Page 201 - English - Teaching Academic Esl Writing

LEXICAL CLASSES OF VERBS 187
"Earlier Simon LeVay, M.D., ... noted that an area of a brains hypothalamus was smaller among gay than heterosexual men." (All citations from Peele and DeGrandpre, 1999, pp. 73-75)
In academic discourse, citations of data, research findings, and scholarly studies citations are a ubiquitous means of demonstrating one's familiarity with readings and sources. In fact references to external sources ofknowl- edge represent a requisite means of supporting one's position in rhetorical argumentation (Swales, 1990a). Thus, it is highly profitable for NNS writers to develop a stock of expressions to cite information from readings. In writ- ten assignments and papers, a varied stock of citation formats can help make the writers' text appear somewhat diverse.
The following examples of stock phrases and sentences with reporting verbs are organized by subject animacy, new/repeated reference mentions, and other linguistic and discourse features. In addition, however, it is im- portant for students to know that in English the subject animacy makes no difference in the functions of reporting verbs used as predicates. That is, Smith (2001) shows or thestudy/research shows are equally grammatical and can be used in similar contexts (Hinkel, 2002d).
However, for many students the use of inanimate subjects with active verbs can seem ungrammatical, and the combinations of animate subjects with activeverbs may be a better place to start (e.g.,Jones [2002] states that... or According toJones [2002], ...). For further discussion of subjectanimacy, verb transitivity, and their importance in passive constructions, see chapter 7 on the functions and uses of the passivevoice.
Stock Phrases and Sentences for Reporting Information From Published Sources
1. Reporting verbs in sentences with animate subjects (a) The first mention of the author's name/source
Smith (2002)
states that notes
mentions
comments
remarks indicates explains
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