Page 27 - Modul Academic Writing

How can we make a better citation? What should a good writer pay attention to
when citing sources?
… Tip …
In academic writing, it is very important to paraphrase correctly because there is a
fine balance between acceptable paraphrasing and unacceptable paraphrasing
(plagiarism).
How to write acceptable paraphrase?
1. Keep the meaning the same as the original writing
2. Change most of the words (using synonyms) except for technical terms
3. Restructure the sentence patterns
4. Blend with the sentence (use reporting words)
5. Use strong/weak author to acknowledge the source
6. Reference the source(s) of information

Taken from: https://aso-resources.une.edu.au/academic-writing-
course/information-basics/paraphrasing-authors/

… Practice …
Read the sources below. Comprehend the ideas and key points of each excerpt, and
paraphrase them. Make sure to use appropriate tenses and reporting verbs when you
paraphrase them.

Number one has been done for you as examples.

Like drought, excess rainfall and flooding can also contribute to epidemics of waterborne infectious
diseases, in this case due to poor sanitation resulting from runoff from overwhelmed sewage lines or
the contamination of water by livestock.

(Source: Shuman, E., M.D. (2010, March 25). Global climate change and infectious diseases. New England Journal of
Medicine; 362, 12, 1061-1063. Retrieved from nejm.org at MIT Libraries.)

Acceptable paraphrase: Acceptable paraphrase:
using synonyms changing sentence structure

An overabundance of rainfall can also be a factor When there is an overabundance of rainfall, two
in spreading infectious diseases carried by water, situations can occur: sewers can overflow and
usually as a result of overflowing sewers and water can become polluted by the presence of
pollution from farm animals (Shuman, 2010). livestock, both of which can lead to outbreaks of
waterborne diseases (Shuman, 2010).
Taken from: https://integrity.mit.edu/handbook/academic-writing/avoiding-
plagiarism-paraphrasing

24