Citations

“Standing on the shoulders of giants”

When writing academic reports and similar documents, it is crucial to properly cite the sources of your work. “Sources” refer to foundational materials—such as research articles, books, technical reports, and datasets—that support, contextualize, or verify the claims made in your report or paper.

Citing these sources is essential for several key reasons:

1. Credibility: Citations support your claims and provide evidence, showing readers that your work is based on established research. This builds trust in your findings.

2. Attribution and Acknowledgment: Properly citing sources gives credit to the original authors for their ideas, respecting their intellectual property and contributions. This attribution ensures that the intellectual lineage of ideas is preserved and recognized.

3. Resource for Further Reading: Citations guide readers to the original sources, enabling them to explore topics in more depth if they’re interested.

4. Maintain Academic Integrity: Finally, correct citation is critical to maintain academic integrity by avoiding plagiarism, which is the unethical use of another’s intellectual property without proper attribution.

By carefully selecting and citing relevant sources, academic writers strengthen the quality and integrity of their report and contribute to a transparent, trustworthy, and collaborative scholarly environment. By using citations effectively, you align with academic standards in engineering.

When to Cite¶

Use citations immediately when you introduce outside information, and include a reference list at the end of your report. When writing your report, you should cite sources whenever you use someone else’s ideas, data, or words. This includes:

1. Paraphrased Information – Even if you rewrite ideas in your own words, you must still credit the original source.

2. Data, Figures, and Diagrams – If you include graphs, tables, or data from another source, cite where it came from. The citation should be in the text, where you refer to the figure or such, and in the caption.

3. Background Information – Any non-common knowledge information should be cited.

4. Direct Quotes – If you copy text word for word, use quotation marks and cite the source. Note that direct quotes are less common in Engineering than in other sciences, including social sciences.

You don’t need to cite:

• Your own thoughts and analysis.

• Common knowledge (e.g., Ohm’s Law, basic circuit principles).

Evaluating the Quality of Sources¶

You will typically rely on a range of sources to support your academic work. Choosing high-quality sources is essential, as it directly impacts the credibility, accuracy, and reliability of your own research and reports.

Below are key factors to consider when evaluating the quality of sources, especially in engineering and technical fields.

Credibility of the Author or Publisher¶

• Prefer sources authored by experts in the field, such as academics, researchers, or industry professionals. Look for author affiliations with reputable institutions.

• Be cautious over anonymous or pseudo-anonymous online sources.

Whether the source has undergone peer review or is scholarly¶

• Peer-reviewed and scholarly sources are among the most reliable sources of information.

• Such sources include journal articles, conference papers, and technical reports, and can be found using databases like IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar.

• Many sources found online, such as technical websites, white papers, and industry reports, can be valuable but need careful evaluation. Look for information hosted on reputable websites, such as government, educational, or established technical publishing and industry domains.

• Be cautious with general websites, blogs, or forums. While they might provide useful initial information, they often lack the academic rigor required for reliable citation in an engineering context. User-generated content, like Wikipedia, should never be cited as a primary source. It can be a helpful starting point when you follow the cited sources in the Wikipedia article.

Date of Publication¶

• Engineering and technology fields evolve rapidly, so it’s essential to avoid outdated sources, maybe of only a few years old.

• However, some foundational works, such as theoretical papers or classic textbooks, remain relevant for longer and can provide essential background knowledge.

Relevance to Your Topic¶

• Ensure that the source is directly related to the topic of your report or research question. Quality sources are not only accurate and credible but also contribute valuable insights to your specific field of inquiry.

• Avoid using sources that are only tangentially related to your topic, as they may dilute the focus of your work and distract from your main arguments.

Objectivity and Absence of Bias¶

• Quality sources aim to provide objective, balanced perspectives. Avoid sources with a clear agenda or those that present information in a one-sided manner, as they may distort facts or omit critical details.

• Scientific sources typically present data, methodologies, and results transparently, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions. Look for such transparency as a mark of quality.

Depth of Detail and Technical Accuracy¶

• In engineering, details are crucial, whether it’s data, methodology, or technical explanations. Choose sources that provide in-depth analysis and support their claims with data, equations, or empirical evidence.

• Avoid superficial or overly simplified sources, as they may lack the rigor needed for technical subjects and may not hold up under scrutiny.

Summary¶

Evaluating the quality of your sources is a fundamental skill for academic and technical writing. High-quality sources strengthen your arguments, add authority to your work, and help you develop a deeper understanding of the subject. By choosing credible, reliable, and relevant sources, you demonstrate academic integrity and ensure that your work meets the standards expected in the engineering field.