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The Five Step Procedure for Integrating Sources

Bodelson

• Whenever you write a college-level paper, you should almost always expand upon your opinions by

incorporating the words and ideas of others in order to validate your opinions.

• Backing up your opinions is one of the most important uses of research because it not only validates

your beliefs on the topic, but it also helps the reader trust you as a reputable and knowledgeable author

since readers will view you as a person who cared enough about them to take the time to find sources

and legitimize your voice.

• However, incorporating your research requires technique. Here is a procedure for incorporating outside

sources into your paper.

Step One: In your own words, give a sentence or a few sentences of discussion introducing the reader to the

point you are about to make (1-5 sentences).

Step Two: Lead the reader into the source material with a signal phrase (establish credibility while doing so):

• According to the NRA website…

• In a 1988 Partisan Review article,

• Carl Miller-Poliss a world renown neurosurgeon, positively states…

• In Anderson’ article published in The Atlantic, “Abortion,” the author wrongly states that…

• Christian writes negatively that…

*Throw some of your own opinion in the signal phrase!

Step Three: Place the borrowed material, either as a “direct quote,” paraphrase or a summary

Step Four: Cite the borrowed material in parentheses using MLA guidelines.

• (Last Name of Author Page#).

• (“Title of Article”)

• (Title of Webpage).

(Citing a source gives recognition to the author of the information. By accurately citing a source, you avoid

plagiarism.)

Step Five: In your own words, summarize and use the borrowed information to drive home the point you are

making. Author reminds reader WHY the direct quote is important to the paragraph and its argument.

Here is an example of a paragraph that correctly incorporates a direct quotation from a webpage. The bold and

italicized words tell you which step is being done.

One issue that Carl Depots has a strong position on is healthcare. As a self-employed worker, adequate

healthcare has become a luxury for my family and me. STEP ONE: Being one appendectomy or tree house

accident away from losing my house makes me curious about the candidate’s position on healthcare. STEP

TWO According to his website, Depots wishes “to provide healthcare to those people at greatest risk: The

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aged, the young, the victims of domestic crime, and the underemployed” (“Healthcare”). STEP THREE

AND FOUR: the author integrates the source material (a direct quote) and places and MLA-style citation

after it.) Depots’ statements and position on healthcare show that he will strive to help working people like

so, so people do not have to worry about my family’s healthcare needs. (STEP FIVE: This is the final step,

tying everything together—Author reminds reader WHY the direct quote is important to the paragraph

and its argument.)