Paraphrasing, Summarizing, and Quoting.
Tasks:
After reading Finding Your Way In: Invention as Inquiry Based Learning in First Year Writing [PDF], choose one
paragraph from the text and complete the following:
Task 1: Correctly Quoting a Source
For your first entry, copy-and-paste an entire paragraph from the text.
Then, return to the beginning of the quote and introduce it. Simple introductions, such as “X writes,” are
acceptable. (Review steps 1 & 2 in the Documenting with MLA: Overview powerpoint.)
If the paragraph is more than four typed lines, format it appropriately as a block/long quote (check this link for
help). Also, place the correct parenthetical citation after the block quote (review Introducing and Citing Quotes
Using MLA for assistance).
Task 2: Summarizing the Source
Below your second entry, write one or two sentences summarizing the quoted paragraph. Limit your summary
specifically to only that section of text (review sample provided in Summaries and Paraphrases: Examples).
Summaries tend to be general, but use your own words, not the source’s language.
Task 3: Paraphrasing the Source
For your final entry, write a complete well-developed paragraph of 5-7 sentences paraphrasing the quoted
paragraph at the beginning of Task 1 (review paraphrased passages in Summaries and Paraphrases:
Examples). Make sure to include parenthetical citations and/or mention the authors’ names in the sentence in
order to provide the authors with credit for their ideas (note that this action also prevents plagiarism). Again,
use your own words, and not the source’s language.
