Using Information

How To Use Those Great Sources!

Just like a house needs a foundation, your essay or assignment needs background research to support your argument or ideas. But once you find that information, how do you incorporate it into your assignment? Here are some tips on how to use information that you find for your writing. 

Quoting

Quoting directly from a source should be done sparingly. Writers typically quote from a text when using statistical data, providing textual evidence from a poem or literature, or providing a unique definition. 

Paraphrasing

To paraphrase means to explain someone else's work in your own words while still giving credit to the author for their thoughts. Paraphrasing is often more desired than quoting because it shows you understand the topic and the research you have done. 

Summarizing

A summary is typically used to give the reader a general overview or history of your topic. You may end up citing a few different authors when writing a summary.  

Example of Quoting:

The University of Maine at Augusta's mission statement is to "transform the lives of students of every age and background across the state of Maine and beyond through access to high-quality distance and on-site education, excellent student support and civic engagement, and innovative professional and liberal arts programs."  

Example of Paraphrasing:

In her New York Times article on rewilding her garden, Margaret Renkl argues that while many people think environmentalism takes great effort, it can be easy to make just a small difference. One example she provides is to put a milkweed plant out on your balcony to attract butterflies.  

Example of Summarizing:

It has been established that climate change will effect ecosystems in Maine in several ways (DeUrioste-Stone et al., 2016; Lesser, 2016; Elias, 2019; Kim et al., 2021). 

Handouts and Other Resources

Scribbr's guide to avoiding plagiarism