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Notes on Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Citing in Academic Writing

Borrowing Information

  • Information can be borrowed through:
    • Quoting
    • Paraphrasing
    • Citing sources at the end of each quote, paraphrase, or summary.

Quotations

  • Direct Quotations:

    • Preferred when the wording is memorable or the original message is powerful.
    • Always copy the text exactly, maintaining the original wording, spelling, and punctuation.
    • Use quotation marks (“”) around the text.
    • Example:
    • Milgram (2011) notes: “The absence of women from STEM education and careers affects more than the women; it is a missed opportunity for those fields” (p.5).

  • When to Use Direct Quotations:

    • When the original wording is very impactful.
    • When highlighting an author's distinct opinion.
    • For definitions or legal texts.

  • Types of Quotations:

    • Full Quotations: Used when you want to include all information.
    • Example: “In his book, The Ataturk I Knew, Atay explains that Ataturk’s primary concern was ‘not to tell us what he was thinking but to learn what we thought, to hear the country's various voices’ [Ataturk, 1981, p.15].”
    • Shortened Quotations (using ellipsis):
    • Example: “Considering a second argument … it has been argued that the cost … makes nuclear power a highly expensive venture” (n.d.).

Incorporating Quotations

  • Introduce quotations with a reporting verb and incorporate them fluidly into your writing.

    • Example: According to Hawking (2003), “The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge” (p. 48).

  • Always add supporting sentences before presenting a quotation.

    • Ensure the source is cited in APA format and includes the page number.

Paraphrasing

  • Definition: Paraphrasing involves rephrasing the original text significantly while maintaining its meaning.

  • Do's and Don'ts:

    • Do:
    • Fully understand the source material before paraphrasing.
    • Give proper citation for the paraphrased information.
    • Don't:
    • Rush or omit key ideas from the original text.
    • Alter the meaning or add personal comments.

  • Effective Paraphrasing Steps:

    1. Read and understand the original text.
    2. Use synonyms to replace difficult words.
    3. Rewrite the text in your own sentence structure.

  • Example of Original and Paraphrase:

    • Original: “Cloning can be used to help benefit those who cannot have children.”
    • Paraphrase: “As Fansworth explains, bearing children normally is not possible for infertile people, and so cloning is a useful method to aid such individuals to produce offspring” (Fansworth, 2000).

Avoiding Plagiarism

  • Plagiarism comes in forms of:
    • Copying text without quotation marks or citations.
    • Incorrectly paraphrasing by making minimal changes.
    • Failing to properly credit the original author.
  • Acceptable vs. Unacceptable Paraphrasing:
    • Unacceptable: Slight modifications without structural change or true understanding.
    • Acceptable: A well-restructured sentence that conveys the same idea differently and accurately.

Statistical Information and Number Paraphrasing

  • Techniques for paraphrasing statistical information include:
    • Convert percentages to fractions: “Three-fourths of the faculty objected to the pay cut.”
    • Paraphrase: “75% of the teaching staff were angry about salary reductions.”
    • Convert numbers to words: “500,000 people participated.”
    • Paraphrase: “Half a million people participated.”
    • Approximate Figures: For large numbers, provide estimates instead of exact counts.

Introduction of Author's Views

  • Various ways to introduce an author's views include:
    1. Author SURNAME + reporting verb + that, e.g., Robertson asserts that …
    2. It is + V3 + by author SURNAME that… e.g., It is claimed by Brooks that …
    3. According to author SURNAME, e.g., According to Robertson, …

Conclusion

  • Quoting, paraphrasing, and appropriately citing sources are critical skills in academic writing.
  • Following proper guidelines helps avoid plagiarism and maintain academic integrity, while accurately conveying the original author’s ideas.