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When writing papers that require the use of outside source material, it is often tempting to cite only direct quotations from your sources. If, however, this is the only method of citation you choose, your paper will seem to be a collection of others’ thoughts that contains little of your own analysis.
To avoid falling into this trap, follow a few simple pointers:
When using direct quotations, try qualifying them in a new or interesting manner. Depending on the system of documentation you’re using, the signal phrases don’t always have to introduce the quotation.
Instead of saying:
“None of them knew the color of the sky” is the opening line of Stephen Crane’s short story, “The Open Boat” (339). This implies the idea that “all sense of certainty” in the lives of these men is gone (Wolford 18).
Try saying:
“None of them knew the color of the sky,” the opening line of Stephen Crane’s “The Open Boat,” implies that “all sense of certainty” in the lives of these men is gone (Crane 339; Wolford 18).
The combination of these two sentences into one is something different. It shows thought on the writer’s part regarding how to combine direct quotations in an interesting manner.
Source: This content has been adapted from Lumen Learning's "Using Sources Creatively" tutorial.