Bad values are ones that are not grounded in reality, such as being superstitious, socially damaging, or unmanageable. For example, your honesty (a good value) is something you control, yet your popularity (a negative value) is determined by how others see you. Remove the negative figures and concentrate on the positive ones. When you allude to, summarize, paraphrase, or reference another source, include an in-text citation. Every in-text citation in your article must be accompanied by a reference list item. The APA in-text citation style, for example, employs the author's last name and the year of publication, as in: (Field, 2005)... In academic writing, a bad value is one that does not help you achieve your purpose. For example, using scare quotes around words or phrases that do not have the same meaning to you as to someone else is counter-productive - it only serves to distract readers from understanding what you are trying to say. Similarly, citing research that supports your position but that isn't relevant to the topic at hand is also ineffective - readers will ignore your secondary sources. A bad value can also be defined as a value that is unrealistic, illogical, or inappropriate. For example, believing in magic spells or wishing upon stars when seeking good fortune goes against the scientific approach to life. Focusing on what you cannot change or wasting your energy on things outside of your control is unwise - it is better to focus your efforts on those aspects of yourself that you can improve. At its most basic, a bad value is one that does not serve your purpose. For example, if you want to write an article explaining why honesty is important, then an honest assessment of your own behavior would be a good start.