32 Using Quotes and Paraphrases: Building Evidence-Based Arguments

The ability to effectively integrate source material into your writing is a hallmark of strong academic work. While quoting seems straightforward, many students struggle with its nuances. Paraphrasing, a more advanced skill, often remains elusive. This chapter will demystify both techniques, providing clear guidelines for their proper use.

Quotations: Using an Author’s Exact Words

The fundamental principle of quoting is simple: if you use an author’s exact words, they must be enclosed in quotation marks. However, several important details often cause confusion.

• Minimum Word Count: Even a short sequence of three or more consecutive words taken directly from a source should be enclosed in quotation marks.
• Multiple Sentences: You can quote multiple sentences within a single set of quotation marks. Do not break and restart the quotation unless you are intentionally omitting parts of the quote.
• Block Quotations: Quotes that exceed four lines should be formatted as block quotations.
  • A block quote starts on a new line.
  • The entire block quote is indented.
  • Quotation marks are not used for block quotes, as the indentation itself signals that it is a direct quote.
  • The period is placed before the in-text citation.
  • The sentence before the block quote should clearly introduce it.
  • The line after the block quote should discuss the quote as part of the same paragraph, so it should not be indented.
  • A block quote is double spaced, like everything else in the paper.
• Introducing Quotes: The sentence preceding a quotation should clearly introduce the quote and its context.
• Discussing Quotes: The sentence following a quotation should explain the quote’s significance and how it supports your argument. A quote is not self-explanatory; you must analyze it.
• Citations: Every quotation must be accompanied by a proper in-text citation.
• Quotes Within Quotes: If a quoted passage contains another quotation, use single quotation marks (‘ ‘) for the embedded quote. The original author should be identified in the sentence, and the citation should include “qtd. in” followed by the source from your Works Cited page.
• In-Text Citation Placement:
  • The in-text citation is part of the sentence, so the period (or comma) is placed after the citation.
  • If the quote ends with a question mark or exclamation point, those punctuation marks are placed before the citation, but a period is still placed after the citation.
  • If the quote ends with a period, only one period should be used—the one placed after the citation.
  • The end quotation marks are placed before the in-text citation.

Paraphrasing: Expressing Ideas in Your Own Words

Paraphrasing is more than just swapping out a few words in a quote. It involves expressing the author’s ideas in your own words and sentence structure.

• Authentic Language: When paraphrasing, avoid looking directly at the source text. Instead, read the passage, close the source, and then write the information in your own words.
• Preference for Paraphrasing: Paraphrasing is often preferable to quoting, as it demonstrates your understanding of the source material. However, it must be done well.
• Citations: Paraphrases, like quotations, require proper in-text citations.
• Clear Boundaries: It should be clear where the paraphrase begins and ends. Avoid blending your own ideas with the paraphrase.
• Length: A paraphrase may be shorter than the original passage, but it should not be so significantly shorter that the specific page number cannot be accurately cited.

Key Takeaways:

• Use quotations when you want to preserve the author’s exact wording or when the phrasing is particularly powerful.
• Paraphrase when you want to summarize or simplify complex ideas or when you want to integrate the source material more seamlessly into your own writing.
• Always provide proper in-text citations for both quotations and paraphrases.
• Analyze and explain how your source material supports your argument.

Reading Questions:

1. Remembering: What are the formatting rules for a block quotation, as described in the chapter?
2. Understanding: Explain in your own words the difference between quoting and paraphrasing, and when each is most appropriate.
3. Application: How would you format an in-text citation for a quote that ends with a question mark, according to the chapter’s guidelines?
4. Analysis: Why does the chapter emphasize the importance of discussing and analyzing quotes after they are presented in the essay?
5. Synthesis: Combine the concepts of “introducing quotes” and “discussing quotes” to describe how you would integrate a quote into a body paragraph to effectively support your argument.
6. Evaluation: Based on the information in the chapter, what conclusions can you draw about the importance of properly integrating sources through quoting and paraphrasing in academic writing?