The first thing I learned about paraphrasing was that I had to introduce it with a reporting verb. I knew some reporting verbs from school but these academic ones were different. The question arose how I should find decide on the right reporting verb. After reading a number of textbooks and articles in my field, I have put produced a collection of words that I'd found and ordered them as follows:.

Supporting sources
These are some of the reporting words I use when I want to paraphrase someone's idea that I think support my ideas and I like them.

Smith suggests, explains, states, observes, notes, points out, comments, advances, puts forward, proposes

Criticizing sources
These are some of the reporting words I use when I want to paraphrase someone's idea that I want to criticize (but you can also use them for support).

Miller claims, declares, contends, maintains, asserts

Commenting on sources
These are some of the reporting words I use when I want to say that someone's idea made a particular impression on me.

Helmer gave an optimistic description of ...
Major makes the controversial claim that ...
Jones bases her theory on the radical argument that ...

Study all of them with a focus on the following question: what does it sound like when I use this word to report someone idea. Speak it out loud and ask yourself, Do I sound like I want to sound? Neutral, self-confident, arrogant or modest?
   I have got a pipece of homework for you: make yourself a collection from all the papers in your field you are reading at the moment. Analyse which reporting words are used in these academic articles or textbooks in your field. Put them into the above order. This way you have your personal academic phrase book.