Summaries, Paraphrases,

and Quotes

How to use your text in a rhetorical analysis

Source: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/563/1/

What is a quote?

Quotes

Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source.

They must match the source document word for word.

They must be attributed to the original author.

What is a paraphrase?

Paraphrases

Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words.

A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source.

Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a segment of the source and condensing it.

When to paraphrase:Paraphrase when you use someone else’s

content but not his or her specific words.Paraphrase when you want to simplify

difficult material.Your version should be almost entirely in your

own words (use different diction and sentence structure).

Your version should accurately convey the content of the original passage.

What is a summary?

Summaries

Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s).

Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source.

Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material.

Summaries VS Paraphrases

The difference between paraphrasing and summary comes down to the details-summary lacks the details of the original.

You can summarize a passage or an entire work. Paraphrases deal with much smaller source material.

MLA in Your Essay

What to do when you use words that are not your own

Introducing an Author

First time: Full name and brief background

Subsequent times: Last name

If no author, give the “Title”

Signal Phrases

Quotations (and sometimes paraphrased items and summaries) need a signal phrase.

A signal phrase adds the name of the writer (“The author” also acceptable) with a verb that conveys your sense of the writer’s intent.

Examples:◦Dewey argues,◦The author writes,◦Shelley contends,

In-Text Citations

If author is mentioned in the sentence, just give the page number at the end of the sentence.◦Example: ,” (471).

If author is not mentioned in your sentence, give (LastName pg#) or (“Title” pg#) at the end of the sentence.◦Examples: ,” (Dewey 464). or ,” (“My

Pedagogic Creed” 454).