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retrieved from [http://www.bilkent.edu.tr/~dabir/booklet.htm] There are three basic techniques for incorporating other people’s ideas in your own writing: [b]Summarising:[/b] a shortened version of something longer, which presents the main ideas and most of the important points from the original. Summaries are generally used when you are discussing the main ideas of a long work. [b]Paraphrasing:[/b] your version and the original should be approximately the same length. Paraphrase is most often used when you are discussing shorter passages of a longer work. [b]Quoting:[/b] an exact reproduction of the author’s words that is placed between quotation marks (“…’’). When are my words, my words? When you either summarise or paraphrase, you must use not only your own words but also your own sentence structure. You may wish to compare the following examples. Identical words and structures are highlighted in bold in both examples. In the first example, the student is able to successfully use her own words and sentence structure in paraphrasing the author’s text. In the second example, the student merely changed a few key words. Always remember that you need to use your own words and style when writing a summary or paraphrase. [A Good Paraphrase] Original: When the Shah of Iran banned child labour in the 1970s, the price of Persian carpets rose, forcing Western buyers to seek new suppliers. India became a source of cheap carpets as tens of thousands of children were employed in sweatshops across the subcontinent. Paraphrase: In the 1970s, after Iran outlawed children from working, Persian rugs became so expensive that Western dealers were compelled to find alternate suppliers. India, by extensively using child labour, was able to produce and sell inexpensive rugs. [An Inappropriate Paraphrase] Original: When the Shah of Iran banned child labour in the 1970s, the price of Persian carpets rose, forcing Western buyers to seek new suppliers. India became a source of cheap carpets as tens of thousands of children were employed in sweatshops across the subcontinent. Paraphrase: When the Shah of Iran stopped child labour in the 1970s, the price of Persian carpets went up, forcing Western dealers to seek new suppliers. India became a source of inexpensive carpets as tens of thousands of children were brought to work in sweatshops across the subcontinent. [b]When should I quote?[/b] There are many reasons why people choose to quote rather than to summarise or paraphrase. Some of the most common reasons are: *To highlight a focal point for your paper *To assert facts *To provide a representative statement of an idea *To add authority or colour to your own writing *To show a diversity of opinion *To clarify a point *To demonstrate the complexity of a problem *To stress a point or to make it noteworthy for your readers Whenever you use quotations in your own writing, keep the following in mind: *First, all quotations should be integrated into your own writing. At a minimum, you should provide some type of short introduction to help your readers contextualise the quotation. Never overuse quotations. Quotations should never be an excuse for not writing or thinking on your own. Finally, be sure that the grammar of the beginning of the quotation and your introduction fit together.

Incorporating others’ ideas into your own work