Quoting

Only quote when you can’t say it any better yourself.

Or to use a person’s words against him or her

Or if the original is of a complex, legal nature

Direct quotes should not exceed 1/5 of your total paper.

Quotes

Be sure to quote accurately. Use ellipses when material is left out.

Ellipses are three periods — with a spacebefore and after each one.

Example: “Reading carefully . . . is not optional.”

Ellipses are not necessary if it is obvious to your reader that material has been left out.

Example: Paul complained that the room was “too hot.”

Introducing Quotes

The first time a person is quoted, the quote must be preceded by an introduction.

An introduction contains important information about the person being quoted.

Example: According to Mary Smith, director of pediatric

research at Harvard University Medical Center, “SIDS can be prevented.”

Attributing Quotes

The second time a person is quoted, a simple attribution will suffice. An attribution usually consists of a transition

plus the last name of the person being quoted.

Some common attributions: According to Smith, Smith also points out . . . . Smith’s findings indicate . . . . Smith says that . . . .

Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Summaries contain just the most general essence of what is in the original. Summaries are much shorter than the

original. A sentence to summarize a paragraph. A paragraph to summarize a chapter

Paraphrases go for the detail. Paraphrases are at least 2/3 as long as the

original.

Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Both forms must be in your own words. At least 80% your own words. No characteristic language of the original No strings of 3 or more words unchanged from

the original. Both forms require a citation

Citations give credit for the use of others’ ideas in your paper.

Paraphrase Example

Original: London made his shyness worse. To an Irishman, Yeats said later, “England is fairyland,” and in the late ‘eighties and ‘nineties it very nearly was. Besides Madame Blavatsky and her extraordinary converts, the world of letters boasted individualists as remarkable as William Morris, Henley, Wilde, and a host of others who gave London under Victoria a literary atmosphere . . . .

Paraphrase: Yeats found his shyness only increased in London. For an Irish artist, England was a “fairyland.” Oscar Wilde, William Morris, Madame Blavatsky and others contributed to London’s unique literary cachet (Ellmann 76).

Summary Example

Original: London made his shyness worse. To an Irishman, Yeats said later, “England is fairyland,” and in the late ‘eighties and ‘nineties it very nearly was. Besides Madame Blavatsky and her extraordinary converts, the world of letters boasted individualists as remarkable as William Morris, Henley, Wilde, and a host of others who gave London under Victoria a literary atmosphere . . . .

Summary: Yeats’ shyness increased in London, but at the same time he found the literary atmosphere very stimulating (Ellmann 76).