I Put my Note at my blog.
This handout is
intended to help you become more comfortable with the uses of and distinctions
among quotations, paraphrases, and summaries. This handout compares and
contrasts the three terms, gives some pointers, and includes a short excerpt
that you can use to practice these skills.
What are the
differences among quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing?
These three ways of
incorporating other writers' work into your own writing differ according to the
closeness of your writing to the source writing.
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.
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.
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.
Why use quotations,
paraphrases, and summaries?
Quotations,
paraphrases, and summaries serve many purposes. You might use them to . . .
