Reporting Verbs

Reporting Verbs

Start

Unit 2

Unit 1

Objectives

index

Unit 3

References

Quiz

Objectives

To understand what a reporting verb is

To comprehend how to use reporting verbs for academic texts (e.g. according to...; structure of reporting verb sentences; tenses)

To recognise the importance of using different reporting verbs

01

WHat is a reporting verb?

unit 1

What is a reporting verb?

Reporting verbs can be used to introduce quotations or paraphased information from scholarly literature. In academic writing, they are accompanied by references and can indicate your stance on the information you're presenting in your text (Sowton & Hewings, 2012). Do you agree or disagree with the referenced material? Do you wish to keep a neutral standpoint?

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unit 1

According to Sowton and Hewings (2012), reporting verbs can also be used to indicate: 1. what the author did 2. what the author found 3. what the author thought

unit 1

Disagree

Agree

Neutral

- Observes - Discusses - Mentions

- Disputes - Questions - Contradicts

- Acknowledges - Supports - Affirms

Can you think of any others for each category?

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01

Any questions?

Unit

02

Reporting Verbs and Academic Texts

unit 2

"In short, the ideal motivational scenario is one in which students attribute positive outcomes to personal ability, and negative out- comes to temporary shortcomings that can be remedied."

Using the quote on the left, would you use an agree, neutral or disagree reporting verb to paraphase?

Ushioda (1996, p. 13)

unit 2

Structure

Reporting verbs would follow these basic grammar rules: Rule 1: Verb + Noun (noun phrase) A (2021) demonstrated her negative opinion of B's proposal. C (2021) supports Chomsky's theories. Rule 2: Verb + that + clause (i.e. sentence) The authors showed that A's policy had detrimental results. B (2021) states that the quality of phones have deteriorated over the past 10 years.

unit 2

Structure

When using reporting verbs in your writing, the structure of your sentences are important. The next slide will show three sentences using the grammar rules from the previous slide. Which one is incorrect and why?

unit 2

Structure

Which sentence structure is incorrect and why? A) Narine (2021) states that green has a positive effect on serotonin levels in the brain. B) According to Narine (2021) states that the colour green has a positive effect on serotonin levels in the brain. C) According to Narine (2021), green has a positive effect on serotonin levels in the brain.

unit 2

Brief grammar point explanation

Why is B incorrect? "According to Narine (2021) states that the colour green has a positive effect on serotonin levels in the brain." "According to" is commonly followed by a noun phrase and sometimes by a clause. It does not need a reporting verb immediately after the reference.

unit 2

Tense

Reporting verbs tend to be in present simple, at least when referring to more recent literature. Past tense is used when the literature is dated. A common mistake is using the past tense for newer references (Oshima & Hogue, 2007).

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Any questions?

Unit

03

The Importance of Different reporting verbs

unit 3

In Unit 1...

We covered what reporting verbs are and that they are used to underpin your arguments, but how important is it to use different verbs in your work?

Jackson (2027) agrees that children should not be allowed on public transport.Clark (1550) challenges the thought that petrol powered vehicles are bad for the environment. Davidson (2081) considers people to be less important that food.

unit 3

Picture this:

You are writing up an academic assignment. You find an appropriate quote which you agree with that you want to use. How do you go about doing it? How strongly do you agree with the quote?

unit 3

Strong Position

Weak Position

Agree

Admits

Emphasises

Neutral

Accepts

Explains

Doubts

Disagree

Criticises

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unit 3

“Kentucky fried chicken is magnificent and deserves everybody’s attention” (Curran, 2021)

Place these three quotes in order of strength from weakest to strongest.

Curran (2021) insists that KFC is amazing and deserves people’s attention.

Curran (2021) feels that kentucky is great and warrants more attention.

Curran (2021) assumes that kentucky fried chicken is magnificent and would be better if everyone paid attention to it.

03

Any questions?

Unit

Reporting Verbs Quiz

Test your knowledge!

Start

1/5

What is a reporting verb?

A word used to talk about or report on other people's work.

A word that shows hesitance or uncertainty about a statement

A word that describes the tone of an article

RIGHTANSWER

2/5

Which statement is incorrectly written?

According to A (2021), the interactivity of this quiz is questionable and should probably be redone.

According to A (2021) states that this quiz is interactive.

A (2021) observes that this quiz has a high level of student interaction.

Right answer

"According to" is commonly followed by a noun phrase and sometimes by a clause. It does not need a reporting verb immediately after the reference.

3/5

Source A was published in 1973 and Source B was published in 2020. How would you include them in your work?

A (1973) stated... B (2020) noted...

A (1973) stated... B (2020) notes...

A (1973) states... B (2020) noted...

Right answer

Older literature is referred to in the past tense and recent literature is referred to in the present tense.

4/5

Which reporting verb is the weakest?

Advises

Proposes

Speculates

Right answer

According to the University of Technology Sydney (n.d.), the verbs from strongest to weakest are: speculates, proposes, then advises.

5/5

What is the structure of a reporting verb sentence?

Verb + noun phrase OR "According to" + verb + that

Verb + clause + that OR Verb + that + noun

Verb + that + clause OR Verb + noun phrase

congrats

Continue

wrong

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Well done

Lesson learned!

References

Oshima, A., & Hogue, A. (2007). Writing academic English (4th ed.). Pearson Longman.

Sowton, C. & Hewings, M. (2012). Cambridge Academic English Upper Intermediate. Cambridge University Press

University of Technology Sydney. (n.d.). Reporting Verbs. Retrieved 24 November 2021 from https://www.uts.edu.au/current-students/support/helps/self-help-resources/grammar/reporting-verbs.

Ushioda, E. (1996). Learner Autonomy 5: The Role of Motivation. Authentik.