Skip to content
2018
Volume 77, Issue 3
  • ISSN: 0010-096X
  • E-ISSN: 1939-9006

Abstract

Because source use is a key academic literacy skill tied to students’ socialization into the university, scholars have called for more research on how novice second language (L2) writers’ use of sources changes over time as they engage with disciplinary discourse. The present study, therefore, tracked the semester-long development of thirty undergraduate L2 students’ source use in a research writing seminar course. Each student wrote two research papers for the course, providing sixty papers for both quantitative and qualitative text analysis. The researcher conducted data analysis in terms of citation density, source type, citation type, and source use purpose. Findings showed that students’ engagement with scholarly articles led to formulation of new citation patterns: incorporation of research summaries and frequent use of nonintegral citations. In addition, citation density increased overall, with scholarly sources newly used in theoretical orientations to John M. Swales’s CARS model. Nonetheless, students’ papers demonstrated a lack of proficiency in the sophisticated aspects of source use. The discussion concludes with suggestions for source use instruction in line with students’ understanding of disciplinary discourse.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.58680/ccc2026773458
2026-02-01
2026-03-11
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Ableeva Rumia. Dynamic Assessment of Listening Comprehension in L2 French 2010 The Pennsylvania State University, PhD dissertation.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Allison Desmond, and Ip Kung Sau. “Misreading Viewpoints: Reading Problems among ESL University Students in Hong Kong.” Hongkong Papers in Linguistics and Language Teaching, vol. 14 1991, pp 33-50.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Bereiter Carl, and Scardamalia Marlene. The Psychology of Written Composition. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates 1987.
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Bergmann Linda S, and Zepernick Janet. “Disciplinarity and Transfer: Students’ Perceptions of Learning to Write.” Writing Program Administration, vol. 31, no. 1-2 2007, pp 124-49.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Bizup Joseph. “BEAM: A Rhetorical Vocabulary for Teaching Research-Based Writing.” Rhetoric Review, vol. 27, no. 1 2008, pp 72-86.
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Campbell Cherry. “Writing with Others’ Words: Using Background Reading Text in Academic Compositions.” Second Language Writing: Research Insights for the Classroom, edited byKroll Barbara, Cambridge University P 1990, pp 211-30.
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Citation Project: Reframing the Conversation about Plagiarism. https://www.citationproject.net/. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Cumming Alister, et al. “Students’ Writing from Sources for Academic Purposes: A Synthesis of Recent Research.” Journal of English for Academic Purposes, vol. 23 2016, pp 47-58.
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Currie Pat. “Staying Out of Trouble: Apparent Plagiarism and Academic Survival.” Journal of Second Language Writing, vol. 7, no. 1 1998, pp 1-18.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Davis Mary. “The Development of Source Use by International Postgraduate Students.” Journal of English for Academic Purposes, vol. 12, no. 2 2013, pp 125-35.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Donahue Christiane. “‘Internationalization’ and Composition Studies: Reorienting the Discourse.” College Composition and Communication, vol. 61, no. 2 2009, pp 212-43.
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Downs Douglas, and Wardle Elizabeth. “Teaching about Writing, Righting Misconceptions: (Re)Envisioning ‘First-Year Composition’ as ‘Introduction to Writing Studies.’” College Composition and Communication, vol. 58, no. 4 2007, pp 552-84.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Flowerdew John, and Li Yongyan. “Language Re-Use among Chinese Apprentice Scientists Writing for Publication.” Applied Linguistics, vol. 28 2007, pp 440-65.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Grabe William, and Zhang Cui. “Reading and Writing Together: A Critical Component of English for Academic Purposes Teaching and Learning.” TESOL Journal, vol. 4, no. 1 2013, pp 9-24.
    [Google Scholar]
  15. Harwood Nigel. “An Interview-Based Study of the Functions of Citations in Academic Writing across Two Disciplines.” Journal of Pragmatics, vol. 41, no. 3 2009, pp 497-518.
    [Google Scholar]
  16. Harwood Nigel, and Petrić Bojana. “Performance in the Citing Behavior of Two Student Writers.” Written Communication, vol. 29, no. 1 2012, pp 55-103.
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Heigham Juanita, and Croker Robert A.. Qualitative Research in Applied Linguistics: A Practical Introduction. Palgrave MacMillan 2009.
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Hood Susan. “Summary Writing in Academic Contexts: Implicating Meaning in Processes of Change.” Linguistics and Education, vol. 19, no. 4 2008, pp 351-65.
    [Google Scholar]
  19. Horner Bruce, and Trimbur John. “English Only and U.S. College Composition.” College Composition and Communication, vol. 53, no. 4 2002, pp 594-630.
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Howard Rebecca Moore. “Plagiarism, Authorships, and the Academic Penalty.” College English, vol. 57 1995, pp 788-806.
    [Google Scholar]
  21. Hyland Ken. “Academic Attribution: Citation and the Construction of Disciplinary Knowledge.” Applied Linguistics, vol. 20 1999, pp 341-67.
    [Google Scholar]
  22. Hyland Ken. Metadiscourse: Exploring Interaction in Writing. Bloomsbury Publishing 2005.
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Hyland Ken, and Tse Polly. “Evaluative That Constructions: Signaling Stance in Research Abstracts.” Functions of Language, vol. 12, no. 1 2005, pp 39-63.
    [Google Scholar]
  24. Jamieson Sandra. “Reading and Engaging Sources: What Students’ Use of Sources Reveals about Advanced Reading Skills.” Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum, special issue of Across the Disciplines, edited byHorning Alice S., vol. 10, no. 4 2013, pp 1-22.
    [Google Scholar]
  25. Johns Ann M., and Mayes Patricia. “An Analysis of Summary Protocols of University ESL Students.” Applied Linguistics, vol. 11 1990, pp 253-71.
    [Google Scholar]
  26. Keck Casey. “The Use of Paraphrase in Summary Writing: A Comparison of L1 and L2 Writers.” Journal of Second Language Writing, vol. 15, no. 4 2006, pp 261-78.
    [Google Scholar]
  27. Kubota Ryuko. “Japanese Culture Constructed by Discourses: Implications for Applied Linguistics Research and ELT.” TESOL Quarterly, vol. 33, no. 1 1999, pp 9-35.
    [Google Scholar]
  28. Lave Jean, and Wenger Etienne. Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation. Cambridge UP 1991.
    [Google Scholar]
  29. Leki Ilona. Undergraduates in a Second Language: Challenges and Complexities of Academic Literacy Development. Erlbaum 2007.
    [Google Scholar]
  30. Li Yongyan. “Undergraduate Students Searching and Reading Web Sources for Writing.” Educational Media International, vol. 49 2012, pp 201-15.
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Li Yongyan, and Casanave Christine Pearson. “Two First-Year Students’ Strategies for Writing from Sources: Patchwriting or Plagiarism?” Journal of Second Language Writing, vol. 21, no. 2 2012, pp 165-80.
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Mansourizadeh Kobra, and Ahmad Ummul K.. “Citation Practices among Non-Native and Novice Scientific Writers.” Journal of English for Academic Purposes, vol. 10, no. 3 2011, pp 152-61.
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Matsuda Paul Kei. “Response: What Is Second Language Writing—And Why Does It Matter?” Journal of Second Language Writing, vol. 22 2013, pp 448-50.
    [Google Scholar]
  34. McCulloch Sharon. “Investigating the Reading-to-Write Processes and Source Use of L2 Postgraduate Students in Real-Life Academic Tasks: An Exploratory Study.” Journal of English for Academic Purposes, vol. 12, no. 2 2013, pp 136-47.
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Nowacek Rebecca S.Agents of Integration: Understanding Transfer as a Rhetorical Act. Southern Illinois UP 2011.
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Pecorari Diane. “Visible and Occluded Citation Features in Postgraduate Second-Language Writing.” English for Specific Purposes, vol. 25 2006, pp 4-29.
    [Google Scholar]
  37. Pennycook Alastair. “Borrowing Others’ Words: Text, Ownership, Memory, and Plagiarism.” TESOL Quarterly, vol. 30, no. 2 1996, pp 201-30.
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Petrić Bojana. “Rhetorical Functions of Citations in High- and Low-Rated Master’s Theses.” Journal of English for Academic Purposes, vol. 6 2007, pp 238-53.
    [Google Scholar]
  39. Prior Paul. Writing/Disciplinarity: A Sociohistoric Account of Literate Activity in the Academy. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates 1998.
    [Google Scholar]
  40. Shi Ling. “Textual Borrowing in Second-Language Writing.” Written Communication, vol. 21, no. 2 2004, pp 171-200.
    [Google Scholar]
  41. Song Ji Young. An Analysis of Writing Activities of High School English Composition Textbooks 2006 Korea University, MA thesis.
    [Google Scholar]
  42. Sormunen Eero, et al. “A Method for the Analysis of Information Use in SourceBased Writing.” Information Research, vol. 17, no. 4 2012 pp 1-17.
    [Google Scholar]
  43. Staples Shelley, and Reppen Randi. “Understanding First-Year L2 Writing: A Lexico-Grammatical Analysis across L1s, Genres, and Language Ratings.” Journal of Second Language Writing, vol. 32 2016, pp 17-35.
    [Google Scholar]
  44. Storch Neomy. “Incorporation of Source Material: The Effect of Instruction.” TESOL in Context, vol. 22, no. 1 2012, pp 38-55.
    [Google Scholar]
  45. Sullivan Patrick, et al. “College Writing in China and America: A Modest and Humble Conversation, with Writing Samples.” College Composition and Communication, vol. 64, no. 2 2012, pp 306-31.
    [Google Scholar]
  46. Sun Qingyang, and Soden Bill. “International Students’ Engagement with Support in Developing Source Use Abilities: A Longitudinal Case Study.” Journal of English for Academic Purposes, vol. 51 2021, pp 1-14.
    [Google Scholar]
  47. Sutherland-Smith Wendy. Plagiarism, the Internet and Student Learning: Improving Academic Integrity. Routledge 2008.
    [Google Scholar]
  48. Swales John M.Genre Analysis: English in Academic and Research Settings. Cambridge UP 1990.
    [Google Scholar]
  49. Tardy Christine M., and Matsuda Paul Kei. “The Construction of Author Voice by Editorial Board Members.” Written Communication, vol. 26 2009, pp 32-52.
    [Google Scholar]
  50. Thompson Celia, et al. “Where From, Who, Why and How? A Study of the Use of Sources by First Year L2 University Students.” Journal of English for Academic Purposes, vol. 12 2013, pp 99-109.
    [Google Scholar]
  51. Urbanová Zuzana. “The Function of Reported Language and Narration in the Headlines of Hard News.” From Theory to Practice 2012: Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Anglophone Studies, edited byBell Gregory Jason et al., Tomas Bata U 2012, pp 113-24.
    [Google Scholar]
  52. Weigle Sara Cushing, and Parker Keisha. “Source Text Borrowing in an Integrated Reading/Writing Assessment.” Journal of Second Language Writing, vol. 21 2012, pp 118-33.
    [Google Scholar]
  53. Wette Rosemary. “Source Text Use by Undergraduate Post-Novice L2 Writers in Disciplinary Assignment: Progress and Ongoing Challenges.” Journal of Second Language Writing, vol. 37 2017, pp 46-58.
    [Google Scholar]
  54. Yamada Kyoko. “Comparison of Two Summaries/Text-Integration Writing Tasks Requiring Different Inferential Processes.” RELC Journal, vol. 33, no. 2 2002, pp 142-56.
    [Google Scholar]
  55. Yancey Kathleen Blake, et al.Writing Across Contexts: Transfer, Composition, and Sites of Writing. Utah State UP 2014.
    [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.58680/ccc2026773458
Loading
/content/journals/10.58680/ccc2026773458
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test