Quoting, paraphrasing
and summarising
Using the work of others
• Essential part of academic writing
• No copying/pasting
• Instead: quoting – paraphrasing – summarising
Quoting – paraphrasing – summarising
By the end of this tutorial you will be able to
understand
• when / why / how …
to quote, paraphrase or summarise
Quoting is…repeating the exact words
When?
• When the exact wording matters
(e.g. a definition)
Why?
• As evidence, to illustrate a point
How?
• Marked out by quotation marks "…"
• Accompanied by an acknowledgement/reference
Note: Needs to fit grammatically .
Paraphrasing is …
using your own words
When?
• When content matters more than word choice
(e.g. an analysis or insight)
Why?
• As evidence, to demonstrate understanding
How
• Rewording and restructuring the original
• Accompanied by an acknowledgement/reference
Summarising is …
condensing in your own words
When?
• When main points matter more than details
(e.g. background information)
Why?
• As evidence, to give an overview or context
How
• Rewording, shortening the original
• Accompanied by an acknowledgement/reference
Successful cultural quarters very often have quite deliberately set
out to develop a network of communication venues, and in some
cases these have been planted as strategic elements in the wider
development of an area.
Quote (footnote style):
Montgomery points out that many popular "cultural quarters very
often have quite deliberately set out to develop a network of
communication venues".¹
Quote (author-date style):
Montgomery points out that many "successful of the cultural
quarters very often have quite deliberately set out to develop a
network of communication venues" (Montgomery 2003, p.294).
¹ John Montgomery. Cultural Quarters as Mechanisms for Urban Regeneration. Part 1: Conceptualising Cultural
Quarters, Planning Practice & Research, 18:4, (2003) 293-306, (294)
7
Successful cultural quarters very often have quite deliberately set
out to develop a network of communication venues, and in some
cases these have been planted as strategic elements in the wider
development of an area.
Paraphrase (footnote style):
Montgomery points out that frequently cultural quarters have not
developed spontaneously but have been purposefully designed to
encourage creative exchanges.¹
Paraphrase (author-date style)
Montgomery (2013) points out that frequently cultural quarters
have not developed spontaneously but have been purposefully
designed to encourage creative exchanges.
¹ John Montgomery. Cultural Quarters as Mechanisms for Urban Regeneration. Part 1: Conceptualising Cultural
Quarters, Planning Practice & Research, 18:4, (2003) 293-306, (294)
8
Successful cultural quarters very often have quite deliberately set
out to develop a network of communication venues, and in some
cases these have been planted as strategic elements in the wider
development of an area.
Paraphrase (footnote style):
Frequently cultural quarters have not developed spontaneously
but have been purposefully designed to encourage creative
exchanges.¹
Paraphrase (author-date style)
Frequently cultural quarters have not developed spontaneously
but have been purposefully designed to encourage creative
exchanges (Montgomery, 2013).
¹ John Montgomery. Cultural Quarters as Mechanisms for Urban Regeneration. Part 1: Conceptualising Cultural
Quarters, Planning Practice & Research, 18:4, (2003) 293-306, (294)
9
Paraphrasing - doing it right
Cultural quarters cannot exist without cultural activity and
of special significance is the presence of venues.
Changing some words:
Cultural quarters cannot happen without cultural
action and of special significance is the presence of
venues.
Words and
structure
too similar
Changing most words:
Cultural quarters will not happen without artistic action
and of distinct importance is the existence of venues.
Structure
too similar
Changing words and structure:
Venues are of particular importance as without cultural
or artistic activity there are no cultural quarters.
Same
meaning different
structure &
words
Paraphrasing – techniques
• Move last idea/item to front
• Use larger chunks of text
• Break up or join sentences
• Exchange words
• e.g. venue – site or location
• Change word category
• e.g. exist (verb) - existence (noun)
Does it still say/mean the same?
Cultural quarters cannot exist without cultural activity and of special
significance is the presence of venues. These should be as varied as possible,
preferably at the small and medium scale where the objective is to
encourage a more active street life. As well as performance venues, there
should also be rehearsal and practice spaces. A mixed economy in venues
helps generate self-sustaining growth, so that as well as publicly provided
theatres and galleries there should also be private galleries and performance
venues. It is important that as many venues as possible should remain open
in the evenings as well as during the day. Successful cultural quarters very
often have quite deliberately set out to develop a network of
communication venues, and in some cases these have been planted as
strategic elements in the wider development of an area. In order to sustain a
living culture, it is important for at least some cultural organisations to be
producing houses (i.e. making new work) rather than having an over-reliance
on touring products. The presence of producing companies in any cultural
quarter adds weight and, often, extra quality.
185 words
Summary (author-date style)
Montgomery (2103) highlights the importance of variety for a cultural
quarter to succeed, and recommends that there should be performing and
producing activity around the clock.
26 words
Quoting – paraphrasing – summarising
You should now have a better understanding of
• When, why and how to quote, paraphrase or
summarise
Note:
Every time you use or reproduce the work of others
(e.g. their words, ideas, data, images, etc.)
you need to include an acknowledgement.