Quoting, Summarizing, and Paraphrasing

Quoting

Must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original author. Ex. Though many parents question giving their children more freedom, psychologists contend that "helicopter parents hinder children's independent development" (Brown 46).

Summarizing

-Involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). -Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source.* -Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material. Ex. According to psychologist Liam Brown, helicopter parents are over-invested in their sense of control over their children (47-8). *If summarizing the entire point of a book (something that is not on a specific page but is the argument of an entire volume), simply state the original source and give the summary. Think of theses as general knowledge. Ex. Origin of the Species suggests that species developed from common ancestors.

Why use quotations, summaries, and paraphrases?

-Provide support for claims or add credibility to your writing -Refer to work that leads up to the work you are now doing -Give examples of several points of view on a subject -Call attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree with -Highlight a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage by quoting the original -Distance yourself from the original by quoting it in order to cue readers that the words are not your own -Expand the breadth or depth of your writing

Paraphrasing

-Your own rendition of essential information and ideas expressed by someone else, presented in a new form. -Must also be attributed to the original source. -A more detailed restatement than a summary, which focuses concisely on a single main idea. -Is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly. Ex. Liam Brown argues that helicopter parents put their emotional needs above their children's growth (44). (Note that the original quotation would have been longer and more complex.)

When is summarizing effective?

1. When it is not important for your audience to know everything -Summary allows us to give key facts or main ideas without getting carried off topic. 2. When the paper assignment requires you to provide quite a bit of background on a topic -Summaries get across background information quickly and conveniently 3. When you need to briefly explain a concept, idea, or history behind something or recount a plot or event

When is quoting effective?

1. When it is used selectively -Quoting everything leaves you with nothing to say! 2. When it only the original author's words will do -The way the words are expressed by the author are important for the reader's understanding 3. When it is used in conjunction with your "analysis" -You can't leave a quotation hanging. You'll want to contextualize it by showing the reader how it fits into the main idea of the paragraph.

When is paraphrasing effective?

1. When the author's exact way of expressing something in a passage is not very important -By restating the author's ideas in your own words, you are causing less interruption to the style of the paper. 2. When you want to give a detailed account or explanation of a passage in a text -Summary might be too broad, and quoting might be a waste of valuable page space. Paraphrasing is the perfect compromise 3. When your teacher gets on to you for being lazy and quoting too much