Q. Where can I find examples of signal phrases and common vocabulary in academic writing?

Signal phrases introduce evidence or quotations from sources: they connect different ideas from multiple sources. For example, in a statement like the following, you might compare your academic work with research from others:

Unlike the results from Diab's study (2010), my research shows that...

Similarly, you might comment on similarities or differences between at least two other sources:

In agreement with Diab (2010), Abadikhah (2014) also concluded that...

The Academic Phrasebank (developed by John Morley at the University of Manchester) catalogues many examples of these signal phrases in academic writing. These examples are categorized by the many purposes of a signal phrase, such as to introduce a definition from a source, or to compare or contrast an author's ideas with information from another sentence.

Exploring this resource can help you expand your academic vocabulary and increase your familiarity with common words and expressions in academic papers. As examples. however, these phrases are models for writers to learn from. Please do not repeat or reuse entire phrases while creating an initial draft of your paper; instead, start with explaining the purpose and relevance of quotations and paraphrases in your own words before referring to online resources to confirm the meaning fo your signal phrases or to compare your writing with similar examples. 

By experimenting with your own words and ideas rather than borrowing entire phrases, you will become more proficient at understanding and connecting others' ideas to your own. 

For more general information on using quotations or writing an effective paraphrase or summary, please see Quoting, Summarizing, and Paraphrasing on the Writing Centre website. 

References

Abadikhah, S. & Yasami, F. (2014). Comparison of the effects of peer- versus self-editing on linguistic accuracy of Iranian EFL students. Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies, 20(3), 113–124. 

Diab, N.M. (2010). Effects of peer- versus self-editing on students’ revision of language errors in revised drafts. System. 38(1), 85–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2009.12.008