Information not your own may be cited in the form of a summary, direct quotation, or
If you use source material for background information, or as an integral part of any professional communication, make sure to incorporate and identify that material appropriately. Show In written documents such as formal reports and proposals, you can incorporate other sources into your writing by paraphrasing, summarizing, or using direct quotes. With each of these techniques, you must always cite your source, both within your communication (usually brief information in parentheses within your text) and at the end, in a list of sources.
ParaphraseA paraphrase re-states information and ideas from a source using your own wording and sentence structure. A paraphrase is usually about the same length as the original piece of text. Paraphrasing offers a way to maintain your own writing style and voice throughout the writing. It helps cut down on the number of different styles from different sources, creating a sleeker, easier reading experience for your reader. Most of all, though, paraphrasing is a means of helping you understand what your sources are saying, in order to incorporate that information into your own writing. You have to understand the source’s ideas fully in order to rewrite them clearly.
When you paraphrase, make sure not to simply substitute one word for another, retaining the same sentence structure as the original text. Paraphrasing requires you to use your own sentence structures as well as words, so that you are not inadvertently plagiarizing the source. In general, it is best to paraphrase when:
Writing a Paraphrase
SummarySummarizing involves condensing and rewriting just the main points of your source into your own words and sentence structures. This technique is appropriate when major ideas are relevant to your communication, or when you need to simplify complex information into a few key points for your audience. Be sure to review the source material as you summarize it. Identify the main idea and restate it as concisely as you can—preferably in one sentence. Depending on your purpose, you may also add a few more sentences condensing any additional, important main ideas from the information you want to summarize. Check your summary to make sure it is accurate and complete. Remember that summarizing involves condensing main ideas of a source, or a section of a source, into a much shorter overview. A summary outlines a source’s most important points and general position. Writing a Summary
Direct QuotationDirect quotes can be powerful when used sparingly and with purpose. Direct quotes mean that you use your source’s wording, sentence structure, and punctuation exactly. Quoting directly can sometimes help you make a significant point. If a source’s words are especially vivid, memorable, or well phrased, quoting them may help you hold your reader’s interest. However, use quotations sparingly for impact. Some valid reasons for quoting include:
Using Direct QuotationsWhen you do choose to quote directly from a source, follow these guidelines:
Incorporating Source Material into PresentationsThe same rules about using paraphrases, summaries, and quotations apply to presentations, with one big caveat. If you’re using source information on a slide, keep it exceptionally brief. Do not show lengthy quotes or paraphrases. Keep lengthy information for your narration, as opposed to putting it on a slide. You also need to cite your source if you use a paraphrase, summary, or quote on a slide. Citations are often put into smaller size text. SummaryThe following video offers a comprehensive review of the different ways of using source material, and offers some examples for you to try. Although the video was created for academic writing, and uses one particular citation format (APA), the same concepts hold true for professional writing, for which APA citation format can be used. Can you use direct quotes in a summary?A summary is written in your own words.
It contains few or no quotes.
Is there a difference between direct quotation and direct citation?A citation is using a particular idea that you got from another author. A quotation is using the exact words of another author. Note that some people refer to a "citation" as a "paraphrase."
When should you use direct quotations?Direct quotes are useful for defining or describing specific concepts, whereas paraphrasing or summarising information from other sources shows that you understand the content and general idea. Try to summarise sources in most of your work and use direct quotes when they'll have a strong impact.
What is a direct quotation?What is a Direct Quotation? A direct quotation is when you take another person's words and place them in your own document. These must always be placed inside quotation marks and given appropriate attribution (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc). When should I quote?
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