At university, many of the reports and essays you produce will involve others ideas and knowledge as they are the experts in the area/field. They are allowed to be used, but it must be done so in the right manner. This right manner involves three ways (in combination with a referencing method):
> Quoting
> Paraphrasing
> Summarising
Why use quotations, paraphrases or summaries?These allow you to:
> Add support for your argument
> Introduce the reader to some context or extra reading
> Provide examples of points/view on topics
> Adds more depth or detail to your produced writings
> Use sources ethically! (Use with acknowledgment)
***You MUST reference the original sources in each case.***
QuotingQuoting is where you use someone else’s written or spoken words in the same manner that they seem on the original sources. Quotations are good for definitions, laws, terms, expressions and statements. At the very least, there must be a single set of quotation marks. Do not quote extremely lengthy quotes (more than 30 words) and use them sparingly. If you overuse them, it means that you have not provided any analysis or links to your theory. Additionally, it is a sign of lazy writing and weak understanding of recommended materials.
EXAMPLES
Some ways of integrating direct quotes include:
> Warner describes x as “DIRECT QUOTE” (Warner, 2009, p.9).
> A variable cost is "DIRECT QUOTE" (Author, Year, Page no). (using the quote to smoothly continue part of your sentence)
> AUTHOR (Year, page no.) provides the following definition: “DIRECT QUOTE”. (putting the quote after a colon after a reporting verb)
* NB: the contents in brackets, e.g. (Warner, 2009, p.9), may change depending on what referencing style you use.
ParaphrasingParaphrasing is the act of including others' ideas and information but in your own words. Vocabulary and sentence structures must be different. The original ideas and meaning are still communicated. It is good for showing the markers that you understand the work and can make a connection between evidence and theory.
To paraphrase:
1. Carefully read the text to make sure you understand it
2. Identify key words and main ideas
3. Consider some points
4. How does the author feel towards the issue? Supportive, certain, uncertain
5. Come up with words or phrases that mean the same >> Change verbs, adjectives, edit sentence structure
EXAMPLES
(
source)
Original text: The development of successful marketing strategies depends to a large extent on the planner’s ability to segment markets. Unfortunately, this is not a simple process. Segmenting usually requires considerable management judgment and skill. Those marketers who have the necessary judgment and skill will have a real advantage over their competitors in finding profitable opportunities.
Paraphrase 1: Successful developing of marketing strategies is dependent to a great extent on the ability of the planner to segment markets. However, this process is difficult. Segmenting usually requires significant management judgment and skill. Only marketers who have the necessary judgment and skill will have a true advantage over their competitors in obtaining profitable opportunities
Paraphrase 2: According to McCarthy et al. (2000), the planner’s level of competence in the complex procedure of the segmentation of markets is a deciding factor in the success of market strategy development. Thus, high levels of management assessment and aptitude are necessary for marketers to truly gain a competitive advantage in procuring lucrative opportunities.
Notice how the first paraphrase is more of a direct quote, but the second paraphrase is not just a tiny tweak. It obtains ideas from the paragraph and analyses it.
Deconstructing the paraphrasing:
Original text vs. Paraphrase 2'the planner’s ability to segment markets' vs. 'planner’s level of … of the segmentation of markets'
'Those marketers who have the necessary judgment' vs. 'high levels of... aptitude are necessary for marketers'
'this is not a simple process' vs. 'complex procedure'
SummarisingSummarising is the reduction of author’s ideas in written or spoken texts to main key points. The general idea is to reduce unnecessary nitty-gritty details and examples. It is used if there are readings with similar sources, entire chapters / articles or work and one or more paragraphs.
How to summarise?
> Skim read information, find sub headings, first paragraphs and topic sentences
> Obtain key words and ideas
> Remove unnecessary detail
EXAMPLE
Original text (City of Sydney 2013, para 1): 62 words
The original Aboriginal inhabitants of the City of Sydney local area are the Gadigal people. The territory of the Gadigal people stretched along the southern side of Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) to around what is now known as Petersham...There are about 29 clan groups of the Sydney metropolitan area referred to collectively as the Eora Nation...'Eora' means 'here' or 'from this place'...
Summary: 30 words
The Gadigal people, the traditional owners of inner Sydney City, were one of the Eora, or the 29 groups occupying the Sydney City region (City of Sydney 2013, para. 1).