Representing Sources

There are three ways to integrate sources in your writing: summaries, paraphrases, and quotations. All of these three must be cited accurately.

Read The New Century Handbook, chapter 11, "Using Sources."

Summaries

To summarize means to extract and restate the source's main idea or central point at the literal level. As Lynn Troyka explains, "A summary does not include supporting evidence or details. It is the gist, the hub, the seed of what the author is saying" (Quick Access 44). A good summary is clear, condensed, concise, and accurate.

We often summarize informally in conversation when we try to say back the main idea of what we just heard. In writing, there are internal summaries in a piece where the writer restates one main point before moving on to the next. Another example of an internal summary is the kind of paragraph a reviewer will use in writing about a book or film. Often the review begins with a plot summary to give readers a brief idea of what the film or book is all about. In contrast, free-standing summaries are written pieces whose primary purpose is to condense the source for readers. Abstracts, précis, and résumés are all examples of free-standing summaries.

"Guidelines for Writing Summaries," Quick Access, pp.188-190.

Paraphrases

You would use a paraphrase to restate a passage from your source in your words in order to clarify the meaning and maintain the tone, style and pace of your own voice. A paraphrase is as detailed as the original source and, consequently, is at least as long or longer. A good paraphrase is a clear and accurate representation of the course.

"Guidelines for Writing Paraphrases," Quick Access, pp.186-188.

Quotations

When you use quotations, you restate the exact words of your source, and you use quotation marks to signal your reader that you are using someone else's words. Quotations are most useful when you want to bring another voice to the page, perhaps an antagonistic voice that you want to argue against or a questioning voice that you want to answer. Perhaps your source is vague and you want to explore with your reader a variety of possible interpretations. Or maybe your source has used such striking language that it would be impossible to summarize or paraphrase without losing the impact of the source's statement. Consider carefully why you want to quote your source. Using too many quotations will make your writing sound choppy, and you will risk losing control of your own voice on the page.