Working with Sources 

Using What Others Say: Incorporating Source Material into Original Papers

There are three techniques writers use when incorporating what others say. Writers will...

1.) directly quote a source. click to learn more
2.) paraphrase (or synthesize) ideas presented in a source. click to learn more
3.) summarize ideas presented in a source. click to learn more

Writers will also incorporate source material in the form of charts, graphs, images, and other visuals. All source material must be cited appropriately. Refer to Modern Language Association (MLA) or American Psychological Association (APA) style guides for proper citation.

How do writers introduce source material?
When writers directly quote or paraphrase source material, they provide information about the cited source. Introductions to source material vary in length and focus, but for the most part, introductions include the name of the source, the author, and any relevant publication information. Introducing a source is important because it signals to the reader that source material is now being used to communicate an idea and it provides information about the source. Two examples have been provided below.

1.) In his book, Into the Wild, John Krakauer reclaims the memory of Christopher McCandless…

2.) According to a CBS news poll...

In the first example, the writer has decided to introduce John Krakauer as the author of Into the Wild. In the second example, the writer gives credit to a "CBS news poll." Both of these examples provide information about the sources being used. See "Acknowledging a Cited Author's Experience" for additional ways to introduce source material.

Acknowledging a Cited Author's Experience
As part of introducing a source, experienced writers will provide attributive tags--phrases or clauses that provide information about a cited author. Attributions (or attributive tags) briefly reference a cited author's credentials or expertise in order to show how the cited author is related to the discussion at hand. Attributions are important rhetorical techniques because they...

- help readers distinguish between a writer's words and the words of a cited author.
- establish that a source is credible and relevant, an expectation in academic writing.
- introduce the voices and work of those engaged in the larger discussion.

The following sample introductions include attributive tags.

1.) Amy Chua, a law professor and international businesswoman, argues that…

2.) In his article “Behind the Official Story,” James C. Scott—Program Director of Agrarian Studies at Yale University and Sterling Professor of Political Science and Anthropology—states… 

In the first example, the writer provides general information about Amy Chua's professional experiences. In the second example, the writer names James C. Scott's official titles at Yale University.

What is the best way to introduce a source? How much information should a writer provide? What a writer says about a particular source will depend on the type of source being used. For example, if a writer decides to cite what someone says, he or she will provide the name of the cited author and the name of the text from which the quotation was taken. When introducing research, a writer will typically name the group responsible for the doing the research, provide the official name of the research study, and the date of the research. At the very least, a writer should name the cited author.

Guidelines for Introducing Source Material
- Make the introductory material part of your own sentence.
- The information must be accurate.
- The information should provide relevant details about the source.
- If a source is used more than once, the second introduction should be shorter than the first.
- Mix it up. Vary the style and type of sentences.

Why do writers use what others say?
Writers of expository texts incorporate and discuss the beliefs, viewpoints, and ideas of other writers (or speakers) in order to do a variety of work. A few reasons for using what others say are listed below.