i not only use all the brains that i have, but all that i can borrow. —woodrow wilson

I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow.

—Woodrow Wilson

An Introduction toAn Introduction toFramingFraming

ENL 111, Dr. VavraENL 111, Dr. Vavra

Framing SourcesFraming Sources

In writing college and professional In writing college and professional papers, you should frame the materials papers, you should frame the materials (quotations or paraphrases) that you (quotations or paraphrases) that you use from sources use from sources It is called “framing” It is called “framing” because it consists of putting two because it consists of putting two pieces of information before, and two pieces of information before, and two after, any source materials that you after, any source materials that you use. use. This information creates a This information creates a “frame.”“frame.”

Framing SourcesFraming Sources

Four things are involved in framing: Four things are involved in framing:

1. Voice Marker1. Voice Marker2. Credibility Marker2. Credibility Marker

<source material (quoted or paraphrased)><source material (quoted or paraphrased)>

3. In-text Citation3. In-text Citation4. Metacommentary4. Metacommentary

Voice Markers - 1Voice Markers - 1

Voice markers indicate that you Voice markers indicate that you are including ideas of other people in are including ideas of other people in your paper. They thus distinguish their your paper. They thus distinguish their voices from yours.voices from yours.

Graff and Birkenstein give a number of good Graff and Birkenstein give a number of good templates for voice markers, and they also provide a templates for voice markers, and they also provide a nice list of verbs that can be used in place of “said.”nice list of verbs that can be used in place of “said.”

Voice Markers - 2Voice Markers - 2

Remember that the first time Remember that the first time you name a source, use their first you name a source, use their first and last name. and last name. After that, use only After that, use only their last name.their last name. The first time you The first time you mention him, use “Mark Twain.” mention him, use “Mark Twain.” After that, use “Twain.”After that, use “Twain.” (I do NOT (I do NOT want to see “Mark” unless you want to see “Mark” unless you want a big hole in your gas tank.)want a big hole in your gas tank.)

Examples of Voice MarkersExamples of Voice Markers

According to Golding,According to Golding, “grade-two “grade-two thinking could be dangerous.”thinking could be dangerous.”

Golding believes thatGolding believes that “grade-two “grade-two thinking could be dangerous.”thinking could be dangerous.”

Credibility Markers - 1Credibility Markers - 1

As their name suggests, credibility As their name suggests, credibility markers provide information about the markers provide information about the credibility of the source. This may be credibility of the source. This may be biographical information, such as:biographical information, such as:

The famous philosopherThe famous philosopher William James William James claims that . . . .claims that . . . .Dr. Mark Noe, Dr. Mark Noe, an English professor at an English professor at Penn CollegePenn College, has written that . . . ., has written that . . . .


In other cases, you can use In other cases, you can use the place of publication as a the place of publication as a credibility marker:credibility marker:

In an article in the National Review online, Rich Lowry claims that . . . .

“Dirty Laundry Reloaded into your washing-machine,” a feature story on the Greenpeace International web site, argues that . . . .


For MP # 2, you For MP # 2, you should find credibility should find credibility markers for Twain, markers for Twain, Golding, Plato, and Golding, Plato, and Perry.Perry.


Later in the course, you may find Later in the course, you may find that if you examine your sources, they that if you examine your sources, they will give you information about the will give you information about the author, either before or after the article author, either before or after the article itself.itself.

Remember that you only include Remember that you only include the credibility marker in the frame the the credibility marker in the frame the first time that you use the source.first time that you use the source.

In-text Citations - 1In-text Citations - 1

An in-text citation is An in-text citation is information that is placed in information that is placed in parentheses immediately after parentheses immediately after the source information. It the source information. It makes no difference whether makes no difference whether the source information is a the source information is a quotation or a paraphrase. quotation or a paraphrase.


According to Mark Twain, According to Mark Twain, nobody thinks. (155)nobody thinks. (155)

Note that this in-text citation consists Note that this in-text citation consists only of a page number because there will be only of a page number because there will be only one work by Twain in the Works Cited only one work by Twain in the Works Cited list. For MP # 2, I have given you the four list. For MP # 2, I have given you the four entries you need for your Works Cited list. entries you need for your Works Cited list. Each is by a different author, so for MP #2, Each is by a different author, so for MP #2, you will need only page numbers.you will need only page numbers.


In-text citations have two In-text citations have two functions. First, they enable your functions. First, they enable your readers to find the source in your Works readers to find the source in your Works Cited list. For this reason, what goes in Cited list. For this reason, what goes in the parentheses is the parentheses is the minimal amount the minimal amount of information needed to find the source of information needed to find the source in the Works Cited list, plus the page in the Works Cited list, plus the page number of the source material within number of the source material within that source.that source. We will look at in-text We will look at in-text citations in more detail for later papers.citations in more detail for later papers.


Second, in-text citations Second, in-text citations also serve as also serve as voice markersvoice markers. . They indicate the end of the They indicate the end of the “voice” of the source, thereby “voice” of the source, thereby returning responsibility for the returning responsibility for the ideas to the writer (you).ideas to the writer (you).

Metacommentary - 1Metacommentary - 1

The prefix “meta” basically means The prefix “meta” basically means “after,” so “metacommentary” means “after,” so “metacommentary” means commentary after the comments or ideas commentary after the comments or ideas that you have taken from your sources.that you have taken from your sources.

Metacommentary comes after the in-Metacommentary comes after the in-text citation. As Graff and Birkenstein nicely text citation. As Graff and Birkenstein nicely explain, metacommentary can do many explain, metacommentary can do many things. The most important thing that it does, things. The most important thing that it does, however, is to show that you (the writer) are however, is to show that you (the writer) are thinking.thinking.


Metacommentary can, among Metacommentary can, among other things:other things:

Explain what you think the source Explain what you think the source material means. (In some cases you material means. (In some cases you may simply want to paraphrase a may simply want to paraphrase a quotation to explain what it means.)quotation to explain what it means.)

Explain how it relates to your thesis.Explain how it relates to your thesis. Explain why you agree, disagree, or Explain why you agree, disagree, or

both with the ideas expressed by the both with the ideas expressed by the source. source.


My metacommentary is in yellow. My metacommentary is in yellow. Note that this example assumes Note that this example assumes that Twain was cited earlier in my that Twain was cited earlier in my text.text.

Twain explains two “chief Twain explains two “chief varieties” of corn-pone opinion.” varieties” of corn-pone opinion.” (156) (156) Although Twain calls these Although Twain calls these “varieties,” they are really two “varieties,” they are really two different causes of corn-pone.different causes of corn-pone.

Quiz (You can use your notes.)Quiz (You can use your notes.)

1.1. What are the four things What are the four things involved in framing? (20 involved in framing? (20 each)each)

2.2. What are the two purposes of What are the two purposes of an in-text citation? (10 each)an in-text citation? (10 each)

i not only use all the brains that i have, but all that i can borrow. —woodrow wilson

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