Unit 4: Writing from Sources

Lesson 3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

Contents

Engage 1
Introduction 1
Objectives 2

Explore 2

Explain and Elaborate 4

What Is Quoting? 4
When to Quote 5
How to Quote 5
Paraphrasing vs. Quoting 9

Extend 12
Activity 1 12
Activity 2 14

Evaluate 15

Wrap Up 19

Bibliography 19
Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

Engage

Introduction

Fig. 1. There are times when you will feel that the author’s own words must be used in your
writing.

By now you should be more comfortable with paraphrasing passages from your sources.
There may be times, however, when the passage that you want to use for your paper is hard
to reword. You might find that you cannot word what the author said any better, or that
what you need to mention for your paper is already exactly what the author said. During
these instances, what else can be done? Is paraphrasing the only way to make use of the
sources you have looked up? Is there a way to incorporate the author’s exact words in your
paper without plagiarizing them? In this lesson, you will learn how to properly quote your
sources, as well as discern when to use paraphrasing or quoting.

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to do the following:
● Properly quote a passage using correct citations.
● Differentiate paraphrasing and quoting.
● Identify when to paraphrase and when to quote.

DepEd Competencies
● Paraphrase/explain a text using one’s own words. (CS_EN11/12A-EAPP-Ia-c-7)
● Quote a passage using proper citations. (additional lesson for enrichment)

Explore

15 minutes

With a partner, read the passages below. Then, answer the questions that follow. Be ready
to share your answers with the class.

Text 1
A famous proponent of progressivism is John Dewey. For him, it is crucial that students learn
by doing. It is not enough that students memorize facts and information in classrooms; they
must also be able to test their knowledge through application. Dewey believed that students
could learn more from being hands-on and being more involved in the processes of how
things are done so that learning happens because students have to practice critical thinking
and problem-solving.

Text 2
John Dewey’s progressivism maintained that students learn the most by doing, so they
should be given tasks that require them to be more involved in the learning process.

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

Guide Questions

1. Between the two passages, which one would you paraphrase and which one would you
quote? Or would you use just one method for both passages?

2. Write how you would paraphrase and/or quote the two passages here.

3. How did you decide when to use paraphrasing or quoting?

4. What do you think are the advantages of paraphrasing? What are the advantages of
quoting?

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

Explain and Elaborate

What Is Quoting?
Quoting involves taking what the author said and repeating it word-for-word. This method
is usually used for phrases or short sentences. As discussed in previous lessons, copying an
author’s words verbatim is generally classified as plagiarism. To avoid this, it is important to
enclose the copied text in quotation marks (“ “) when quoting and attribute the words to the
original author.

Example 1
“Darwin, it was believed, had simply discovered a new law of nature designed by God” (van
Wyhe, 2011).
Source: “Was Charles Darwin an Atheist?” (https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/was-charles-darwin-an-atheist)

In the example, the words were lifted directly from the author’s essay, but they were placed
within quotation marks. Then, the original author was credited using the APA citation style,
which you will learn more about later.

Example 2
Philip Pullman said that “[t]he experience of reading poetry aloud when you don't fully
understand it is a curious and complicated one” (2019).
Source: “The Sound and the Story: Exploring the World of Paradise Lost”
(https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/the-sound-and-the-story-exploring-the-world-of-paradise-lost)

In this next example, the quotation was once again lifted directly from the author’s exact
words. The author was credited in the sentence itself, so his last name did not have to be
included in the citation. The format of the citation might vary, but what is important is that
the author is still given the credit he or she is due for the quotation that you are using.

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

Example 3
On the question of how the inventions and machines of the 18th century have impacted the
world today, Jessica Riskin posited that “[t]hey can certainly be seen as the ancestors of
modern projects in robotics and artificial intelligence” (2016).
Source: “Frolicsome Engines: The Long Prehistory of Artificial Intelligence”
(https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/frolicsome-engines-the-long-prehistory-of-artificial-intelligence)

This example demonstrates how a quotation can be part of a much longer sentence. A
quotation does not have to be a whole sentence that stands on its own. A quotation can be
a phrase that supports the idea of a complete sentence. Again, the original author is
credited as what she said is enclosed in quotation marks, and proper citation is observed.

When to Quote
When writing your paper, there are a number of times when you may decide to use quoting
instead of paraphrasing. Here are a number of instances:
● The author’s words already convey a powerful meaning.
● You feel that you can no longer word the information any better or simpler.
● You want to introduce the author’s stand using his or her own words.
● You want to show concrete evidence of or support for your claims.
● You want to highlight a particularly striking sentence the author wrote.
● You want to make sure your readers know the words are not your own.

How to Quote
When you want to use a quotation in your writing, always remember to introduce, cite, and
explain the quotation you will be using. For easier recall, you can refer to this technique as
the ICE method.

Introduce
To introduce a quotation in your writing, make sure to mention the author’s full or at least
last name, any significant or necessary background information, and a signal verb. We will
be using the APA guidelines for quoting, which state that the signal verb should be written in
the past tense.

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

Remember
Forgetting any of the elements of quoting (words verbatim, enclosing
in quotation marks, proper citation) could result in plagiarism. Be
careful when using quotations!

Cite
Make sure that you are also following the expected format of the citation you are using. A
text copied word-for-word should be enclosed in quotation marks, and should still follow its
original capitalization and punctuation marks.

You can edit a quotation minimally to make the transition between your writing and the
source material look seamless. Since we are using the APA guidelines, you must follow these
rules:
● If you want to insert your own words inside a quotation, put them in square brackets
( [ ] ).
For example:

“The activities in the [midyear] workshop were informative,” according to the

teacher.

● If you want to change the capitalization of a word in a quotation, use square

brackets.
For example:

The teacher stated that “[t]he activities in the workshop were informative.”

● If you want to remove words in the middle of a quotation, use ellipses ( … ).

For example:

“The activities … were informative,” according to the teacher.

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

● If you want to emphasize something in a quotation, particularly if it is relevant to

your writing, place the emphasized words in italics, and state that the emphasis is
your own.

For example: “The activities … were informative [emphasis added],” according to the
teacher.

Explain
Finally, do not forget to explain the quotation or quotations that you used. Provide an
explanation, insight, or reason as to why you chose to include this quote. Do not let the
quotation speak for itself; be sure to back it up with your own words and reasoning.

To help with your explanation, try asking yourself these questions:

● What is the message of the quote?
● What does the quote add to the arguments or points that I am trying to make?
● Why is it important that I use this quote? What is its significance?
● What am I trying to prove with the use of this quote?

Example 1
Mary Losure, in her essay titled “Sir Arthur and the Fairies,” asked: “How could the creator of
the world’s most famous, least-fool-able detective have convinced himself that ‘fairy’
photographs were real?” (2013) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle became known worldwide as the
creator of the character Sherlock Holmes, a calculating and no-nonsense detective. Surely,
the mind that birthed such a character would be resistant to trickery himself? An encounter
with false images depicting fairies proved that this was not always the case.
Source: “Sir Arthur and the Fairies” (https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/sir-arthur-and-the-fairies)

In the example, the author, Mary Losure, was introduced. The title of her essay, as well as
the year it was published, was also included. The signal verb in this case was asked. The
quotation followed the proper citation format, including the quotation marks and the year
enclosed in parentheses at the end. Finally, the quotation was followed by a few sentences
explaining the idea of the essay and the quote even further.

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

Example 2
In the essay “Black on Black,” Eugene Thacker wrote: “Black bathes all things in an absence,
makes apparent an opacity, evaporates all the nuances of shadow and light” (2015). He
described the color black as something of a paradox, since it could represent both the
absence of but also the presence of something. It was also something that we could
constantly see, and yet never see.
Source: “Black on Black” (https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/black-on-black)

In the example, the author and title of the essay were introduced immediately. The signal
verb used was wrote. The quotation followed the correct citation format, and what followed
were a few sentences to support and explain the idea of the quote.

Example 3
“Dreams so often feel trivial and momentous at the same time,” said Alicia Puglionesi in her
essay, “Lofty Only in Sound: Crossed Wires and Community in 19th-Century Dreams” (2017).
It’s rare for us to remember what happened in our dreams, and so we barely pay attention
to them. And yet, there’s always that feeling that if we could remember our dreams, there
would be a lot they could tell us.
Source: “Lofty Only in Sound: Crossed Wires and Community in 19th-Century Dreams”
(https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/lofty-only-in-sound-crossed-wires-and-community-in-19th-century-dreams)

This example shows that the quote can come before the introduction, as long as it is clear
that the author is still credited as the person who said or wrote the quoted sentence. The
citation is also still present, and the rules of the APA citation used in the example dictate
that the citation should come after the whole sentence the quote is in, and not right after
the quote. Finally, an explanation follows on why the quote was used in the paragraph,
completing the ICE method.

When do we use quoting instead of paraphrasing?

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

Now that you are also familiar with quoting, how do we choose when to paraphrase and
when to quote? Quoting is more often used with shorter phrases or sentences, while
paraphrasing is more effective for longer sentences or a group of sentences. Quoting is also
recommended when you want to make sure the original message and idea of the author is
presented as is. Paraphrasing, on the other hand, is suitable for further elaborating on the
author’s main idea by explaining it in your own words.

When writing papers, paraphrasing and quoting are often used together. You might choose
to use paraphrasing in sentences that follow a quotation in order to drive the author’s point
home, as well as reinforce it with your own words and insights.

Example 1

Source Text
Despite this horrendous cumulative barrage of injuries, however, the Wound Man is very
much alive. For the purpose of this image is not to threaten or inspire fear, but to herald
potential cures for all of the depicted maladies. He contrarily represents something
altogether more hopeful than his battered body: an arresting reminder of the powerful
knowledge that could be channelled and dispensed in the practice of late medieval
medicine.
Source: “The Many Lives of the Medieval Wound Man”
(https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/the-many-lives-of-the-medieval-wound-man)

Text with Paraphrasing and Quoting

Jack Hartnell, in his essay titled “The Many Lives of the Medieval Wound Man,” wrote that
although images of the Wound Man could be quite terrifying, its true point is “to herald
potential cures for all of the depicted maladies” on his body (2016). Although he may look
battered, bruised, wounded, stabbed, and more, his appearance can instead inspire hope.
He shows that there were many cures and remedies that became accessible through late
medieval medicine.

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

Explanation
This first short example demonstrates a simple paragraph making use of both paraphrasing
and quoting. The introduction to the quote is quickly established from the start by
mentioning the author’s full name and the title of the essay. It is immediately followed by
the quote in the proper format and with the correct citation. Then, the paraphrased
sentences also served as the explanation for the quote, showing how paraphrasing can be
combined with quoting while still following the ICE method.

Example 2

Source Text
Conan Doyle’s next step was an on-the-scene investigation – but Conan Doyle himself did
not go. Instead, he enlisted a far-from-impartial surrogate -- an ardent believer in fairies
named Edward Gardner -- to carry out the mission. Gardner had already talked to several
people who had assured him the girls had played with fairies and elves since babyhood. He
had already written to Elsie Wright’s mother begging her to get her “little girl” to take more
photos. “I know quite well that fairies exist,” Gardner wrote in one of several letters to Elsie’s
mother, “and that they are very shy of showing themselves or approaching adults, and it is
only when one can obtain the help of their ‘friends’ that one can hope to obtain
photographs and hence lead to a better understanding of Nature’s ways than is possible
otherwise.” Gardner explained to Elsie’s mother that he had long been anxious to obtain
photos of “fairies, pixies, and elves, and if possible of brownies and goblins.”
Source: “Sir Arthur and the Fairies” (https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/sir-arthur-and-the-fairies)

Text with Paraphrasing and Quoting

Losure, in her essay titled “Sir Arthur and the Fairies,” said that Conan Doyle’s next step was
to investigate the scene of the photos. However, he did not go himself but instead sent “a
far-from-impartial surrogate” who was already “an ardent believer in fairies” (Losure, 2013).
This believer, by the name of Edward Gardner, already talked to other believers that were
also convinced that the girls had been playing with elves and fairies since they were little.
Losure also added that Gardner had been sending letters to one of the girls’ mothers asking
them to take more photos of their shy little friends (2013). It should have come as no

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

surprise, then, that Gardner would report back to Conan Doyle to say that these photos of
the girls with fairies were, in fact, genuine.

Explanation
The example above once again demonstrates a short paragraph that made use of both
paraphrasing and quoting. The quoted phrases emphasized the author’s main point, which
was that Edward Gardner was already a believer in fairies, which meant that he would be
biased in his investigation on whether or not the photos of the girls with fairies were real.
The paraphrased sections further explained how much of an avid believer Gardner was,
which would drive the point home that he would only contribute to the fact that Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle was fooled by the manipulated pictures of fairies. Take note of how the ICE
method was used as well. The source of the quotes was introduced at the start by
mentioning the author’s last name as well as the title of the essay. The quotes were also
followed by proper citation, and finally, their importance was explained by the succeeding
sentences.

Example 3

Source Text
On a hastily built stage before the busy horse market of Strasbourg, scores of people dance
to pipes, drums, and horns. The July sun beats down upon them as they hop from leg to leg,
spin in circles and whoop loudly. From a distance they might be carnival revellers. But closer
inspection reveals a more disquieting scene. Their arms are flailing and their bodies are
convulsing spasmodically. Ragged clothes and pinched faces are saturated in sweat. Their
eyes are glassy, distant. Blood seeps from swollen feet into leather boots and wooden clogs.
These are not revellers but “choreomaniacs,” entirely possessed by the mania of the dance.
Source: “The Dancing Plague of 1518” (https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/the-dancing-plague-of-1518)

Text with Paraphrasing and Quoting

Ned Pennant-Rea began his essay, “The Dancing Plague of 1518,” with a description. He
seemingly described a party or a festival, with people dancing on stage to the sounds of
various instruments. They did not care much about the heat as they continued to dance and
cheer. From afar, one might think it was indeed a party. However, upon closer inspection,

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

one could see that these people were in some sort of trance. Their limbs moved
uncontrollably, their sweat covered their faces and clothes, and the blood from their feet
was beginning to seep past their footwear. The truth was, as Pennant-Rea had put it, these
people were “not revellers but ‘choreomaniacs,' entirely possessed by the mania of dance”
(2018). This scene was not depicting a fun and enjoyable festival, but a desperate and futile
attempt at curing people of an affliction that forced them to dance until death.

Explanation
In this example, both paraphrasing and quoting were still used. It also demonstrated how
the format of the ICE method can be modified to blend more with the paraphrasing and the
quotation. The source was first introduced in the beginning, even though the quote was
used near the end of the paragraph. This made sense, however, because the sentences that
followed were paraphrases of the author’s words anyway. It was still clear that the
paraphrases and the quote came from the original author. Then, the quote at the
end—which still followed the correct citations—introduced the author’s main point, which
was that the sight of dancing people was not a festive scene, but a disturbing one. The
explanation for the quote could already be seen in the paraphrased sentences, so the final
sentence served to tie them all together.

Extend

Activity 1
Read the following excerpt and then the incomplete paraphrasing that follows. In the space
provided, use the ICE method to add a quote and finish the paraphrased paragraph.

Source Text
To his credit, Conan Doyle made what was (to him) a thorough, scientific, step-by-step
investigation of the “fairy” photographs. For his first step, he consulted experts at the
London offices of the George Eastman Kodak Company. They examined prints of the first
two “fairy” photos and told Conan Doyle they could find no evidence of photo-doctoring;
still, they insisted someone who knew enough about photography could have faked them.

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

In Conan Doyle’s mind, that ruled out the two Yorkshire village girls who had taken the
photographs, Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths. “I argued that we had certainly traced the
pictures to two children of the artisan [working] class, and that such tricks would be entirely
beyond them,” he wrote. Working class girls, surely, would not be able pull off such a hoax….
Source: “Sir Arthur and the Fairies” (https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/sir-arthur-and-the-fairies)

Incomplete Paraphrasing
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did follow the steps of a thorough investigation in order to uncover
the truth about the photographs in question. He asked experts from the George Eastman
Kodak Company to examine the first two fairy photos, but they could not prove that they
were manipulated in any way. However, they insisted that it was still possible that someone
could have faked the photos. To Conan Doyle, however, that still ruled out the possibility
that the two girls in the photos could have done the manipulating.

Guide
● One possibility is to use the quote to restate the conclusion that Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle came to after he was told that someone skilled in photography could have
manipulated the photos.
● Another possible answer is to turn what the experts explained, as written by Mary
Losure, into a quote. Then, the succeeding sentences could reinforce how this
influenced Conan Doyle’s conclusion.

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

● There are other possible ways to add a quote to the paragraph. What is important is
to keep the ICE method in mind as you add your answer.

Activity 2
Read the following excerpt and write your own paragraph about it that makes use of both
paraphrasing and quoting.

Source Text
To Gardner, Elsie seemed a “shy pretty girl of about sixteen.” But at the time they met, she
was really eighteen, going on nineteen, and for years had cherished the dream of becoming
an artist. It was Elsie who had painted watercolor fairies, stuck them to hatpins, and
arranged them in the foliage in front of Frances. It was Elsie who, using a complicated,
old-fashioned camera to take her first-ever photo, managed to capture the strange,
haunting image that would go down in history as the first Cottingley Fairy Photograph.
Gardner had seen a number of Elsie’s watercolors displayed on the walls of her parents’
house. Still, he insisted that she was not a good enough artist to have drawn the fairies in
the photos, and Conan Doyle believed him.
Source: “Sir Arthur and the Fairies” (https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/sir-arthur-and-the-fairies)

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

Guide
It is often a good idea to find the main idea of the paragraph first and use that as the
quoted sentence. Then, the rest of your sentences can be paraphrased parts of the
excerpt that can be used to support the main idea. Remember that it is possible to
integrate paraphrased sentences in the Explain section when using the ICE method.

Evaluate

A. Answer the following questions in complete sentences

and using your own words.

1. What is quoting?

2. When is it appropriate to quote?

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

3. What is the “I” in the ICE method? What does it mean?

4. What is a possible consequence of misquoting?

5. What is the difference between quoting and paraphrasing?

B. Read the instructions for the following items carefully.

Write your answers and explain them comprehensively on
the space provided.

1. How can quoting demonstrate your understanding of the text?

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

2. How is quoting different from simply copying the author’s words?

3. How can using both paraphrasing and quoting improve your writing?

4. Read the passage that follows and defend whether you would use paraphrasing or
quoting for it.

The First Industrial Revolution was mainly on the transition from foraging to farming
and mechanical production. The Second Industrial Revolution focused on mass
production and the assembly line, which became possible with the advent of electricity.
The Third Industrial Revolution was the beginning of computer and digital technology.
Schwab emphasizes that this is different from the Fourth Industrial Revolution in that
the fourth is focused more on mobile internet and on making technology smaller but
more powerful.

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

5. Read the source text and the attempt at quoting it below. How would you correct the
following quotation so that it follows the proper guidelines? Explain your corrections.

Source Text
Gardner was delighted to get the two new photos, but even more thrilled with a third
photo, one which Elsie had not faked. Both girls thought at the time it was just a bird’s
nest, some rainwater, some shapes and shadows--but Gardner insisted it showed
fairies. Conan Doyle thought so, too.
Source: “Sir Arthur and the Fairies” (https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/sir-arthur-and-the-fairies)

Quoted Text
Losure wrote that the girls only took a photo of what they thought “was just a bird’s
nest, some rainwater, some shapes and shadows--” but Gardner insisted it showed
fairies. Conan Doyle agreed with his subordinate.

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Unit 4.3: Paraphrasing vs. Quoting

Wrap Up
___________________________________________________________________________________________

● Quoting is repeating what the author said word-for-word but with proper citations.
● When quoting, follow the ICE method:
○ Introduce
○ Cite
○ Explain
● While quoting and paraphrasing are applied to different situations, they can often be
used in tandem to explain and defend your points better.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Bibliography

McCombes, Shona. “How to Quote Sources: Introduce, Shorten and Cite Quotes.” Scribbr,
January 31, 2020. https://www.scribbr.com/citing-sources/how-to-quote/.

“Quotations.” The Writing Center University of North Carolina. Accessed February 7, 2020.
https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/quotations/.

“Quoting and Paraphrasing.” The Writing Center University of Wisconsin-Madison. Accessed

February 7, 2020. https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/assignments/quotingsources/.

“Quoting, Paraphrasing, & Summarizing.” Ashford Writing Center. Accessed February 5,

2020. https://writingcenter.ashford.edu/quoting-paraphrasing-summarizing.

“Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing // Purdue Writing Lab.” Purdue Writing Lab.
Accessed February 7, 2020.
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/using_research/quoting_paraphra
sing_and_summarizing/index.html.

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