This lesson has demonstrated three ways to integrate information from your sources into your research paper. Review these approaches using the examples below.
Paraphrasing
Summarizing
Direct Quotes
When you paraphrase information from a source, you restate an author's idea in your own words. You change the words enough so that they become your own, although the basic idea is still the same.
Original Source Text
By the 1840s five-string banjos with four long strings and one short string, the highest in pitch, but set next to the lowest pitched long string, had developed. Wood frame rims to stretch the skin replaced the gourds. A commercial banjo industry appeared, linking entertainers, sellers of banjo music, and manufacturers. By the late 19th century, metal covered or replaced the wooden frame rims entirely, frets were added, metal strings replaced gut, and a variety of mechanisms were added to banjos to produce a loud, clear, treble sound. Black banjoists adopted these innovations to make even more powerful music.
Paraphrased Text
By the mid 1800s banjos were made a bit differently, with more strings and wood frames instead of gourds. An entire banjo industry sprang up, connecting banjo makers, musicians, and songwriters. By the late 1800s, banjo frames were metal plated or had frames made entirely of metal. The necks had frets and metal strings, and other modifications in design made banjos louder and clearer. African American banjo players use these improvements to improve their own sound and to expand their techniques.
When you summarize a source, you describe the source's main ideas rather than focusing on a specific set of sentences in the source.
Original Source Text
By the 1840s five-string banjos with four long strings and one short string, the highest in pitch, but set next to the lowest pitched long string, had developed. Wood frame rims to stretch the skin replaced the gourds. A commercial banjo industry appeared, linking entertainers, sellers of banjo music, and manufacturers. By the late 19th century, metal covered or replaced the wooden frame rims entirely, frets were added, metal strings replaced gut, and a variety of mechanisms were added to banjos to produce a loud, clear, treble sound. Black banjoists adopted these innovations to make even more powerful music.
Summarized Text
Throughout the 1800s, the banjo's construction changed to use more durable and flexible materials. A commercial banjo industry made the banjo's sound clearer and louder, and African Americans used these developments to add to and improve their own musical stylings.
Quotations from a source consist of the author's exact words.
Original Source Text
By the 1840s five-string banjos with four long strings and one short string, the highest in pitch, but set next to the lowest pitched long string, had developed. Wood frame rims to stretch the skin replaced the gourds. A commercial banjo industry appeared, linking entertainers, sellers of banjo music, and manufacturers. By the late 19th century, metal covered or replaced the wooden frame rims entirely, frets were added, metal strings replaced gut, and a variety of mechanisms were added to banjos to produce a loud, clear, treble sound. Black banjoists adopted these innovations to make even more powerful music.
Quoted Text
Tony Thomas, the leading African American scholar of the banjo, has written a detailed account of the changes that occurred in banjo design and construction during the 1800s, when wood and metal replaced gourds and animal gut and the number of strings was increased. According to Thomas, "[b]lack banjoists adopted these innovations to make even more powerful music."
Now apply each approach to your own report draft. Use paraphrasing, summarizing, and at least one direct quote to integrate information from your sources. Boldface the text that you add to your report so that your teacher can see it easily. Then submit your improved draft to your teacher.
Make sure you've completed all the requirements for this assignment. Look at the rubric below to see how you will be graded.
| Criteria | |
| Paraphrasing 1 point |
1 Point: You paraphrase a piece of information in your own words and integrate it into your research essay draft. |
| Summarizing 1 point |
1 Point: You correctly summarize a piece of information and include a source's main idea in your research essay draft. |
| Direct Quotes 1 point |
1 Point: You directly quote a source and correctly integrate their exact words into your research essay draft. |
