TCC Library: Quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing

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When you write a paper, you’ll synthesize information from a variety of sources. At times, you'll either directly quote it, summarize it, or paraphrase it.

In all of these situations, you should cite your sources!

• When you quote a source, you use the author’s words exactly, and indicate that with quotation marks.
• When you paraphrase a source, you put it into your own words. This does not mean changing a few words by inserting synonyms; it means integrating the meaning of the original passage into your writing.
• When you summarize a source, you significantly condense the ideas in the original source — without adding your own interpretation or analysis.

For more information about quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, visit the following sources: