library.

APA Guidelines for Citing Sources
As you take notes, keep track of the information you directly
quote, paraphrase, or summarize. Researchers use this
information in the following ways:
· Parenthetical in-text citations included throughout the text of
the paper
· A reference page at the end of the paper
In your papers, when you quote, summarize, or paraphrase a
source, you use a parenthetical in-text citation in APA format.
This citation tells the reader the information came from another
source. The in-text citation is also shorthand for the longer
reference at the end of the paper identifying the source for each
cited piece of information.
The following are examples of different types of in-text
citations:
Direct Quotation, Author Not Named in the Sentence
Recent analysis of Asia has found that “its societies and
economies are rapidly changing and are acquiring a major
position in world affairs in all respects” (Murphey, 2009, p. 8).
Note. There are quotation marks at the beginning and end of the
quotation and a period at the end of the quotation (inside the
quotation marks). Direct quotations also require page numbers.
Direct Quotation, Author Named in the Sentence
According to Murphey (2009), “[Asia’s] societies are rapidly
changing and are acquiring a major position in world affairs in
all respects” (p. 8).
Paraphrase, Author Named in the Sentence

Asian expert Rhoades Murphey (2009) notes the growing
influence of Asian societies on world affairs.
Paraphrase, Author Not Named in the Sentence
One author notes the growing influence of Asian societies on
world affairs (Murphey, 2009).
Integrating Quotations, Paraphrases, and Summaries
To help your reader understand which ideas are yours and which
ideas come from another source, you must carefully integrate
direct quotations, paraphrased passages, and summaries into the
text of your paper.
Review all sections of the Plagiarism Guide at the Center for
Writing Excellence in the University Library.
APA Guidelines for References
At the end of the paper, you must include a reference page
listing all the sources you quoted, paraphrased, or summarized
in the body of your paper. These references are significantly
longer than the in-text citations and include information such as
the author’s name, the publication title, the year of publication,
and the URL if the information was retrieved from the Internet.
The following are references examples for different types of
sources:
Book
Murphey, R. (2009). A history of Asia (6th ed.). New York,
NY: Pearson.Journal Article
Alston, M., & Kent, J. (2009). Generation X-pendable: The
social exclusion of
rural and remote young people. Journal of Sociology, 45(1),
89-107.Journal Article From an Online Database With an
Assigned DOI*

Martinez, C., Kock, N., & Cass, J. (2011). Pain and pleasure in
short essay writing:
Factors predicting university students' writing anxiety and
writing self-efficacy.
Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 54(5), 351–360.
doi:10.1598/JAAL.54.5.5
* DOI stands for digital object identifier, an identification
record provided by the publisher. If the journal article has a
DOI, use the DOI in lieu of providing the URL address to the
journal’s homepage.Website With an Author
Simmons, A. (2009, November 3). You can get there from here:
Websites for learners. Retrieved from
http://www.alistapart.com/articles/you-can-get-there-from-here-
websites-for-learners/
Website With a Company or Organization as Author
American Heart Association. (2010). Four ways to deal with
stress. Retrieved from
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/StressManag
ement/Four%20WaystoDealWithStress/Four-Ways-to-Deal-
with-Stress_UCM_307996_Article.jsp
Annotated Bibliography
For this course, you must create an annotated bibliography as
well as a reference page for the end of your research paper. An
annotated bibliography is an alphabetized list of sources,
formatted consistent with APA guidelines, with each source
followed by a brief description and your evaluation.
Consider the following example of an annotated source:

Strauss, J., & Frost, R. (2009). E-Marketing (5th ed.). Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Strauss, associate marketing professor, and Frost, management
professor at Ohio University, write that home and work
boundaries are dissolving. They also suggest that the trend will
increase as more Americans telecommute, which bodes well for
e-marketers. The research is very thorough and well
documented.
Include any or all of the following in an annotation:
· Information. A summary of your findings
· Evaluation. What you thought of the information and how well
it supported your topic
· Comparison. How it compared with other books or articles
· Authority. The background of the author
Having a list of your sources in appropriate APA format,
followed by annotations, helps you locate and access the
information you need when referring back to your sources. Your
annotations should be three to five sentences long. When you
submit the final draft of your research paper, include a
reference list without the annotations. The annotations are only
to be included in your annotated bibliography assignment.
For more information on compiling an annotated bibliography
and to view a sample of an annotated bibliography, refer to
http://www.apollolibrary.com/cwe/pdfs/AXIAAnnotatedbibliogr
aphy.pdf.
Additional Resources

Many students find formatting sources to be a difficult process.
There are, however, some helpful resources, including the
following:
· For examples of appropriate APA citations and references,
refer to the APA Reference and Citation Samples at the Center
for Writing Excellence.
· For additional examples of APA citations and references, refer
to Ch. 2 of Associate Level Writing Style Handbook.
Wrap-Up
Credible and conscientious writers must cite all sources both in
the text and also at the end of the research paper to avoid
plagiarism. Appropriately citing and documenting your sources
shows you are a careful researcher and also positively affects
your grade on the paper.
Allow adequate time to complete this part of your final project.
If you have questions, do not hesitate to ask your instructor for
assistance. The more you use APA formatting, the easier and
more familiar the guidelines may become.
APA citation
Annotation
Appendix J
ENG/102 Version 4

1
Appendix J
Quoting, Summarizing, and Paraphrasing Sources
Summarize:
· Be brief.
· Reflect key facts or ideas.
· Help readers understand context.
· Do not insert personal views.
· Write in your own words, except for quotations.
· Create an APA-formatted parenthetical citation for this
summary.
· Insert the APA article reference.
<Insert full article summary.>
<Insert APA article reference.>
Paraphrase:
· Use details.
· Reflect the structure of the source.
· Reflect the ideas of the original author.
· Do not insert personal views.
· Write in your own words, except for quotations.

paraphrase.
<Insert full article paraphrase.>
Quote:
· Choose a well-stated key idea.
· Use a verb of attribution to introduce the quotation; for
example, He claimed, She reported,theyassert).
· Punctuate correctly.
quotation.
<Quote the article in a sentence.>
Answer the following questions in 150 to 200 words:
· How do you determine which information is noteworthy?
· How do you determine whether to summarize, paraphrase, or

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