Why We Need to Cite Previous Scholars

and Researchers:

The 8 Rhetoric Reasons

Presentation by:Wycliff Edwin Tusiime

Researcher: Vocational Teacher Education

Oslo & Akershus University College, Norway

March, 2013

Citations are used to recognize and acknowledge the intellectual property rights of authors. They are a matter of ethics and a defense against plagiarism (Swales & Freak, 2009).

Citations are used to show respect to previous to previous scholars. They recognize the history of the field by acknowledging previous achievements

(Swales & Freak, 2009).

Citations are reading guides; they point the reader to the relevant works

(Swales & Freak, 2009).

Citations project what the writer perceives to be the relevant work; they establish an intellectual network (White, 2001)

Citations are used to create a research space for the citing author. By describing what has been done, citations point the way to what has not been done and so prepare a space for new research (Swales, 1990)

Citations are used to demonstrate that the author qualifies as a member of the chosen scholarly community; citations are used to demonstrate familiarity with the field (Bavelas, 1978)

Citations are tools of persuasion; we use them to give statements greater authority (Gilbert, 1977).

Citations operate as a kind of mutual reward system. Rather than pay other authors money for their contributions, writers pay them in citations (Ravetz, 1971)

Discussion

a) Which of these 8 Rhetoric reasons presented contribute the least to your understanding of citation use?

b) What simple, straight forward answer would you choose from the 8 reasons presented and why?