Citing Sources In the Synthesis Essay

Changing Quotations When you cite sources, be sure to make clear the purpose of the citation and how it fits into or supports your argument or analysis. If you need to amend or correct quoted material with your own words, the best way to do this is with brackets: [ ]. Use ellipses [... ] to indicate deleted material. (sic) means that there is an error or solecism in the quotation that you are keeping in order to quote accurately.

Using Brackets Original quote: "They tend to attach a great significance to manhood which results in stupid behavioral patterns." Amended quote: "[Men] tend to attach a great significance to manhood which results in stupid behavioral patterns."

Using Ellipses Original quote: "One of the major characteristics of guyhood is that guys don't spend a lot of time pondering our deep innermost feelings, which causes some negative discussions about our lack of mature conversations. " Amended quote: "...guys don't spend a lot of time pondering our deep innermost feelings which [adds to] our lack of mature conversations. "

Using Solecisms Original quote: "My computer is shock full of RAM and ROM and bites and magahertzes and other things that make a guy's life worth living. " Amended quote: "My computer is (sic)shock full of RAM and ROM and (sic)bites and (sic)magahertzes and other things that make a guy's life worth living."

Summarizing Quotes MUST reference the source The text is much shorter than the original. Must use your own words. NO quoted material (no quotation marks) Use when you like the idea but it is too large to quote.

Paraphrasing quotes MUST reference the source The text may be shorter or longer than the original. Must use your own words with "small amounts" of original Use when you want to add your own view point to original words

Direct Quotes MUST reference the source The text is the exact length of the original. Must use the original author's words...not yours. Use when you can come up with no better words.