Incorporating Research into Your Paper or Project
In a research paper, knowing how to effectively integrate sources is extremely important. Being able to integrate sources is important because it helps you:
Generally speaking, there are three ways to integrate sources into a research paper – summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting:
SUMMARY – A relatively brief objective account, in your own words, of the main ideas in a source or a source passage.
PARAPHRASE – A restatement, in your own words, of a passage of text. Its structure reflects (but does not copy) the structure of the source passage, and may be roughly the same length as the passage, but does not use exact wording.
QUOTE – Using the exact words of a source.
- Strengthen your point with the credibility or reputation of the source
- Identify others’ opinions, theories, and personal explanations
- Present statistics
- Establish your reputation as a reliable scholar
- Let readers know where to find information on your topic
Generally speaking, there are three ways to integrate sources into a research paper – summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting:
SUMMARY – A relatively brief objective account, in your own words, of the main ideas in a source or a source passage.
PARAPHRASE – A restatement, in your own words, of a passage of text. Its structure reflects (but does not copy) the structure of the source passage, and may be roughly the same length as the passage, but does not use exact wording.
QUOTE – Using the exact words of a source.
Guidelines for Integrating Sources
You will want to summarize and paraphrase most often in your research paper and use quotes sparingly. Putting source material in your own words shows readers that you have a true understanding of that material. Also, to restate in your own words the full meaning of a phrase or passage helps readers understand difficult or complex passages.
You may choose to use a quote when:
Remember that failing to cite any ideas that are not your own (whether they are summarized, paraphrased, or quoted) constitutes plagiarism.
You may choose to use a quote when:
- The author has made a point so clearly and concisely that you can't express it more clearly and concisely.
- A certain phrase or sentence in the source is particularly vivid or striking.
- An important passage is so dense or rich that it requires you to analyze it closely. This in turn requires that the passage be quoted so the reader can follow your analysis.
- A claim you are making is such that the doubting reader will want to hear exactly what the source said. This will often be the case when you criticize or disagree with a source; your reader wants to feel sure you aren't misrepresenting the source.
Remember that failing to cite any ideas that are not your own (whether they are summarized, paraphrased, or quoted) constitutes plagiarism.
How to Summarize or Paraphrase
To write a summary or paraphrase, first read and reread your source. You should read the source until you understand exactly what the author is saying. Then, write down relevant information from the source. Next, rewrite this information in your own words so it becomes a part of your paper, written in your own style.
Do not include your own ideas or commentary in the body of the summary or paraphrase. You should introduce a summary or paraphrase, then give your own ideas that show the significance of that summary or paraphrase afterward. You don't want your reader to become confused about which information is yours and which is the source's. And you always have to cite summaries and paraphrases since the ideas are not your own.
Do not include your own ideas or commentary in the body of the summary or paraphrase. You should introduce a summary or paraphrase, then give your own ideas that show the significance of that summary or paraphrase afterward. You don't want your reader to become confused about which information is yours and which is the source's. And you always have to cite summaries and paraphrases since the ideas are not your own.
Tips for Using Quotes
- Always have a good reason for using a direct quote. Otherwise, paraphrase or summarize.
- Do not allow quotes to speak for themselves. Your research paper is ultimately about communicating YOUR IDEAS. Your research simply helps prove or support those ideas.
- Always make sure you provide an analysis of the quote. Show your readers that you understand how the quote relates to your ideas by analyzing its significance.
- Do not use quotes as padding. If quotes do not have adequate analysis, readers will feel that you don’t have a grasp on what that quote means, and they also might feel that you are using quotes as “filler” to take up space.
- Extract those parts of the passage that need quoting, and integrate quotes smoothly into your text. See examples below for ideas on how to do this.
Avoid wordy or awkward introductions to a quote:
In Simone de Beavoir’s book The Coming of Age, on page 65 she states, “The decrepitude accompanying old age is in complete conflict with the manly or womanly ideal cherished by the young and fully grown.”
OR
In The Coming of Age, Simone de Beavoir contends that “the decrepitude accompanying old age is "in complete conflict with the manly or womanly ideal cherished by the young and fully grown" (65).
Choose your introductory verb carefully:
If you want to use a neutral verb, try using these: writes, says, states, observes, suggests, remarks, etc. If you want to convey and attitude or emotion try using verbs such as laments, protests, charges, replies, admits, claims, etc.
Combine quotes with a paraphrase or analysis:
Original: Tania Modleski suggests that "if television is considered by some to be a vast wasteland, soap operas are thought to be the least nourishing spot in the desert" (123).
Revised: In her critique of soap operas, Tania Modleski argues that some view television as "a vast wasteland" and soap operas as "the least nourishing spot in the desert" (123).
Use a few words of a quote for effect:
Example: As William Kneale suggests, some humans have a "moral deafness" which is never punctured no matter what the moral treatment (93).
In Simone de Beavoir’s book The Coming of Age, on page 65 she states, “The decrepitude accompanying old age is in complete conflict with the manly or womanly ideal cherished by the young and fully grown.”
OR
In The Coming of Age, Simone de Beavoir contends that “the decrepitude accompanying old age is "in complete conflict with the manly or womanly ideal cherished by the young and fully grown" (65).
Choose your introductory verb carefully:
If you want to use a neutral verb, try using these: writes, says, states, observes, suggests, remarks, etc. If you want to convey and attitude or emotion try using verbs such as laments, protests, charges, replies, admits, claims, etc.
Combine quotes with a paraphrase or analysis:
Original: Tania Modleski suggests that "if television is considered by some to be a vast wasteland, soap operas are thought to be the least nourishing spot in the desert" (123).
Revised: In her critique of soap operas, Tania Modleski argues that some view television as "a vast wasteland" and soap operas as "the least nourishing spot in the desert" (123).
Use a few words of a quote for effect:
Example: As William Kneale suggests, some humans have a "moral deafness" which is never punctured no matter what the moral treatment (93).
Punctuation & Other Rules
Rules for inserting summaries, paraphrases, and quotes depends on the type of citation style you are using. To learn more, check out our LibGuides on different citation styles:
You can also check out Purdue's Online Writing Lab (OWL) for more assistance.
- APA Citations (6th ed.)
- Chicago Citations (16th ed.)
- CSE (Council of Science Editors) Style Guide
- MLA Citations (7th ed.)
You can also check out Purdue's Online Writing Lab (OWL) for more assistance.