How to Paraphrase and Perform In-Text Citations

For information on APA and MLA citation styles, click on the links below:

APA Citation Style

MLA Citation Style

Why use quotations and paraphrasing?

There are a number of reasons why using quotations and paraphrasing is useful. Among them, writers can:

• Enhance the credibility of writing
• Provide support for claims 
• Offer examples of specific aspects of a topic
• Highlight a position the writer wishes to agree/disagree with
• Call attention to a particularly striking concept in a text

In producing an original piece of academic writing, students are expected to coherently incorporate the works of others into their own writing, whether through paraphrasing or in-text citations. Failure do so may result in an incomplete assessment of a topic, unclear writing,or even plagiarism. The best way to ensure that students effectively incorporate the works of others into their own writing is to adhere to a 3-step template. 

1. Introduce the quote: set the context

Any time the writer is going to quote a text or paraphrase an idea from that text, it is necessary to construct a context in which the quote/paraphrase can be viewed as appropriate. For example, consider the following example:

"

2. Provide the quote/paraphrased idea

3. Significance: What does this quote/idea illustrate?

avoid hit and run quoting