Quoting & Paraphrasing

Quoting & Paraphrasing

Only You Can Prevent Hit-and-Run Quotes Always make sure your quote has a context! Don t leave it hanging out to dry. Demonstrate WHY it s there in your paper. Connect source material to what YOU have to say, not the other way around. Give your quote a proper framework or risk leaving the reader dazed and confused. It is better to risk over-analyzing or over-explaining a quote than to leave your reader - that is, your professor - in doubt or suspense.

The bread = the introduction or lead-in. Introduce the speaker and set up the quote. The meat = the quote. Put quotation marks around exact words. The fixin s = the interpretation. Explain or translate what the writer means in relation to your argument. The bottom bun = the commentary. Relate the quote back to your argument. How does it support your argument? Or how will you prove it wrong?

First Things First Identify your source. Tell your reader something about whom you are quoting and why. Provide a transition from your words to the source s words. This gives credibility to your work by showing you understand how the quote applies to you. For example: In his book Hallucinations, neurologist Oliver Sacks demonstrates that Professor Susan Napier points out the difference when she argues Acclaimed lecturer Dr. Gerald Nosich suggests that Literary critic Harold Bloom agrees with the notion that.

Successful Integration Tips Blend your words with the words of the author you are quoting, using the same kind of language and tone Avoid the trap of he said/she said by using signal words and phrases. For example: Professor Smith criticizes Critic Robert Black predicts Dr. Jones questions the usefulness of Researcher James Reed argues

This sounds so much better than: Professor Smith says Critic Robert Black says Dr. Jones says Researcher James Reed says

Use Signal Verbs they that you are about to quote someone adds criticizes observes remarks retorts argues asserts posits announces questions declares responds complains proposes opines discusses

Find the Parts of the Quote Sandwich The challenge, as college professor Ned Laff has put it, is not simply to exploit students nonacademic interests, but to get them to see those interests through academic eyes. To say that students need to see their interests through academic eyes is to say that street smarts are not enough. Making students nonacademic interests an object of academic study is useful, then, for getting students attention and overcoming their boredom and alienation, but this tactic won t in itself necessarily move them closer to an academically rigorous treatment of those interests. On the other hand, inviting students to write about cars, sports, or clothing fashions does not have to be a pedagogical cop-out as long as students are required to see these interests through academic eyes, that is, to think and write about cars, sports, and fashion in a reflective, analytical way, one that sees them as microcosms of what is going on in the wider culture. Introduction (the bread) Quote (the meat) Interpretation (the fixin s) Commentary (the bottom bun)

Successful Quoting: Fixin s The challenge, as college professor Ned Laff has put it, is not simply to exploit students nonacademic interests, but to get them to see those interests through academic eyes. To say that students need to see their interests through academic eyes is to say that street smarts are not enough. Making students nonacademic interests an object of academic study is useful, then, for getting students attention and overcoming their boredom and alienation, but this tactic won t in itself necessarily move them closer to an academically rigorous treatment of those interests. On the other hand, inviting students to write about cars, sports, or clothing fashions does not have to be a pedagogical copout as long as students are required to see these The fixin s are your interpretation of the quote. You explain or translate what the writer means in easy to understand terms. Always interpret the quote in relation to your argument. Remember -not all quotes need to be extensively interpreted.

Successful Quoting: the Bottom Bun interests an object of academic study is useful, then, for getting students attention and overcoming their boredom and alienation, but this tactic won t in itself necessarily move them closer to an academically rigorous treatment of those interests. On the other hand, inviting students to write about cars, sports, or clothing fashions does not have to be a pedagogical cop-out as long as students are required to see these interests through academic eyes, that is, to think and write about cars, sports, and fashion in a reflective, analytical way, one that sees them as microcosms of what is going on in the wider culture. The commentary relates the quote back to your own central argument/thesis, reminding the reader of your claim and purpose.

Block Quotes Use them sparingly. Block format is used for quotes that are 4 or more lines of prose text or 3 lines of verse. The entire quote is freestanding, indented 10 spaces, one extra tab on the left. The indentation is deeper than a paragraph indentation. Quotation marks are not used. Always use a colon at the end of the signal phrase/top bun. Final punctuation always goes at the end of a block quote, before the citation, unlike shorter quotes where punctuation comes after citation. Consider paraphrasing instead, if possible.

For example: Mythologist Joseph Campbell argues in The Hero with A Thousand Faces that: whether the hero be ridiculous or sublime, Greek or barbarian, gentile or Jew, his journey varies little in essential plan. Popular tales represent the heroic action as physical; the higher religions show the deed to be moral. (38)

Remember to Cite Sources! All quotes must include a citation in whatever format your professor requires. A citation acknowledges that the idea did not come from you, and you want to give credit to the author. Citing indicates that you are not plagiarizing! In-text citation should always be reflected on a Works Cited page at the end of your paper.

How to Paraphrase

The Paraphrase rephrases the original author s words using your own words and your own sentence structure while still retaining the original work s meaning - with a correct citation. should be equal in length or shorter than the original text. is used when you want to pay close attention to the author s reasoning but don t think the section warrants a direct quote.

And by the way: Common Knowledge Common knowledge does not need to be cited. It is information and ideas that you deem already known or understood by your audience and widely accepted by scholars. For example: It is common knowledge that Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7, 1941, so it does not need to be cited. Information can be considered common knowledge if: it can be found undocumented in many different credible sources it is listed in a general encyclopedia it is considered factual and not controversial It should only be a minor part of your paper. When in doubt, cite your source!

Shared Language Shared language does not need to be cited. It is a common vocabulary shared by a community of scholars in specific disciplines. It is not plagiarism to repeat these phrases, and they do not require quotation marks. They include: Conventional designations: research assistant low-fat diet, upper respiratory infection global warming Preferred bias-free language: physically impaired postal worker Technical terms and phrases of a discipline or genre: cognitive domain science fiction modernist poetry

Paraphrasing: A Legitimate Version? Original Text In a recent speech, President Obama declared, Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy. These are not primarily people on welfare. These are middle-class Americans. First Version In a recent speech, President Obama emphasized the extraordinary hardships that are endured by the uninsured, who are not primarily people on welfare but middle-class Americans. Obama, Barack. "Remarks by the President to a Joint Session of Congress on Health Care." Presidential Address. US Capital, Washington, D.C. 9 Sept. 2009. Speech.

Plagiarism Original Text In a recent speech, President Obama declared, Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy. These are not primarily people on welfare. These are middle-class Americans. First Version In a recent speech, President Obama emphasized the extraordinary hardships that are endured by the uninsured, who are not primarily people on welfare but middle-class Americans. Obama, Barack. "Remarks by the President to a Joint Session of Congress on Health Care." Presidential Address. US Capital, Washington, D.C. 9 Sept. 2009. Speech.

Paraphrasing: A Legitimate Version? Original Text In a recent speech, President Obama declared, Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy. These are not primarily people on welfare. These are middle-class Americans. Second Version President Obama identified the uninsured as a group represented primarily by middle-class Americans rather than by people on welfare. In making his argument, he spoke of how those without health insurance must confront extraordinary hardships. Obama, Barack. "Remarks by the President to a Joint Session of Congress on Health Care." Presidential Address. US Capital, Washington, D.C. 9 Sept. 2009. Speech. GEMS Writing Center The University of Texas at Dallas

Patchwork Plagiarism Original Text In a recent speech, President Obama declared, Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy. These are not primarily people on welfare. These are middle-class Americans. Second Version President Obama identified the uninsured as a group represented primarily by middleclass Americans rather than by people on welfare. In making his argument, he spoke of how those without health insurance must confront extraordinary hardships. Obama, Barack. "Remarks by the President to a Joint Session of Congress on Health Care." Presidential Address. US Capital, Washington, D.C. 9 Sept. 2009. Speech.

Paraphrasing: A Legitimate Version? Original Text In a recent speech, President Obama declared, Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy. These are not primarily people on welfare. These are middle-class Americans. Third Version In a recent speech, the President spoke of how millions of middleclass citizens suffer from the lack of health insurance, enduring extraordinary hardships. Obama, Barack. "Remarks by the President to a Joint Session of Congress on Health Care." Presidential Address. US Capital, Washington, D.C. 9 Sept. 2009. Speech.

Failure to Cite a Source Original Text In a recent speech, President Obama declared, Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy. These are not primarily people on welfare. These are middle-class Americans. Third Version In a recent speech, the President spoke of how millions of middleclass citizens suffer from the lack of health insurance, enduring extraordinary hardships (Obama).

Paraphrasing: A Legitimate Version? Original Text In a recent speech, President Obama declared, Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy. These are not primarily people on welfare. These are middle-class Americans. Fourth Version In a recent speech, President Obama characterized the situation of Americans without health insurance as a terrible predicament, one which is mainly experienced by those who belong to the middle class. Obama, Barack. "Remarks by the President to a Joint Session of Congress on Health Care." Presidential Address. US Capital, Washington, D.C. 9 Sept. 2009. Speech.

A Legitimate Paraphrase Original Text In a recent speech, President Obama declared, Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy. These are not primarily people on welfare. These are middle-class Americans. A Fair Paraphrase In a recent speech, President Obama characterized the situation of Americans without health insurance as a terrible predicament, one which is mainly experienced by those who belong to the middle class. Obama, Barack. "Remarks by the President to a Joint Session of Congress on Health Care." Presidential Address. US Capital, Washington, D.C. 9 Sept. 2009. Speech.

Paraphrasing Tips Read the material several times to be sure you understand it. Look away from the material and restate the passage in your own words. Begin by changing the structure of the passage or sentence and then change the words, using synonyms. Consult a thesaurus to find words that have the same or similar meaning.

A Fair Paraphrase A fair paraphrase includes five qualities: 1. It retains the original meaning. 2. It uses different words. 3. It has a different structure. 4. It is the same length or shorter 5. It has a correct citation; either the author is included in the paraphrase or following it (with page numbers if any) in an in-text citation. For example: (Campbell 38).

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