Academic Writing Skills: Quoting, Paraphrasing, Summarizing

Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

• Quoting involves taking verbatim text from a source, providing credit to the original author.
• Paraphrasing requires rephrasing the original material in the writer's own words while retaining key points.
• Summarizing condenses the main concepts into a brief overview in the writer's own words.

In-text Citations

• In-text citations are parenthetical references within the body of a paper indicating the source of information.
• Typically include the author's name, publication year, and sometimes the page number.
• Required for facts obtained from other sources; not necessary for widely known facts.
• Essential when quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing another's work.
• Common citation styles: MLA, APA, and Chicago.
• MLA uses author-page style; APA and Chicago use author-date style.

Citation Formats

• MLA In-text Citation:
  • 1 author: (Lopez 10)
  • 2 authors: (Lopez and Johnson 10)
  • 3+ authors: (Lopez et al. 10)
• APA In-text Citation:
  • General: (Lopez, 2011)
  • Quotation: (Lopez, 2011, p. 10)
  • 2 authors: (Lopez & Johnson, 2012)
  • 3+ authors: (Lopez et al., 2013)
• Chicago Author-Date:
  • General: (Lopez 2011)
  • Specific page: (Lopez 2011, 10)
  • 2 authors: (Lopez and Johnson 2012)
  • 3 authors: (Lopez, Johnson, and Chen 2013)
  • 4+ authors: (Lopez et al. 2014)

MLA Style Overview

• MLA format is a standardized writing style primarily for language and literature papers since 1883.
• Increasingly adopted by other disciplines, particularly in higher education.
• Emphasizes organization in presenting papers and citations for clarity and professionalism.

APA Format Overview

• Developed by the American Psychological Association, predominantly used in social sciences and education.
• Requires both in-text citations and a reference list at the end.
• Standard in-text citation follows the format: author, year, and page number.
• The reference page organizes sources alphabetically based on authors' last names, with formatting influenced by source type (article, website, book).

Works Cited Page

• A Works Cited page lists all references used in an MLA-style essay.
• Mandatory when borrowing words or ideas to avoid committing plagiarism.
• Proper citation includes both in-text citations and a Works Cited page.
• Must start on a new page, titled "Works Cited," centered at the top of the page.
• Formatting guidelines require double spacing, reverse indentation for subsequent lines, and alphabetization by the author's last name.
• Different sources have specific citation requirements—e.g., printed books include city of publication, while e-books do not, and online sources require URLs.

This quiz covers essential skills for academic writing, including quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing. Each of these methods allows a writer to incorporate information from various sources effectively while giving proper credit. Understanding these techniques is crucial for producing clear and credible academic and business writing.