In academic writing, supporting details such as facts,

statistics, and quotations are crucial for backing up

your claims and arguments. Here's an overview of the
key types of supporting details and how to use them:

1. Facts and Opinions

It’s important to distinguish between facts and
opinions:

Facts are objective statements that can be proven true

or false. For example:

"At sea level, water boils at 100 degrees Celsius."

"Cigarettes are addictive."
Opinions are subjective statements based on personal
beliefs or attitudes and cannot be used as supporting
details without proof. For example:

"Smoking is a bad habit."

"English is an easy language to learn."
Although expressing opinions is acceptable in
academic writing, they must always be supported with
facts. Simply stating an opinion does not offer enough
evidence for academic credibility.

2. Specific Supporting Details

While facts are important, sometimes even they need
proof, especially when they may be disputed or
require more context. This is where specific
supporting details like examples, statistics, and
quotations come into play:

Examples: These help illustrate a point and make

abstract ideas more concrete. For instance, if you're
arguing that fashion models are unnaturally thin, you
might offer an example of how they are often far
thinner than the average woman.

Statistics: These provide quantitative evidence to

back up your claims. For example, you could support
the claim that fashion models are unnaturally thin with
the statistic: "The average model weighs 25 percent
less than the average woman of the same height."
Quotations: These are the words of experts or
authorities that lend credibility to your argument. For
example, you might quote a researcher who studies
the effects of the fashion industry on young women:
"Studies show that photographs of ultra-thin fashion
models send the wrong message to girls and young
women."

PRACTICE:
Now, let's look at an example of using specific
supporting details:

Claim: Fashion models are unnaturally thin.

Supporting Details:

Example: Many fashion magazines feature models

who are much thinner than the average woman, often
showing unrealistic beauty standards.
Statistics: "The average fashion model weighs 25
percent less than the average woman of the same
height."
Quotation: According to Dr. John Smith, a
psychologist specializing in body image,
"Photographs of ultra-thin fashion models can
contribute to unhealthy body image perceptions
among young women."
By including these types of supporting details, the
argument becomes much stronger and more
convincing, as they provide concrete evidence to back
up the claim.
To support your ideas in academic writing, you can
find specific supporting details from a variety of
sources, depending on the type of assignment. Here’s
a breakdown of where you can find supporting details
and how to use them properly:

1. Personal Experience
For some assignments, especially reflective or
narrative essays, you may be able to use examples
from your own personal experience. These
experiences can serve as anecdotes or evidence to
support your points.

2. Gathering Data
You can collect specific supporting details by:
Performing an experiment: This is useful for scientific
or research-based writing where you need empirical
data.
Taking a survey: Collecting opinions or statistical data
from a group of people can help support an argument
in fields like sociology, marketing, or education.
Interviewing people: Gathering insights directly from
experts or individuals who have relevant knowledge
can provide strong supporting details.
3. Researching External Sources
For more in-depth or academic assignments, you’ll
often need to use external sources to support your
ideas. Here are some common sources:

Books: Libraries are full of textbooks, reference

books, and academic works that provide factual
information, expert opinions, and supporting data.
Journals and Articles: Scholarly journals or magazine
articles offer authoritative sources that back up claims
with research or statistics.
Websites: Reputable websites, academic databases
(like JSTOR or Google Scholar), and trusted
organizations often provide valuable research and
data.
Government Reports and Studies: These often contain
statistical data, official surveys, and research that can
lend credibility to your arguments.
Ways to Incorporate Outside Information
Once you’ve gathered information, there are three
primary ways to include it in your writing:

Quoting: Directly using someone else’s exact words,

enclosed in quotation marks. For example:

"Fashion models are often 25% thinner than the

average woman" (Smith, 2022).
Quotation marks are necessary to indicate the source
and that the words are not your own.

Summarizing: Condensing the main ideas of a longer

text or passage into a shorter form using your own
words. Summaries don’t require quotation marks, but
the source must still be cited.

Paraphrasing: Restating someone else’s ideas in your

own words. Like summarizing, paraphrasing does not
require quotation marks, but you must cite the source
of the original idea.

Avoiding Plagiarism
It’s critical to always give proper credit to the sources
of your information to avoid plagiarism, which is the
act of using someone else's words or ideas without
proper acknowledgment. Plagiarism can lead to
serious consequences in academic settings, such as
failing a course or being expelled.

To avoid plagiarism:

Put quotation marks around exact words you copy

from a source.
Cite the source whenever you use outside
information, whether you are quoting, summarizing, or
paraphrasing. Citation styles vary (e.g., MLA, APA,
Chicago), so be sure to follow the correct format for
your assignment.
By using external sources properly, you not only
strengthen your argument but also demonstrate
academic integrity.

When you use information from other sources in your

academic writing, proper citation is crucial. Here's a
breakdown of how in-text citations and works cited
lists function in academic papers:

1. In-Text Citation
In-text citations appear directly in the body of your
paper to credit the sources of the information you
borrow. They are placed immediately after the
quotation or paraphrase, before the final punctuation
mark.

Example:

Direct Quote:
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway
Safety, "Communities don't have the resources to
allow police to patrol intersections as often as would
be needed to ticket all motorists who run red lights"
("O&A").
In this case, the in-text citation ("O&A") refers to the
source of the quote, indicating that it came from the
article titled "Q&A: Red Light Running" published by
the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

2. Works Cited List

The Works Cited list (or References list, depending on
the citation style) provides full details of all the
sources cited in your paper. It usually appears at the
end of your document. This allows readers to locate
the original source of the information you’ve
referenced.

Example of a Works Cited entry:

"O&A: Red Light Running." Insurance Institute for

Highway Safety, June 2003. 26 Feb. 2004,
http://www.hwysafety.org/safety-facts/quanda/rlc.htm.
This entry provides complete information:

The full title of the article ("O&A: Red Light Running").

The publisher (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).
The date of publication (June 2003).
The date you accessed the article (26 Feb. 2004).
The URL where the article can be found.
Types of Quotations: Direct and Indirect
There are two types of quotations you can use in your
academic writing:

Direct Quotation:
This is when you copy someone’s exact words and
place them in quotation marks. This type of quotation
should be used sparingly and only when the original
phrasing is important for your argument.

Example:

The environmentalist argued that "reducing waste is

not just an option but a necessity for our future"
(Smith 2022).
Indirect Quotation (Paraphrasing):
This is when you restate someone’s ideas or
information in your own words. You still need to cite
the original source, but no quotation marks are used
since the words are your own. This is useful when you
want to simplify or clarify a complex idea.

Example:

According to Smith (2022), reducing waste is crucial

for ensuring a sustainable future.
Using Quotations Effectively
Quotations should always support your ideas and not
replace your own analysis or explanation.
Always introduce the source before the quotation,
giving context or credibility to the information.
Use short quotes for specific points or long quotes
when the wording is particularly important (but make
sure they are not too long, typically more than 4 lines).
By citing sources properly, you ensure academic
integrity, support your arguments with credible
evidence, and allow readers to follow up on the
sources you have used.
When you introduce borrowed information—whether
it’s a direct quotation, indirect quotation, or statistical
data—it's important to use appropriate reporting verbs
or phrases. These phrases help establish the
credibility of the source and signal to the reader that
the information comes from someone else. Here are
some common ways to introduce borrowed
information:

Using "According to"

"According to" is a straightforward way to introduce
information from a source. It's especially useful when
the author or source is being specifically named.

Examples:

According to Smith (2022), recycling programs have a

significant impact on reducing waste.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), greenhouse gas emissions are expected to
increase by 15% over the next decade.
Using Reporting Verbs
Reporting verbs express the way the author presents
the information. Some of the common reporting verbs
you can use include:
Assert: Suggests a strong, confident statement.

Example: The scientist asserts that climate change is

primarily driven by human activity.
Insist: Indicates a firm or unwavering stance on an
issue.

Example: The company insists that its product is

environmentally friendly, despite contrary evidence.
Report: Used when citing something that has been
officially or formally stated.

Example: The newspaper reports that a new law will

be passed next month to regulate air quality.
Suggest: Indicates that the author is putting forward
an idea or proposal, often in a tentative or less
assertive way.

Example: The study suggests that exercise can

significantly improve mental health.
Claim: Often used when stating a controversial or
disputed opinion or assertion.

Example: Critics claim that the new policy will

disproportionately affect low-income communities.
Maintain: Indicates that the source continues to hold a
particular position over time.

Example: The researcher maintains that early

childhood education is key to long-term academic
success.
Say: A common, neutral verb to introduce direct or
indirect quotations.

Example: The manager says the company is working

to reduce its carbon footprint.
Write: Used to reference written sources or texts.

Example: In his book, Johnson writes that technology

will continue to reshape the job market.
Declare: Used to introduce a statement that is
officially or publicly made.
Example: The government declared that a national
emergency would be declared to address the crisis.
Mention: Indicates a reference to something briefly or
without much elaboration.

Example: The author mentions several ways to

conserve water in the home.
State: A formal or clear expression of an idea or fact.

Example: The committee states that all employees

must comply with the new guidelines.
How to Use These Phrases and Verbs
Direct Quotations:

Use a reporting verb or phrase to introduce the exact

words of the source.
Example: According to Dr. Johnson, "Artificial
intelligence will soon play a crucial role in healthcare"
(Johnson 2023).
Indirect Quotations (Paraphrases):
Restate the ideas of the source in your own words and
use a reporting verb to show that the information is
borrowed.
Example: Smith (2022) suggests that adopting
renewable energy is essential for combating climate
change.
Statistics or Data:

You can also use these verbs to introduce statistics or

factual claims.
Example: The latest report claims that over 50% of
global plastic waste comes from single-use products.
By using these phrases effectively, you clearly
attribute borrowed information to its source, making
your writing more authoritative while avoiding
plagiarism.
These are important guidelines for effectively using
reporting verbs when integrating borrowed
information into your writing. Let's break down these
four key rules:

1. Positioning of Reporting Verbs

Before, in the middle, or after borrowed information:
Reporting verbs can be placed in different positions
relative to the information you're quoting or
paraphrasing.
Before the quotation:
Example: One young bicyclist says, "To win in world-
class competition, you have to take drugs" (Jones).
In the middle of the quotation:
Example: "To win in world-class competition," says
one young bicyclist, "you have to take drugs" (Jones).
After the quotation:
Example: "To win in world-class competition, you
have to take drugs," says one young bicyclist (Jones).
With "according to":
Example: According to one young bicyclist, athletes
have to take drugs to win (Jones).
According to usually appears before or after the
borrowed information but not in the middle.
2. Use of Subordinator "as"
Reporting verbs can be used with or without the word
"as" depending on the structure of the sentence.
With "as":
Example: As one writer says when discussing the
case of an Olympic medallist, "The human body, of
course, doesn't distinguish intentional use from
inadvertent exposure. Neither does the IOC" (Kidder,
par. 5).
Without "as":
Example: One writer says when discussing the case
of an Olympic medallist, "The human body, of course,
doesn't distinguish intentional use from inadvertent
exposure. Neither does the IOC" (Kidder, par. 5).
The choice between using "as" or not can depend on
the flow of the sentence, but both structures are
acceptable.
3. Tense of Reporting Verbs
Reporting verbs can be in any tense, but the tense you
use can affect how you present the borrowed
information. When using past tense reporting verbs,
you may need to adjust the verbs, pronouns, and time
expressions in your indirect quotations.
Present tense:
Example: Some critics claim that the International
Olympic Committee has been lax on enforcement of
drug bans ("2000 Olympics," par. 6).
Past tense:
Example: Some critics claimed that the International
Olympic Committee had been lax on enforcement of
drug bans ("2000 Olympics," par. 6).
Notice that when the reporting verb is in the past
tense, you might also need to adjust other parts of the
sentence, like shifting to the past perfect tense in the
indirect quotation.
4. Including the Source for Credibility
Always include the source of the borrowed
information when you use a reporting verb. This gives
your writing authority and shows your reader that the
information comes from a credible and reliable
source.
Example: The Institute of Global Ethics warns, "The
Olympics could well become just another money-
drenched media promotion in which contestants will
be motivated less by athletic glory than by lucrative
future contracts" (Kidder, par. 7).
The source (in this case, "Institute of Global Ethics")
is named, making the information more credible.
Summary of Reporting Verbs:
Use reporting verbs in varied positions (before,
middle, or after).
Reporting verbs can be used with or without the word
"as".
Ensure tense consistency, especially with past tense
reporting verbs.
Always attribute the source to enhance the credibility
of your writing.
By following these rules, your writing will be clearer,
more authoritative, and better structured. It also helps
to ensure you are not unintentionally committing
plagiarism by providing proper attribution to sources.
Punctuating Direct Quotations
Here are the rules for punctuating direct quotations,
along with the answers to the practice exercises:

General Rules for Punctuating Direct Quotations:

Quotation Marks:
Put quotation marks around any information you copy
word-for-word from a source. Do not use quotation
marks for paraphrases, summaries, or indirect
quotations.
Commas and Periods:
Normally, place commas and periods before the
closing quotation mark.

Example:
According to Sports Illustrated, "Eliminating drug use
from Olympic sports would be no small challenge."
Exceptions to Comma Usage:

If you're inserting a few quoted words into your own

sentence, don't use commas.
Example:
Charles Yesalis believes that "a large percentage" of
athletes who have set new records have done so with
the help of performance-enhancing drugs (qtd. in
Herper, par. 6).
Capitalization:
Capitalize the first word of the quotation and the first
word of the sentence after the quotation mark.

Example:
Dr. Donald Catlin, director of a drug-testing lab at
UCLA, stated, "The sophisticated athlete who wants to
take drugs has switched to things we can't test for"
(qtd. in Bamberger and Yaeger 62).
Breaking Up a Quotation:
If you break a quoted sentence into two parts, enclose
both parts in quotation marks and separate the parts
with commas. Capitalize only the first word of the
quotation.

Example:
"The sophisticated athlete who wants to take drugs,"
stated Dr. Donald Catlin, "has switched to things we
can't test for" (qtd. in Bamberger and Yaeger 62).
Omitting Words:
If you omit words from a quotation, use an ellipsis
(three spaced periods).

Example:
According to a 1997 article in Sports Illustrated, "The
use of steroids has spread to almost every sport, from
major league baseball to college basketball to high
school football" (Bamberger and Yaeger 62).
Adding Words:
If you add words to the quotation for clarification, put
square brackets around the added words.

Example:
One athlete declared, "The testers know that the
[drug] gurus are smarter than they are" (qtd. in
Bamberger and Yaeger 62).
Quotation Within a Quotation:
Use single quotation marks to enclose a quotation
within a quotation.

Example:
A young athlete openly admitted, "My ethical inner
voice tells me, 'Don't use drugs,' but my competitive
inner voice says, 'You can't win if you don't'" (Jones).
Long Quotations:
For quotations longer than four lines, do not use
quotation marks. Indent the quotation one inch from
the left margin and introduce it with a colon.
Example:
A national news agency reported these shocking
survey results: Several years ago, when 198 athletes
were asked if they would take a performance-
enhancing drug if they knew they would NOT be
caught and they would win, 195 said they would take
the drug. The second question revealed a more
frightening scenario. The athletes were asked if they
would take a drug that would ensure they would win
every competition for five years and wouldn't get
caught, but the side effects would kill them—more
than HALF said they would take the drug ("2000
Olympics," par. 12).
Practice 2: Punctuating Direct Quotations
Here are the correctly punctuated quotations for the
practice exercise:

Dr. Yixuan Ma, a well-known astrophysicist who has

been studying black holes, said, "They are the most
interesting phenomena we astrophysicists have ever
studied."

As she explained, "In black holes, the laws of nature

do not seem to apply."
"A black hole is a tiny point with the mass 25 times the
mass of our sun," explained Ma's associate, Chun-Yi
Suo. "Black holes are created by the death of a very
large star," she stated.

"It is an invisible vacuum cleaner in space," she

added, "with tremendous gravitational pull."

According to Dr. Su, "If a person falls into a black

hole, he will eventually be crushed due to the
tremendous gravitational forces."

"Time will slow down for him as he approaches the

point of no return," she said, "and when he reaches
the point of no return, time will stand still for him."

Writing Technique Questions

Underline the verbs "said" and "stated" in sentence 6.
What tense are these verbs?

The verbs "said" and "stated" are in the past tense.

Underline the verbs in the indirect quotations
following these two verbs. Compare them with the
same verbs in the model on page 43. Are they in the
same or a different tense?

The verbs in the indirect quotations following "said"

and "stated" will need to be changed based on the
sequence of tenses rule. In most cases, verbs in
indirect quotations should shift to the past tense.
Compare sentence 7 in both models. What has been
added to sentence 7 in the model for indirect
quotations? How did the verb in the quotation
change?

The verb in the indirect quotation changes from

present to past tense. The word "that" is typically
added to make the sentence clearer, and any
pronouns or time expressions may change to fit the
context.
In sentence 6, why are the words "athletes" and "they"
in square brackets?

The words "athletes" and "they" are added in square

brackets to clarify the subject of the quotation and to
maintain consistency with the rest of the text. This
ensures the quotation makes sense when embedded
in the sentence.
Compare sentence 9 in both models. Did any words
change?

When changing a direct quotation to an indirect

quotation, certain words (like pronouns and time
references) are changed to maintain the sense of the
original sentence. For example, "athletes" and "they"
might be changed to "he" or "she" depending on
context.
Changing Direct Quotations to Indirect Quotations:
To convert a direct quotation into an indirect one:

Remove the quotation marks.

Add the subordinator "that" (optional).
Adjust the verb tense to follow the sequence of
tenses.
Change pronouns and time expressions to fit the
context.
Example of a direct quotation:

"The use of steroids has spread to almost every

sport," stated the researcher.
Indirect quotation:

The researcher stated that the use of steroids had

spread to almost every sport.
By following these steps, you can ensure your
quotations and their changes are properly formatted
and integrated into your academic writing.equence of
Tenses Rules
The Sequence of Tenses rule is important when
converting direct quotations into indirect quotations.
The tense of the reporting verb (the verb introducing
the quotation) dictates how the verb in the quoted
material changes. Here are the guidelines for when the
reporting verb is in the past tense:

1. Changes in Verb Tense

Simple Present changes to Simple Past:
Direct: Susan said, "The exam is at eight o'clock."
Indirect: Susan said (that) the exam was at eight
o'clock.
Simple Past and Present Perfect change to Past
Perfect:

Direct: She said, "We didn't have time to eat

breakfast."
Indirect: She said (that) they hadn't had time to eat
breakfast.
Direct: He said, "The exam has just started."
Indirect: He said (that) the exam had just started.
Will changes to Would, Can changes to Could, May
changes to Might, and Must changes to Had to:

Direct: Sam mentioned, "Today I will eat Chinese food,

and tomorrow I'll eat French food if I can find a good
restaurant."
Indirect: Sam mentioned that today he would eat
Chinese food and that tomorrow he'd eat French food
if he could find a good restaurant.
2. Changes in Time Expressions
Time expressions in the direct quotation may need to
change in the indirect quotation to maintain the proper
meaning:

Direct: The teacher said, "You must finish the test

right now."
Indirect: The teacher said that we had to finish the test
right then.
3. Exceptions to the Sequence of Tenses Rules
There are three exceptions where the verb tense does
not change:

When the reporting verb is in the present, present

perfect, or future:

Direct: He says, "I can finish it today."

Indirect: He says that he can finish it today. (No tense
change)
When the reporting phrase is "according to":

Direct: The lawyer said, "My client is innocent."

Indirect: According to the lawyer, his client is
innocent. (No tense change)
When the quoted information is a fact or a general
truth:

Direct: He said, "Water boils at a lower temperature in

the mountains."
Indirect: He said that water boils at a lower
temperature in the mountains. (No tense change)
Summary of Tense Changes
Simple Present → Simple Past
Present Perfect → Past Perfect
Simple Past → Past Perfect
Will → Would
Can → Could
May → Might
Must → Had to
These rules ensure clarity and consistency when
transforming direct quotations into indirect speech.
The changes help maintain the appropriate
relationship between the time of the reporting verb
and the time of the reported action or statement.
Topic Sentence:
Computers cannot be compared to human brains.

Main Point A:
The human brain is more powerful than any
computer.

Conscious?" published in U.S. News & World Report,

Steven Pinker, in his article "Can a Computer Be

explains that the information-processing capacity of

even the most powerful supercomputer is only
equivalent to the nervous system of a snail, which is

supercomputer inside the human skull (64).

a tiny fraction of the power available to the

Main Point B:
The kinds of processing in a human brain and a
computer are different, too.
Pinker also noted that computers find it easy to
remember a 25-digit number, but they struggle to
summarize a simple children's story like Little Red
Riding Hood, whereas humans find it difficult to
summarize the story (64).
remember a long string of numbers but can easily

Completed Paragraph:
Computers cannot be compared to human brains.
The human brain is far more powerful than any
computer. As Steven Pinker explains in his article
"Can a Computer Be Conscious?", the processing
capacity of even the most advanced supercomputers
is only equal to that of a snail's nervous system,

brain (64). Furthermore, the way computers and

which is a small fraction of the power of the human

human brains process information differs

significantly. For example, while computers can
easily remember long strings of numbers, they
struggle to comprehend and summarize a simple
story like Little Red Riding Hood. On the other hand,
humans find it difficult to remember such long

plot of the story (64).

sequences of numbers but can easily summarize the

Topic Sentence:
World energy consumption has shifted
significantly in recent decades.
Supporting Statements:
According to the data shown in the graph, global
energy consumption has steadily increased from
1970 to 2020.
In 1970, the total world energy consumption was
approximately 5,000 million tons of oil equivalent
(Mtoe).
By 1990, this figure had risen to about 7,500
Mtoe, showing a noticeable growth in energy use.
The most significant increase occurred between
1990 and 2020, when consumption jumped to over
13,000 Mtoe.
Fossil fuels continue to dominate world energy
consumption, making up around 80% of the total
consumption in 2020.
Renewable energy sources, while growing, still
represent a smaller portion of total energy use,
increasing from just 5% in 1970 to approximately
15% by 2020.
Nuclear energy has remained relatively stable,
comprising around 5-10% of global consumption
throughout the period.
The data highlights how energy consumption
patterns are changing, with growing reliance on
renewable sources, though fossil fuels remain the
dominant source.
This trend indicates that despite efforts to
transition to cleaner energy sources, fossil fuels
still play a central role in the global energy
market.
In-Text Citation:
According to the graph on global energy
consumption (Energy Trends Report, 2023), the
figures demonstrate a dramatic increase in energy
use over the past five decades.