How to use a Signal Phrase!!!

1. How to use a Signal Phrase!!! …..because everyone deserves credit for their stuff!!

2. MLA In Text Citations Refer to your Hacker Guide from pp. 121-128. Let’s read p. 120 to learn and see what this means.

3. First Signal Phrase Be sure to introduce the first and last name of the author and if necessary for your content, specify their title or area of expertise; identify the page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence (7). Ex: Mark Jones, Educational Editor for the Erie Times News, contends that the research teachers at NPCA are the finest in the world (D5).

4. Now you Try It! Take out some scrap paper and create an entry for a sentence outline with a signal phrase.

5. Crane p.17 Paraphrase MEDIA INFLUENCES The amount of time a teen spends watching television effects the amount of pressure celebrity images have on them. Statistic prove that 60% of teens spend 40 hours or more a week watching television. Working Bibliography Crane, Alex Dr. “TV is Too Much for Teens.” Psychology Today 19 Feb. 2008. Print. Doan, William. Media’s Influences. New York: Putnum, 2005.Print

6. With the First Signal Phrase Dr. Alex Crane, author of “TV is too Much for Teens,” asserts that the amount of time a teen spends watching television effects the amount of pressure celebrity images have on them (17).

7. Second Signal Phrase Once a source has been introduced, it is not necessary to use the author’s full name or title again; simply use the author’s last name and the page number. Ex: Jones goes on to note that the students in the summer programs are also among the hardest working in the school (D5).

8. Add Variety! Your writing will grow repetitive if all of your signal phrases are placed at the beginning of the sentence. Add variety to your sentences by placing your signal phrases in middle (embedded) or at the end of your sentence. Embedded: Attending class in the summer, Jones explains, allows for more flexibility in the student’s fall schedule (D6). End: Attending class in the summer allows for more flexibility in the student’s fall schedule, explains Jones (D6).

9. Remember to use a perfect verb! An article can not “tell” or “say” Instead an article: Informs Clarifies Describes Outlines Etc. – what are your suggestions? (See page 113 of Hacker guide)

10. Now Create a 2nd Signal Phrase Don’t forget to try a “sweet” new verb. (See pg. 113 of your Hacker Guide).

11. Crane p.17 Paraphrase MEDIA INFLUENCES The amount of time a teen spends watching television effects the amount of pressure celebrity images have on them. Statistic prove that 60% of teens spend 40 hours or more a week watching television. Working Bibliography Crane, Alex Dr. “TV is Too Much for Teens.” Psychology Today 19 Feb. 2008. Print. Doan, William. Media’s Influences. New York: Putnum, 2005.Print

12. Second Signal Phrase Crane explains that the amount of time a teen spends watching television effects the amount of pressure celebrity images have on them (17). Or The amount of time a teen spends watching television effects the amount of pressure celebrity images have on them, argues Crane (17). Or The amount of time a teen spends watching television, insists Crane, effects the amount of pressure celebrity images have on them (17).

13. Signal Phrase from an on-line source with no page numbers? • First Signal Phrase: Williams and Dolan, professors at Ohio State University state, “Taking a class in research from Mrs. Priestap is awesome.” • Second Signal Phrase: Williams and Dolan go on to say, “concentrated learning promotes mastery.” For variety: “Concentrated learning promotes mastery,” states William and Dolan “Concentrated learning always takes place” (Williams and Doan).

14. You may also place your second signal phrase in parenthesis at the end of the paraphrase. This works best when an author is not available and the article title is cited. • The article entitled, “Claiming to Know the Truth” describes the amount of cheating in high schools (32). • Place an abbreviated article title in parenthesis followed by the page number. • Ex: Students think internet plagiarism is their right because it’s on the web (“Claiming to Know” 44).

15. One More Time. . . Create a first signal phrase for an article title using the following information. OR Create a second signal phrase. You choose.

16. “Magazine Mayhem“ WEB Quotation MEDIA INFLUENCES “Models are forced to achieve an unhealthy body weight in order to keep their jobs. In the year 2009, twenty magazine models died due to eating related diseases.” Working Bibliography Crane, Alex Dr. “TV is Too Much for Teens.” Psychology Today 19 Feb. 2008. Print. “Magazine Mayhem Create Dangerous Images.” Postmodern Culture 11.2 22 Jan. 2005. Web. 24 May 2009.

17. First Signal Phrase The article “Magazine Mayhem Create Dangerous Images,” reports that “………In the year 2009, twenty magazine models died due to eating related diseases.”

18. Second Signal Phrase “……In the year 2009, twenty magazine models died due to eating related diseases” (“Magazine Mayhem”).

19. Quick note……………. • If your on-line article came from an adobe document that displays the article in original print form, you may use the page number. • Williams and Dolan state, “Taking a class in research from Mrs. Priestap is awesome!” (356). • Check out the ending punctuation…..when a quote ends with a question mark or exclamation point, use that punctuation in the quote, place the pg. number and add a period after the parenthesis. For More Examples: See Your Hacker Guide, p. 120-127.

20. Now let’s try your own signal phrase. • Choose your first note card from your first topic • Always begin your entry with the citation information and then write your note. • Make it short and sweet…use your underlined main idea. • If you have a page number…….use it (32).