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.