9.5: Integrating Source Material and Signal Phrases

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Using source material effectively is a major part of academic writing—whether you’re quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing. One of the easiest assignments any professor can give you is to have you read and respond to an article or essay. Your role as a writer will often involve having a written “conversation” with your source(s).

If done well, a signal phrase can accomplish three things:

it can smoothly set up the context of the material you’re about to use
it can add credibility to your writing
it can show your readers where your ideas end and your source material

begins (which helps you avoid plagiarism)

The following examples illustrate the power of the signal phrase:

As one writer points out,... (citation).
A recent cover story in Newsweek reveals that... (citation).
Writer Naomi Wolf contends that... (citation).
According to Ta-Nehisi Coates (2015),...
Multiple studies confirm how... (citation).
The Journal of the American Medical Association has noted this trend:... (citation).

PERSUADING INFORMING argues reports contends reveals asserts suggests questions points out believes illustrates maintains concludes

claims

acknowledges refutes

observes insists

notes affirms

explains dismisses

states denies

shows