Integrating Sources

Goal:  to successfully summarize, paraphrase, and quote while maintaining the voice of the paper

Instructions: To prepare for your upcoming assignment, you will practice using techniques for representing source material. For one of the sources on your Works Cited page, create one sentence of summary, one sentence of paraphrase, and one sentence of quote, each with a clear signal phrase. You may use the same signal phrase for each example, but you must have 3 examples each with a signal phrase. Please follow the rules disucssed on this page.

Whenever you draw information from outside sources, it is essential to integrate that information into your paper without corrupting the flow of your own words.  You also must relate any information taken from outside sources to the main point of your paper.  Your paper has its own claim to assert, and should use outside sources as evidence, rather than as the arguments themselves.  Use outside sources to support what you say, not to speak for you.  There are three ways to use source material within your paper: summary, paraphrase, and quote.

No matter how you choose to represent the text, you must integrate the language into your own sentences by using a signal phrase.  A signal phrase is a phrase that tells the reader who you are quoting and what their credentials are. It helps make your essay more persuasive because it adds credibility to the source material, and it helps the flow of your paper. Never use dropped quotes, or, quotes that are simply dropped into your paper.  It makes your paper seem like it was cut and pasted from other sources, it ruins the flow and the voice of the paper, and it makes it almost impossible for the evidence to directly support the claim.

Here is a sample signal phrase:

This argument is supported by a recent study from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who claims, “Observations collected over the last century suggest that the average land surface temperature has risen 0.45-0.6°C (0.8-1.0°F) in the last century.”

Summary

This involves taking a longer passage and shortening it, while retaining the main point of the original text.  You might summarize an expert's opinion on a topic, a case study to retain key points, or the history of a particular issue.  Even when summarizing, you should introduce the author's credentials by using a signal phrase. 

Paraphrase
This involves taking a passage and rewording it AND restructuring it.  It will be the same length as the original, but it will use different language and form.  When paraphrasing, introduce the author's credentials by using a signal phrase. 

Quote
Quotes should be used sparingly.   The only reasons to quote are:

1) if the language is so strong it helps make your point,
2) if you want the authority behind the quote--an expert opinion,
3) if you cannot reword it.

If none of these conditions apply, use paraphrase or summary. Always attribute the quote to its expert source by using a signal phrase.  Never cut and paste quotes into your paper without explanation.