This might feel formulaic and forced at first, but following these steps will ensure that you give each piece of evidence thorough attention.
What might this look like in practice?
[1] Humans and dolphins are not the only mammals with complex systems of communication. As a matter of fact, [2] some scientists have “speculated that the extensive frontal sinus of giraffes acts as a resonance chamber for infrasound production” ( [3] Baotic et al. 3). [4] Even though no definitive answer has been found, it’s possible that the structure of a giraffe’s head allows it to create sounds that humans may not be able to hear. This hypothesis supports the notion that different species of animals develop a sort of “language” that corresponds to their anatomy.
Humans and dolphins are not the only mammals with complex systems of communication. As a matter of fact,
some scientists have “speculated that the extensive frontal sinus of giraffes acts as a resonance chamber for infrasound production”
(Baotic et al. 3).
Even though no definitive answer has been found, it’s possible that the structure of a giraffe’s head allows it to create sounds that humans may not be able to hear. This hypothesis supports the notion that different species of animals develop a sort of “language” that corresponds to their anatomy.
A quick note on block quotes: sometimes you may find it necessary to use a long direct quote from a source. For instance, if there is a passage that you plan to analyze in-depth or throughout the course of the entire paper, you may need to reproduce the whole thing. You may have seen other authors use block quotes in the course of your research. In the middle of a sentence or paragraph, the text will break into a long direct quote that is indented and separated from the rest of the paragraph.
There are occasions when it is appropriate for you to use block quotes too, but they are rare. Even though long quotes can be useful, quotes long enough to block are often too long. Using too much of one source all at once can overwhelm your own voice and analysis, distract the reader, undermine your ethos, and prevent you from digging into a quote. It’s typically a better choice to
If, in the rare event that you must use a long direct quote, one that runs more than four lines on a properly formatted page, follow the guidelines from the appropriate style guide. In MLA format, block quotes (1) are indented one inch from the margin, (2) are double-spaced, (3) are not in quotation marks, and (4) use original end punctuation and an in-text citation after the last sentence. The paragraph will continue after the block quote without any indentation.
Signposts are phrases and sentences that guide a reader’s interpretation of the evidence you are about to introduce. Readerly signposts are also known as “signal phrases” because they give the reader a warning of your next move. In addition to foreshadowing a paraphrase, quote, or summary, though, your signposts can be active agents in your argumentation.
Before using a paraphrase, quote, or summary, you can prime your reader to understand that evidence in a certain way. For example, let’s take the imaginary quote “The moon landing was faked in a sound studio by Stanley Kubrick.”
What does each signpost do to us, as readers, encountering the same quote?
The original chapter, Interacting with Sources by Shane Abrams, is from EmpoWord: A Student-Centered Anthology and Handbook for College Writers
The position | Complete faith | Uncertainty | Cautious disbelief | “Duh” |
---|---|---|---|---|
“Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a nutritious part of a child’s lunch.” | Most parents have wondered if “peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a nutritious part of a child’s lunch.” | |||
“The bees are dying rapidly.” | Even though some people argue that “the bees are dying rapidly,” it may be more complicated than that. | |||
“Jennifer Lopez is still relevant.” | We can all agree that “Jennifer Lopez is still relevant.” | |||
“Morality cannot be learned.” | It should be obvious that “morality cannot be learned.” |
Baotic, Anton, Florian Sicks, and Angela S. Stoeger. “Nocturnal ‘Humming’ Vocalizations: Adding a Piece of the Puzzle of Giraffe Vocal Communication.” BioMed Central Research Notes , vol. 8, no. 425, 2015, pp. 1–11.
Quoting, Summarizing, and Paraphrasing Copyright © 2022 by Shane Abrams; Liz Delf; Rob Drummond; and Kristy Kelly is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Learn the main differences between direct quotes, paraphrasing, and summarizing. Plus, see examples for each to ensure you follow best practices.
Should you use a direct quote? Should you put it in your own words? And how is summarizing different from paraphrasing—aren’t they kind of the same thing? Knowing how you should include your source takes some finesse, and knowing when to quote directly, paraphrase, or summarize can make or break your argument.
What are the differences among quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing? These three ways of incorporating other writers' work into your own writing differ according to the closeness of your writing to the source writing.
There are a few major differences and similarities between the three writing techniques discussed. Quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing are similar in that they are all writing techniques that can be used to include the work of other authors in one’s own writing.
Quoting, summarizing, and paraphrasing are all ways of integrating source material into your writing. Understanding the diferences between these approaches may be helpful for deciding how to integrate a source in a way that makes sense for your specific context and goals.
One thing to keep in mind between paraphrasing and quoting is that we really want to be wary of using direct quotations too often. When you use a direct quotation, you're parroting someone else's information, kind of like a little parrot copies and imitates people's words.
Paraphrasing is taking the information from a source and re-interpreting it into your own words. In contrast, direct quotation is copying the information directly from the source without changing any of the wording in your essay.
Some common reasons for a direct quote include: • You cannot translate the author’s words into your own without losing the core ideas; • The author’s phrasing or style is notable and paraphrasing would detract from that;
What's the Difference? Quoting vs Paraphrasing: What's the Difference? There are two ways to integrate sources into your assignment: quoting directly or paraphrasing. Quoting is copying a selection from someone else's work, phrasing it exactly as it was originally written.
A direct quote uses quotation marks (“ ”) to indicate where you’re borrowing an author’s words verbatim in your own writing. Use a direct quote if someone else wrote or said something in a distinctive or particular way and you want to capture their words exactly. Direct quotes are good for establishing ethos and providing evidence.