Writing

Quotations.html.zip

Quotations.html

Quotations

Please do not use direct quotes in the paper assigned for this class. Students are asked to paraphrase, list, and cite the source.

However, here are some rules regarding scholarly writing and the use of direct quotes.

Before resorting to direct quotes, carefully consider the following questions:

Could you articulate the idea as effectively or even better? (If yes, refrain from quoting; if no, proceed.)
Is it absolutely crucial to capture the speaker's exact words? (If not, avoid quoting; if yes, proceed.)
Does the precise wording hold significant importance? (If not, paraphrase; if yes, proceed.)
Can you convey the main point adequately through paraphrasing? (If yes, avoid quoting; if no, use the quote.)

While powerful quotes, like Nathan Hale's statement, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country," can be impactful, literature reviews generally don't require numerous direct quotes. Overusing quotes can weaken your writing and may result in a lower grade.

For direct quotations, incorporate the author's name, year, and page number in parentheses at the quote's end, even if it isn't the sentence's conclusion.

Example: Police presence meant the “police were physically standing on the corner” (Smith, 2000, p. 7) when the crime was committed.

In cases without page numbers, use the section name in quotation marks instead.

Example: Police presence meant the “police were physically standing on the corner” (Smith, 2000, “Physical Presence”).

For quotes under 40 words, follow the cited format. If the quote exceeds 40 words, initiate a new, indented line without quotation marks, double-spaced, and end it with a period. Add the citation in parentheses after the period; this is termed a blockquote.

Always include the year for citations within parentheses.

If you reference a source without parentheses and then cite it again within the same paragraph, the year is not required for subsequent mentions in that paragraph. However, in the following section or beyond, reintroduce the year.

Example: Smith (2007) stated that the police needed to observe the crime as it was being committed. Furthermore, the assumption was that the officer would immediately act upon what he saw. Smith also posited…

(Note: The second time doesn’t necessitate the year because it is in the same paragraph and not in parentheses. Yet, in the next paragraph, reintroduce the year.)

If you've adhered to the schedule, you should be poised to submit the complete rough draft by Sunday and revise it for the final draft over the next two weeks.