Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
Protip: Outline & Notes
As you consult your sources, try to 'read' on multiple levels and consider what the source is saying, how it is saying it and how YOU are going to use it!
Reflective research is a powerful tool that can cut down on stress. This video outlines a simple outlining method to develop your ideas and integrate your sources as you go- which can help you identify gaps in your research, bring your sources in conversation with one another, and create a stronger paper.
Intro
In using your sources, it's good to think about how you'll be using your ideas from sources in your paper (information, analysis, arguments, etc.) but also how you'll be using your sources in your writing technically (how you'll be getting those ideas from sources into your paper). There are three main strategies:
Quoting:
This is when you take words directly from your source and put them in "quotation marks". For most of your assignments, you should quote rarely and with purpose. For example, if I am analyzing a particular passage from a source I am studying, I should quote it. But, if I want to share an idea from the text, I should probably paraphrase.
Paraphrasing:
This is probably the most common way you'll use your sources. Basically, you'll be stating the idea from a source in a different way. It's easy to make a lazy paraphrase, but lazy paraphrases are bad paraphrases. Bad paraphrases can be unintentional plagiarism. Check out this example of a poor and better paraphrase.
Summarizing:
Summarizing is most valuable when you are analyzing a source as a whole. In summarizing a source, you are identifying and paraphrasing its main ideas while also placing it in the context of other work and research on the topic. By summarizing, you make it easier to review and discuss the conversation around your topic (like a literature review). Summarizing academic work is a good skill to start developing in your work now. This resource provides more insight into what makes a good summary.