Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

To avoid plagiarism and, simultaneously, acknowledge the work previously done by others, you need to use the following techniques when writing.  

Quoting:

• Quotations are exact words of an author, copied directly from a source, word for word.
• Quotations must be cited! Use in-text citation.

Use quotations when you want to:

• Add the power of an author’s words to support your argument.
• Disagree with an author’s argument.
• Highlight eloquent or powerful phrases and passages.
• Compare and contrast specific points of view.
• Note important research that precedes your own.

Paraphrasing:

• Paraphrasing means rephrasing the words of an author and putting the author’s thoughts in your own words.
• Like quotations, paraphrased material must be followed with in-text documentation and cited.

Paraphrase when you want to:

• Use information on your note cards.
• Avoid overusing quotations.
• Use your own voice to present information.

Summarizing:

• Involves putting the main idea(s) of one or several writers into your own words along with the main point(s).
• Summaries are shorter than the original text and present broad overviews of the source materials.
• Necessary to attribute summarized ideas to their original sources.

Summarize when you want to:

• Establish background or offer an overview of a topic.
• Describe knowledge (from several sources) about a topic.
• Determine main ideas of single source.

The following are resources for more information about quoting, paraphrasing and summarizing original text:

Articles

• Gahan, C. (2019). How to paraphrase sources. 
• Kimmerly-Smith, J. (n.d.). How to paraphrase: dos, don’ts, and strategies for success. 
• Mind Tools (n.d.). Paraphrasing and Summarising: summing up key ideas in your own words. 
• P.org (2017) How to paraphrase. 
• Roig, M. (2010). Plagiarism and paraphrasing criteria of College and University professors. Ethics & Behavior, 11, 3, pp. 307-323. 

Book chapters

• Krause, S. D. (2007). Chapter 3: Quoting, paraphrasing and avoiding plagiarism. In: The process of research writing. 

Tutorial

• University of Alberta (n.d.). Citations & academic integrity: what is paraphrasing? 

Videos

• Diveln Learning (2013). Paraphrasing: the basic steps. 
• EasyTeaching (2018). Main idea, Summarising, Reading strategies. 
• ElleCenter Media (2018). Paraphrasing basics in essay writing. 
• Grapemanca (2011). Blending quotations. 
• Howcast (2014). How to use quotation marks.
• How To Do That (2016). How to paraphrase: 3 paraphrasing techniques. 
• Imagine Easy Solutions (2013). Citation for beginners. 
• Jochman, K. (2016). Paraphrasing: powerpoint video. 
• Shoomp (2013). Choosing and using quotations.
• Lauryn, W. (2015). Summarizing: somebody, wanted, but, so, then. 
• Wood, K. (2015). How to write a summary. 
• University of Baltimore. Baltimore Writing Center (2017). The art of paraphrasing: avoiding plagiarism.
• University of Melbourne (2016). Paraphrasing ideas in your writing. 
• University of Technology Sidney (2014). Paraphrasing skills. 

Websites

• Ashford University (2000). Quoting, Paraphrasing, & Summarizing. 
• Purdue University (2020). Paraphrase: write it in your own words.
• Purdue University (2020). Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing. 
• University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Writing Center (n.d.). Quoting and Paraphrasing. 
• Walden University (n.d.). Using evidence: paraphrase. 
• Walden University (n.d.). Examples of paraphrasing: using evidence.