Appropriating Arguments: Academic Reading and Writing

Abstract

Tertiary education courses, especially those in the arts and social sciences, generally require students to write compositions based on prescribed readings. Although students with poor skills in "appropriating" arguments contained in such readings are at a disadvantage, and may even be accused of plagiarism, this aspect of writing has been relatively neglected in published teaching materials for English for Academic Purposes. This article describes various techniques for promoting academic competence by helping students to summarize, synthesize and evaluate prescribed readings legitimately.