
Unit 10: How to do it!
Quoting in the text
Often it is better to paraphrase than to use direct quotes. Paraphrasing is putting text from source material into your own words. This demonstrates that you have understood the meaning and context of what you have read. You must always reference paraphrased material. If a direct quote from a book, article or other source. is used you must:
- Use quotation marks. Either single or double quotation marks may be used but you should always be consistent and not switch between the two
- State the author
- If there is more than one author use ‘et al.’ after the first author
- State the page number
Example – one author
Simpson12 (p6) declared that "the explosive behaviour was unexpected."
or
(Simpson12 p6) declared that “the explosive behaviour was unexpected.”
Example – more than one author
Simpson, et al.12 (p6) declared that “the explosive behaviour was unexpected.”
or
(Simpson, et al. 12 p6) declared that “the explosive behaviour was unexpected.”
- Have a separate, indented paragraph for quotes over two lines.
Example
Boden22 (p72) states:”The most common female crime prosecuted at the Quarter Sessions was that of battering men. This would suggest that women were not the passive and obedient members of society that men would have liked to believe they were.”
Alternatively…
“The most common female crime prosecuted at the Quarter Sessions was that of battering men. This would suggest that women were not the passive and obedient members of society that men would have liked to believe they were.”
(Boden22 p72)
Alternatively…
Part of the original text may be omitted from the quotation as long as three dots are used to indicate this.
Example
Boden22 (p72) states:
“The most common female crime prosecuted at the Quarter Sessions was that of battering men … women beating or dominating a man was a particularly sensitive issue as it threatened the perpetuation of the patriarchal society …”
TIP: ConsistencyYou can use [ ] or superscript But do not switch between the two – always use the same format – be consistent! |
Duplication of charts, diagrams, pictures etc. should be treated as direct quotes in that the author(s) should be acknowledged and page numbers shown.
SMILE by Imperial College, Loughborough University and the University of Worcester, modified by Marion Kelt Glasgow Caledonian University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. e