Quote and paraphrase

 While writing your paper, if you would like to share a thought or a bit of data from a source, you want to either paraphrase or quote the first text.

a) Quoting:

Quoting means copying a piece of text word-for-word. The copied text must be introduced in your own words, enclosed in quotation marks, and properly attributed to the first author:

According to Cronon, the concept of wilderness may be a cultural invention: “Far from being the one place on earth that stands aside from humanity, it’s quite profoundly a person’s creation—indeed, the creation of very particular human cultures at very particular moments in human history” (1995, p. 69).

b) Paraphrasing:

Paraphrasing means using your own words to elucidate something from a source. It allows you to offer only the foremost important information from a passage.

Paraphrasing vs. quoting

In general, paraphrasing is best than quoting, especially for extended passages. It shows that you simply have fully understood the meaning of the first text, and ensures that your own voice is dominant in your paper.

Quotes are appropriate when:

I) You are using an exact definition introduced by the original author

ii) It is impossible for you to rephrase the original text without losing its meaning

iii) You want to maintain the authority and style of the author’s words

iv) Whether you paraphrase or quote, always build on your sources by adding your own ideas, interpretations and arguments.

Cite the original source

Every time you quote or paraphrase, you want to include an in-text citation (or footnote citation) that identifies the first author. It often also includes the publication year and a page number.

Each in-text citation must correspond to a full reference within the reference list or bibliography at the top of your paper. This details exactly where the information came from, allowing your readers to locate the source for themselves.

Use a plagiarism checker

Most universities use plagiarism checkers to detect plagiarism in student papers. This technology scans your document, compares it to an enormous database of publications and websites, and highlights passages that are overly almost like other texts.

You can use a plagiarism checker yourself before submitting your paper. This allows you to spot any parts where you’ve forgotten a citation, overlooked quotation marks, or included a paraphrase that’s too on the brink of the first text. Then you can follow the steps above to easily fix any instances of potential plagiarism.