📚 Cite Right!
A student writes:
According to Reyes (2024), reading improves vocabulary (p. 15).
What is wrong with the citation?
The page number should be included only when indicating a direct quotation or specific passage. If paraphrasing generally, (Reyes, 2024) is sufficient.
Question: What part of an academic essay clearly states the writer’s main argument or position and guides the entire paper?
Thesis Statement
Choose the correct verb:
The student (write/writes) an essay every week.
writes
Correct the sentence:
Yesterday, the students submit their final projects.
Yesterday, the students submitted their final projects.
Which sentence is more appropriate for academic writing?
A. Social media always causes poor academic performance.
B. Social media may contribute to poor academic performance.
B
Which is the correct APA 7 in-text citation for a work written by three authors?
A. (Santos, Cruz, & Reyes, 2023)
B. (Santos et al., 2023)
C. (Santos, Cruz and Reyes, 2023)
D. (Santos, Cruz, Reyes et al., 2023)
(Santos et al., 2023)
Question: A student makes a factual claim in a research paper but provides no source or evidence. What academic writing principle is being violated?
Supporting claims with evidence / Proper documentation
Correct the sentence:
The students in the classroom studies grammar.
The students in the classroom study grammar.
Choose the correct answer:
By the time the teacher arrived, the students ______ the activity.
A. finish
B. finished
C. have finished
D. had finished
D. had finished
Choose the best transition:
The first study found a strong relationship between sleep and academic performance. ________, the second study found no significant relationship.
A. Similarly
B. Furthermore
C. In contrast
D. Therefore
C. In contrast
Correct the citation:
According to Garcia et. al (2022), students learn differently.
According to Garcia et al. (2022), students learn differently.
Question: A student changes a few words from a source but keeps the original sentence structure and does not provide a citation. What academic writing problem has occurred?
Plagiarism — specifically, patchwriting/improper paraphrasing.
Choose the correct verb:
Neither the teacher nor the students (is/are) responsible for the mistake.
are
Correct the tense:
Maria has submitted her paper yesterday.
Maria submitted her paper yesterday.
Trap: Yesterday requires a completed past-time reference → simple past, not present perfect.
Make this statement appropriately cautious for an academic paper:
Students who use smartphones are distracted in class.
Students who frequently use smartphones may be more likely to become distracted in class.
A student directly quotes a sentence from page 27:
“Communication is shaped by culture” (Dela Cruz, 2021).
What information is missing?
The page number.
Correct form:
“Communication is shaped by culture” (Dela Cruz, 2021, p. 27).
Question: In an argumentative essay, what is the purpose of addressing a counterargument?
To acknowledge an opposing viewpoint and strengthen the writer’s argument by responding to or refuting it.
Choose the correct verb:
The quality of the students' written outputs, as well as their oral presentations, (has/have) improved significantly.
Answer: has
Trap: as well as their oral presentations does not change the subject. The subject is quality.
Choose the correct form:
While the students ______ their presentations, the fire alarm suddenly ______.
A. practiced / rang
B. were practicing / rang
C. practiced / was ringing
D. had practiced / rang
B. were practicing / rang
Choose the best transition:
Many students prefer digital textbooks because they are convenient and accessible. ________, printed books may provide fewer distractions during study.
A. Therefore
B. However
C. Similarly
D. For example
B. However
Identify and correct all APA errors:
According to Ramos, Santos and Lim (2020), effective communication is essential (Ramos, Santos & Lim, 2020).
According to Ramos et al. (2020), effective communication is essential.
Why: APA 7 uses et al. for three or more authors in every in-text citation, including narrative citations. The second citation is also unnecessary because the source has already been identified.
Question: Which statement demonstrates the strongest academic writing style?
A. I totally think social media is really bad for students.
B. Social media is obviously destroying students’ attention spans.
C. Social media may influence students’ attention and academic engagement, although its effects may vary depending on patterns of use.
D. Everyone knows that social media has negative effects on students.
Answer: C
Why: It is objective, precise, appropriately hedged, and avoids sweeping or unsupported claims.
Correct the sentence:
One of the reasons why students struggle with academic writing are the lack of practice and limited exposure to scholarly texts.
One of the reasons why students struggle with academic writing is the lack of practice and limited exposure to scholarly texts.
Trap: The main subject is One, which is singular.
Correct the verb tenses:
When the researchers began collecting data, they discover that several participants already withdraw from the study.
When the researchers began collecting data, they discovered that several participants had already withdrawn from the study.
Why: began/discovered establish the past timeline, while had withdrawn indicates an earlier past action.
Improve the paragraph using one hedging expression and one appropriate transitional device:
Group work is the best way to improve students' communication skills. However, the study involved only one class.
Group work may be an effective way to improve students' communication skills; however, the findings should be interpreted cautiously because the study involved only one class.