QUOTING
Use direct quotations from a work only when the language or the words themselves have a specific meaning that is important to your research. For example, if you are exploring a line of poetry for an AP research paper, you should first provide the exact line of poetry before you describe it. For a longer passage, use a block quote. For a shorter passage, use "quotation marks" - and always remember to use your in-text citation right after the quote!
PARAPHRASING AND SUMMARIZING
In general, paraphrasing is putting something into your own words. To paraphrase properly, you must restate an author's meaning without using the author's distinct language. It is not enough to change a few words or to reorganize them. First, think of what the author is trying to express and then put it into your own words. Remember that you still need to provide an in-text citation when referencing their thoughts or information from their research.
PREPARE TO QUOTE OR PARAPHRASE WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR NOTES
When you are taking notes, make sure to indicate if your notes are direct quotations (or close) by putting quotation marks around it or putting a large Q next to the quoted material. You do not have to paraphrase the material right away, but you will want to know what notes you have already paraphrased in the note-taking process and which are quotes or close if you are to avoid plagiarism.
TIPS
Some tips about paraphrasing and summarizing:
• Give credit to the source somewhere in the paraphrase or summary. For example, say "In Allen's opinion,..."
• It might help to block the original text from view when trying to paraphrase or summarize.
• Check your paraphrase or summary against the original and add quotation marks to set off any exact or unique phrases that you do not want to change.
• Make sure your content is accurate.
The Purdue OWL website has extensive information to help you with your research. For more about paraphrasing and summarizing, please go to their web page at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/563/1/.
Use direct quotations from a work only when the language or the words themselves have a specific meaning that is important to your research. For example, if you are exploring a line of poetry for an AP research paper, you should first provide the exact line of poetry before you describe it. For a longer passage, use a block quote. For a shorter passage, use "quotation marks" - and always remember to use your in-text citation right after the quote!
PARAPHRASING AND SUMMARIZING
In general, paraphrasing is putting something into your own words. To paraphrase properly, you must restate an author's meaning without using the author's distinct language. It is not enough to change a few words or to reorganize them. First, think of what the author is trying to express and then put it into your own words. Remember that you still need to provide an in-text citation when referencing their thoughts or information from their research.
PREPARE TO QUOTE OR PARAPHRASE WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR NOTES
When you are taking notes, make sure to indicate if your notes are direct quotations (or close) by putting quotation marks around it or putting a large Q next to the quoted material. You do not have to paraphrase the material right away, but you will want to know what notes you have already paraphrased in the note-taking process and which are quotes or close if you are to avoid plagiarism.
TIPS
Some tips about paraphrasing and summarizing:
• Give credit to the source somewhere in the paraphrase or summary. For example, say "In Allen's opinion,..."
• It might help to block the original text from view when trying to paraphrase or summarize.
• Check your paraphrase or summary against the original and add quotation marks to set off any exact or unique phrases that you do not want to change.
• Make sure your content is accurate.
The Purdue OWL website has extensive information to help you with your research. For more about paraphrasing and summarizing, please go to their web page at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/563/1/.