Abstract:

In the realm of academic discourse, citing sources goes beyond a mere formality and holds significant importance. It serves as tangible proof of writers actively engaging with established scholarship, showcasing their ability to create clear arguments and maintain unwavering intellectual integrity. For undergraduate students specializing in English for Academic Purposes (EAP), mastering accurate citation practices is a crucial milestone that signifies their progress toward becoming skilled academic writers and researchers. This paper marks the initial phase of a well-funded research project aimed at creating a comprehensive model to guide future researchers in the EAP domain—a field highly sought after for research on intertextuality and EAP. The study involves a careful exploration, supported by a thorough literature review. Guided by Samraj’s layers of context and supported by Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and Scaffolding Learning, this study builds on a strong theoretical foundation. A thoughtfully developed conceptual framework serves as a key element, ready to kickstart the next phase: analyzing the quantitative data gathered from two survey questionnaires. The two questionnaires, based on previous studies, were administered to 58 EAP undergraduates in their final year, examining their in-text citation practices for their graduation projects. The purposive sampling technique was used to gather quantitative data from pre-service English Teachers in their final year at two public universities in Oman. The validity of the instruments was confirmed through Laweshe's test conducted by five experts in the field. Additionally, the instruments were pilot-tested on 20 respondents with similar characteristics. The uniqueness of this research lies in its developed framework, to be validated through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using quantitative data from the two instruments—a second distinctive novelty of this research. Furthermore, this study offers practical implications for EAP instructors and researchers, emphasizing the real-world significance of its findings within the academic community.

Keywords:

In-text citations, academic writing, conceptual framework, Omani universities, EAP, intertextuality Questionnaires.