MLA: Quoting and Paraphrasing

How to Quote and Paraphrase

When you include writing by someone else in your own work, you need to give the author(s) credit in two ways: place quotation marks before and after the work you are using, and include an in-text citation. It is very important to copy the words you are quoting exactly as they appear in the original text. If you take out part of a quote, you need to put an ellipsis . . . in the space where you removed the words. You can take out part of a quote, as long as it does not change the meaning. If you change a word (usually to fit the tense), you need to put square brackets [ ] around the words or letters you add.

Examples:
Original source: He listened to her lungs, and they sounded weak and unhealthy (Swanson 88). Part of quote taken out: He listened to her lungs, and they sounded . . . unhealthy (Swanson 88). Words changed: At one point, Dr. Nelson listen[s] to her [the patients] lungs and they [sound] weak and unhealthy (Swanson 88).

Drafting - Use the Google doc you already created.

* Be sure to include placeholders after any information you take from a Fact Card. Placeholders are the Source #, Page #, and if quoting, the name of the person you are quoting. Source # _3_ Page # _4_ 1933 FDR introduces the New Deal Source # _6_ Page # ___ Source # _8_ Page # _23_ People said Franklin Delano Roosevelts plan would be successful.

The New Deal

economic programs to help with the Great Depression

Paraphrased example for placeholders:

In 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt introduced the New Deal, a series of economic programs in response to the Great Depression (S3P4;S6).

Direct Quote example for placeholders:

Many critics thought, Franklin Delano Roosevelts plan would be successful (S8P23).