The Use of Citations to Support Argument

For Masters Students in Technology-Oriented Courses

Contents

• The role of citation and referencing
• Supporting your claims
• Functions of citation in critical academic writing
• Citation tools and management
• Avoiding plagiarism
• Citation - Good practice
• Citing to support argument - Common mistakes
• Structuring elements of your writing around citations

The role of citation and referencing

• Credibility: Citations demonstrate that your claims are based on established academic research and are more than unsubstantiated opinion.
• Academic Integrity: Proper referencing acknowledges the work of others (and indoing so avoids unintentional plagiarism).
• Knowledge Building: Academic discourse builds upon existing knowledge; citations are a means of demonstrating the grounded evolution of your thinking to your markers.
• Traceability: Your readers can follow up your sources to explore topics further or verify the claims made.

Supporting your claims:

Citations help transform opinions into academically valid claims.

Functions of citation in critical academic writing

• Supporting your argument / proposals: Back up your statements with authoritative academic sources.
• Introduce new ideas: Highlight key concepts or findings from established / current academic literature.
• Compare and contrast perspectives: Present multiple viewpoints or debates that exist within current academic discourse.
• Refute counterarguments: Use evidence to address / debate / contest opposing views.

Avoiding plagiarism

• Definition: Using others’ work without credit constitutes academic misconduct.
• Solution: Always cite when using ideas, data, or direct quotations from others.
• Common mistakes: Forgetting to cite paraphrased information; Failing to note citation details when making notes; Copying and pasting without attribution; Unethical AI usage.
• Best Practices: Take detailed notes; Use citation management tools; Use AI for brainstroming & personalised feedback - not for content generation.

Citation - Good practice:

• Accuracy: Ensure all citations are complete and correct.
• Relevance: Cite only when the source directly supports your argument.
• Integration: Seamlessly incorporate citations into your writing - paraphrase or summarize rather than overusing direct quotes.
• Explanation: Clarifythe relevance / importance of the citation to your broader point / argument. Use to expand and develop your own ideas.

Citation tools and management

• Reference managers: Tools like Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote help you collect, organize, and format your references automatically. These software applications create a personal database of your sources, allowing you to easily insert in-text citations and generate bibliographies in various styles as you write.
• CiteThemRight: povides comprehensive guidance and examples for numerous citation styles. It helps you correctly format citations for almost any type of source, from books and journal articles to websites and social media. ( https://www.citethemrightonline.com - Log in via institutional login button.)
• Citation generators: While useful for quick formatting of individual citations, always double-check the accuracy of the output from these tools, as they can sometimes contain errors.
• University resources: Cardiff Met Library & Acdemic Practice website - dedicated guides, workshops and resources (https://library.cardiffmet.ac.uk/home & https://library.cardiffmet.ac.uk/academic_practice).

Citing to support argument - Common mistakes:

• Over-citation: Do not cite excessively - Focus on the most relevant sources.
• Under-citation: Failing to credit ideas, even when paraphrased is technically plagiarism.
• Poor Integration: Avoid dropping citations at the end of sentences without context—explain their relevance.
• Irrelevant Citations: Including sources that do not directly support your argument or are outdated.
• Misrepresentation of Sources: Citing a source in a way that distorts its original meaning or findings.
• Lack of Critical Engagement: Simply listing citations without critically analyzing or synthesizing the information from different sources.

Structuring writing around citations:

• Introduce your claim: Clearly state the point or argument in your own words. Set the stage for the evidence you will present and guides your reader towards your perspective.
• Present supporting evidence: Introduce the information source and highlight how it relates to your claim. May be a direct quotation, a paraphrase, or a summary of data. Follow with the appropriate in-text citation (e.g., author-date).
• Discuss and explain the evidence: Elaborate / expand on its relevance to your claim - explain significance; interpret meaning; connect explicitly to your argument. Demonstrates your understanding and critical analysis.
• Address counterarguments: Acknowledge and engage with opposing viewpoints or limitations of your own. Shows nuanced understanding; Explain why your original claim still holds true or how it accounts for differing perspectives.
• Conclude with a synthesis of the evidence: End paragraph or section by summarizing / reiterating how the evidence (supporting and contrasting views) strengthens your overall argument. This is synthesis - Bring ideas together to reinforces your main point before transitioning to the next idea.

Questions & Discussion

• Invite questions on citation challenges, tools, or specific scenarios in technology research.