What is quoting and when to use it

Quoting, or using direct quotes, is a way to incorporate another writer’s exact words into your own writing. Unlike indirect quotes (also known as paraphrases and summaries), a direct quotation or quote is a word for word segment taken from the original source (a written piece or a speech). Direct quotes have to be offset with quotation marks and attributed to the source.

A word of caution

Although the temptation to use direct quotes extensively may be quite strong, experienced writers and researchers in the field of academic writing (Oliver, 2012; Pyrczak & Bryce, 2011; Ridley, 2012) would caution against the frequent use of these for the following reasons:

a direct quote can contain details that need further explanations if taken out of the context
the wording in a direct quote (especially longer quotes) can interfere with the “flow” of the text (how smoothly it reads) due to the differences in your and another writer’s tone and styles
a heavy use of direct quotes may suggest the author’s failure at giving his or her own interpretation of the idea being referred to.

General tips:

Use direct quotes only when you are certain that the original wording best captures the author’s idea(s) and tone
Keep your quotes on note cards or in a file stored on your computer, with page numbers indicated (you will need the page number(s) for in-text citations following the sentence with the quote
Make sure that the original wording has not changed and that the quoted text is placed within brackets
If integrated into your own text, direct quotes should fit grammatically with your text; in such cases you might need to modify a direct quote for it to fit with the rest of the sentence and place the modified part in square brackets […], as in this example:

Connor stated that the Reagan administration “[was] a textbook illustration” of the political business cycle (Connor, 2005) (“was” replaces “is,” which was in the original quote).

Language for quoting

To introduce a quote, the following phrases and verbs are often used:

According to Professor Manning (year of publication), "A crisis is as readily explained by geography and history as by politics" (page number).
In the words of Professor Manning (year of publication), "A crisis is as readily explained by geography and history as by politics" (page number).
To quote Professor Manning (year of publication), "A crisis is as readily explained by geography and history as by politics" ((page number).
As Professor Manning (year of publication) puts it, "A crisis is as readily explained by geography and history as by politics" (page number).
Professor Manning said (argued, asserted, reported, etc.) (year of publication), "A crisis is as readily explained by geography and history as by politics" (page number).

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Task 4

Language focus

Complete the sentences with a suitable phrase introducing someone’s ideas.

words

puts

As observed

To quote

the words of

assert

According

1. As Bazerman (1999) it, “Writers that cannot create an impression of a genre will be unsuccessful; writers, therefore, are responsible for supporting their part of the generic exchange” (p. 134).
2. In Tobias (1994), this measurement context “can minimize the possibility that individual students exercise their own interpretation of the ratings” (p. 30).
3. by Douglas (2004), “things are not considered dirty in and of themselves, but because of where they stand in a system of categories” (p. 158).
4. Metz (1978), “Teachers exercising traditional authority expect students to obey them simply because they occupy the role of teacher” (p. 34).
5. to Schwarz (1997), “mood, in contrast to affect, is understood as a “momentary, subjectively experienced state of mind that can be described in terms of feeling good e feeling bad” (p. 2).
6. As Kinneavy and Johans (1991) , “the purpose of a text helps to shape the text and, as a result, cross-cultural differences found within the written text could significantly change the intended meaning ” (p. 50).
7. In Luhmann’s (1989) , “every communication, even the unintended presentation that contributes to the proceeding, counts as information that opens, thickens and excludes opportunities” (p. 44).

Learning to quote I

Put the elements of the sentences (1 to 3) in the correct order. Drag the elements one by one into the space provided:

“The world of the classroom as just as real as the one outside. The classroom is simply a place, one place among the many in which we learn and be”

(2011)

As Whitney

(p. 58)

believes,

Note: Every hint in group field should be enclosed with curly braces.

Researchers and research assistants

“built shared understanding of authenticity coding”

(Purcell-Gates, Duke, & Martineau, 2007, p. 27)

during the weekly research meetings

Note: Every hint in group field should be enclosed with curly braces.

According to Duke

(p. 347)

“exists in the lives of people outside a classroom, or it is as authentic as the use of that genre for that purpose can be”

to receive a three (the highest rating), an observer should determine that the purpose for writing

(2006),

Note: Every hint in group field should be enclosed with curly braces.

Learning to quote II

Choose the correct way of quoting in the sentences (1 to 3) below:

Moreover, from these perspectives, “meaningful learning is reflective, constructive, and self-regulated” ( S. Maclellan, 2004, p. 311).

Moreover, from these perspectives, “meaningful learning is reflective, constructive, and self-regulated” (Maclellan, 2004, p. 311).

Moreover, from these perspectives: “meaningful learning is reflective, constructive, and self-regulated” (Maclellan, 2004, p. 311).

As Saito & Fujita put it, “Peer-assessment can promote student learning through “a sense of ownership and responsibility, motivation, and reflection of the student’s own learning” (2009, p. 151).

As Saito and Fujita (2009) put it, “Peer-assessment can promote student learning through a sense of ownership and responsibility, motivation, and reflection of the student’s own learning” (p. 151).

As suggested in some works, peer-evaluation can improve student learning through “a sense of ownership and responsibility, motivation, and reflection of the student’s own learning” (Saito & Fujita, 2009, 151).

In 1995, Wu and Dann argued that “a logistics system responsible for the environment not only includes forward logistics process … but also the reverse logistics” (p. 24).

In 1995, Wu and Dann argued that “a logistics system responsible for the environment not only includes forward logistics process … but also the reverse logistics” (page 24).

In 1995, Wu and Dann (1995) argued that “a logistics system responsible for the environment not only includes forward logistics process … but also the reverse logistics” (p 24).

Learning to quote III

Type in the original sentences (1 to 3) with quotes given the following information. Use the necessary punctuation marks:

Introductory text: In broad terms,
Quote: peer-assessment involves collaboration in the appraisal of learning outcomes by those involved in the learning process
Authors: C. Van Gennip, B. Segers, R. Tillema
Year of publication: 2009
Page: 41

Introductory text: According to the previous research,
Quote: perceived self-efficacy refers to beliefs in one's capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required to produce given attainments
Authors: A. Bandura
Year of publication: 1997
Page: 3

Introductory text: As Guba and Lincoln argue,
Quote: responsive evaluation is not only concerned with individual scores, intended objectives, and the use of the tests (decisions made based on scores)
Year of publication: 1989
Page: 39