Paraphrase or Quote?Paraphrase or Quote?

ENL 111, Dr. VavraENL 111, Dr. Vavra

The DifferenceThe Difference

““Quoting”Quoting” means putting the words means putting the words from your source in quotation marks, and from your source in quotation marks, and inside those quotation marks (with the inside those quotation marks (with the exceptions noted in the following) every exceptions noted in the following) every word, letter, and punctuation mark should word, letter, and punctuation mark should be exactly as it is in the original text.be exactly as it is in the original text.

““Paraphrasing”Paraphrasing” means stating the means stating the ideas from your source in your own words.ideas from your source in your own words.

Paraphrasing and QuotingParaphrasing and Quoting

Note, by the way, that you Note, by the way, that you need documentation for ideas, etc., need documentation for ideas, etc., not just for material that you quote. not just for material that you quote.

As far as documentation is As far as documentation is concerned paraphrases and concerned paraphrases and quotations are treated in the same quotations are treated in the same way.way.

Using Brackets within QuotationsUsing Brackets within Quotations

According to Bruce Kellner, “[Sammy] According to Bruce Kellner, “[Sammy] comes to learn ‘how hard the world was comes to learn ‘how hard the world was going to be ... hereafter.’ So, perhaps, going to be ... hereafter.’ So, perhaps, does the reader who looks closely at does the reader who looks closely at Updike's canny tale.” (2)Updike's canny tale.” (2)

Why is “Sammy” in brackets?

The Uses of Brackets within QuotationsThe Uses of Brackets within Quotations

Within quotations, brackets are used to show Within quotations, brackets are used to show that you have changed something within the that you have changed something within the quotation.quotation. It may be a word, as in the preceding It may be a word, as in the preceding slide, or it may be a change from a capital letter slide, or it may be a change from a capital letter to small or vice versa. Thus a capital “I” in the to small or vice versa. Thus a capital “I” in the original may become a small “[i]” in your original may become a small “[i]” in your quotation.quotation.

The other primary use of brackets is “[sic].”The other primary use of brackets is “[sic].” Put Put this immediately after such things as a word that this immediately after such things as a word that is misspelled or something that does not make is misspelled or something that does not make sense.sense.

Single-Quotes within QuotationsSingle-Quotes within Quotations

According to Bruce Kellner, “[Sammy] According to Bruce Kellner, “[Sammy] comes to learn ‘how hard the world was comes to learn ‘how hard the world was going to be ... hereafter.’ So, perhaps, going to be ... hereafter.’ So, perhaps, does the reader who looks closely at does the reader who looks closely at Updike's canny tale.” (2)Updike's canny tale.” (2)

Why is there a single quote before “how” and after “hereafter”?

Single-Quotes within QuotationsSingle-Quotes within Quotations

According to Bruce Kellner, “[Sammy] According to Bruce Kellner, “[Sammy] comes to learn comes to learn ‘how hard the world was going ‘how hard the world was going to be ... hereafter.’to be ... hereafter.’ So, perhaps, does the So, perhaps, does the reader who looks closely at Updike's canny tale.” reader who looks closely at Updike's canny tale.” (2)(2)

If something you are quoting already If something you are quoting already includes quotation marks, in your quotation includes quotation marks, in your quotation the original marks are reduced to ‘single the original marks are reduced to ‘single quotes.’quotes.’

Three Periods within QuotationsThree Periods within Quotations

According to Bruce Kellner, “[Sammy] According to Bruce Kellner, “[Sammy] comes to learn ‘how hard the world was comes to learn ‘how hard the world was going to be going to be . . .. . . hereafter.’ So, perhaps, hereafter.’ So, perhaps, does the reader who looks closely at does the reader who looks closely at Updike's canny tale.” (2)Updike's canny tale.” (2)

The three periods between “be” and The three periods between “be” and “hereafter” indicate that words have been “hereafter” indicate that words have been left out.left out.

A Final Note about QuotingA Final Note about Quoting

For some reason, many For some reason, many students quote inaccurately. This students quote inaccurately. This is a major problem. is a major problem. (You can’t (You can’t copy correctly?)copy correctly?) It is unfair to the It is unfair to the writer of the source, and it borders writer of the source, and it borders on plagiarism. I may take 10 points on plagiarism. I may take 10 points off the paper grade for every off the paper grade for every inaccurate quotation.inaccurate quotation.

The Importance of ParaphrasingThe Importance of Paraphrasing

Perhaps as much as 90% of Perhaps as much as 90% of the material that you take from a the material that you take from a source should be paraphrased—source should be paraphrased—not quoted. Paraphrasing indicates not quoted. Paraphrasing indicates that you understood the material. that you understood the material. Any middle school student can Any middle school student can copy and paste information in a copy and paste information in a paper.paper.

How to Be Sure of ParaphrasingHow to Be Sure of Paraphrasing

To be sure that you are To be sure that you are paraphrasing and not quoting, paraphrasing and not quoting, close the source material so that close the source material so that you cannot see it. Then write your you cannot see it. Then write your paraphrase.paraphrase.

Combining Paraphrases with QuotationsCombining Paraphrases with Quotations

The best way to use source The best way to use source materials is to combine the two by materials is to combine the two by paraphrasing most of the material paraphrasing most of the material but quoting the important words.but quoting the important words.

An ExampleAn Example

Golding believes that most people, even Golding believes that most people, even those who claim to think, really do not. those who claim to think, really do not. Instead they base their ideas on emotions. Instead they base their ideas on emotions. As he puts it, “grade-three thinking . . . is As he puts it, “grade-three thinking . . . is feeling, rather than thought.” (19) feeling, rather than thought.” (19)