Incorporating Sources and Quotes

There are three ways you can incorporate outside sources into your own essay. All three ways must be cited.

Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source
document word for word and must be attributed to the original author. Quotes must be embedded. This means
they must be part of your own original sentence.

Example 1: Maimon advises students to consult more than one source and more than one kind of source
(Maimon 205).

Example 3: Amy Tan tells us how happy she was when her mother said that her book was so easy to read (Tan
320).

Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be
attributed to the original source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a
somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly.

Example: Maimon says that we should find many different kinds of sources and look for sources in many
different places (205).

Description of a paraphrase:
Is not necessarily shorter than the original passage
Focuses on writing a specific passage in your own words
Includes all the same information as the original source
Cautions when paraphrasing:
Make sure your wording is not too close to the original
Do not copy the authors sentence structure
Make sure your wording doesnt distort the original meaning

Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). Once
again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source. Summaries are significantly shorter
than the original and take a broad overview of the source material.

Description of a summary:
Gives an objective overview of the general ideas of a passage
Clearly and accurately expresses all of the authors main ideas
Avoids specific descriptive details and examples
Includes only the main points the author made
Is about 60% shorter than the original passage
Preserves the emphasis of the original work
Cautions when summarizing:
Dont misunderstand the authors meaning, such as use of sarcasm
Make sure you use your own words
Do not include quotes
Do not include your own opinions or new ideas
 Paraphrase/Summary Comparison Chart

Paraphrase Both Summary

Re-states the authors words

Covers a short passage Covers a longer passage

Includes all the points in the Includes only the main ideas of
original passage the original passage

Uses your own words

Is about the same length as the Is about 60% shorter than the
original passage original passage

Preserves the emphasis of

the original passage

A few other important tips!

Always capitalize the major words in a title. For example: A Nation of Jailers and Public and Private
Language. Note: and, it, to, of and other minor words are not capitalized in a title.

If a source is short (like an essay, short story, or excerpt) you put it in quotation marks.
For example: A Nation of Jailers, and Take My Privacy Please.

If a source is long (like a whole book, a movie, or textbook) you italicize. For example: The Joy Luck Club,
Writing: A Guide for College and Beyond, or The Lord of the Rings