Transcript Using Attributive Tags

Engish 111 – 20 Nov. 2014
Attributive Tags…

Give a context for your evidence,
signaling to your readers how it fits into
your argument

Helps to suggest the authority,
credibility, validity of your sources – In
other words, it enhances your ethos as
an author.
Attributive Tags for Definition
By attributing a definition, you help readers understand the
quality of that definition and whether it applies to the topic.
Cyberbullying, defined broadly, is the use of electronic
means to harm someone else (Trolley and Hanel 33).
According to school counselors and researchers Barbara
Trolley and Constance Hanel, cyberbullying, defined
broadly, is the use of electronic means to harm someone
else (33).
From Littleton 138 in The Brief McGraw-Hill
Handbook
Attributive Tags for Facts & Stats
By attributing a fact or statistic, it helps ensure the
information is legit, that it came from a potentially nonbiased and informed source.
Of the fifty-six Division I football teams selected to play in
the 2006 Bowl games, twenty-three teams […] received an
APR below 925, and twenty-seven teams had a graduation
rate of under 50% (Wolverton).
According to a recent study by the University of Central
Floria, of the fifty-six Division I football teams selected to
play in the 2006 Bowl games, twenty-three teams […]
received an APR below 925, and twenty-seven teams had
a graduation rate of under 50% (Wolverton).
From Katz 576 in The McGraw-Hill Guide
Attributive Tags for Definitions
Attributing opinion is essential because opinion is virtually
useless if readers cannot ascertain whose opinion it is and
the expertise or authority the person has on the subject.
However, an imbalance in power between
perpetrator and victim—rather than individual
characteristics-is the cause of [cyberbullying]
within any age group (Shariff 16).
However, researcher Shaheen Shariff suggests that
an imbalance in power between perpetrator and
victim—rather than individual characteristics-is the
cause of [cyberbullying] within any age group (16).
From Littleton 136 in The Brief
McGraw-Hill Handbook
Attributive Tags for Policies or Laws
Attributing policies or laws is important because policies or laws
are written by specific institutions or governments and only
apply to those institutions or locations. Readers find it helpful to
know the context of the law to see how it fits your argument.
Incoming freshmen must graduate from high school, complete at
least fourteen core courses […], have a minimum grade point
average of 2.0, and achieve a minimum score of 820 on the SAT
[to play and receive athletic aid] (Online).
To become a member of the NCAA and gain the privilege of […]
obtaining a sports scholarship at a Division I or Division II
college, incoming freshmen must graduate from high school,
complete at least fourteen core courses […], have a minimum
grade point average of 2.0, and achieve a minimum score of 820
on the SAT (Online).
From Katz 575 in The McGraw-Hill Guide
Attributive Tags for Examples
Since examples are specific cases, readers must at least know
where or when they occurred, as well as how the example
applies to your argument.
A recruiting aide was indicted for improper conduct
after a three-month grand-jury investigation of illegal
recruiting practices, including allegations of sexual
assault (Lambert).
Big problems have in fact already happened at the University
of Colorado, where a recruiting aide was indicted for
improper conduct after a three-month grand-jury
investigation of illegal recruiting practices, including
allegations of sexual assault (Lambert).
From DeRosa 274 in The McGraw-Hill Guide
WARNING: Do not drop in quotes
Dropped quote:
Although the bald eagle is still listed as an endangered
species, its ever-increasing population is very
encouraging. “The bald eagle seems to have stabilized its
population, at the very least, almost everywhere”
(Shepperd 83).
Instead, attribute by making the quotation part of one of your
sentences:
Although the bald eagle is still listed as an endangered
species, its ever-increasing population is very
encouraging, for according to ornithologist Jay
Sheppard, “The bald eagle seems to have stabilized its
population, at the very least, almost everywhere”
(Shepperd 83).
And attribute persuasively
DO NOT refer to article title:
According to the article Identity theft reported by
households, 2005-2010, 8.6 million American households
has at least one person who was a victim of identity theft
(Langton, 2011).
DO NOT refer to author alone*:
According to Lynn Langton (2011), 8.6 million American
households has at least one person who was a victim of
identity theft.
*If you’ve already given the author’s
credentials earlier in the draft, then you
can just use the author’s last name
thereafter.
And attribute persuasively
Instead, refer to the author and the author’s credentials:
According to a report by statistician Lynn Langton (2011),
8.6 million American households has at least one person who
was a victim of identity theft.
OR refer to the publication or source (if it sounds more
credible):
According the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics website, 8.6
million American households has at least one person who
was a victim of identity theft (Langton, 2011).
From Demedeiros 412 in The McGraw-Hill Guide