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Use direct quote or paraphrase in essays?

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Lilabear123:
Hi,

So my history teacher advised us to paraphrase quotes rather than just using it directly, saying that it demonstrated a better understanding than just repeating a historian's opinion. I get this viewpoint, but if we wanted to use a really excellent/potent and well phrased quote, should we keep it as is rather than paraphrase?

Thanks!

fantasticbeasts3:
Hi!

A thing to keep in mind is what your teacher said is just advice! If you have a really awesome quote and you want to use it “properly”, there’s nothing telling you have to paraphrase it. :-)

sudodds:
Fantasticbeasts is right, it's definitely A okay to quote in essays (though not mandatory).

I do agree with your teacher though, and think that paraphrasing is often better than full quotes. Rule of thumb - if the quote is short and punchy, or you're going to analyse the interpretation, use a direct quote. If it's long, or something that you could say more succinctly - paraphrase! Always better to show your own understanding, than just prove you know how to memorise historians.

dancing phalanges:
Also just wanna add - if you wanna use a direct quote but are afraid you aren't showing off your own understanding - you can still use them, but don't just put them in.

Rather, say this historian argues that....... This is highly accurate/flawed when considering that...

So make a judgement of them :)

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