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Signal the Use of
a Source
In this handout, we’ll be looking at how to signal
source material. This handout assumes that you know
how
to paraphrase and
summarize, and it operates under two key premises:
1. Source material cannot make your points for you. Essentially,
source material backs up your points; therefore, you will typically
have to introduce source material and comment on how it helps prove
your point.
2. The reader has to be able to distinguish source material from
your commentary. (If the reader cannot, then you are guilty of
plagiarism.)
You can signal the beginning of the source material through writing
strategies for paraphrased, summarized, or directly quoted material.
Ultimately, signaling to source material helps you avoid plagiarism
and, more importantly, makes your writing flow smoothly. As always,
when you use source material, whether that source material is paraphrased,
summarized, or directly quoted, you’ll need to cite appropriately.
You’ll notice in our examples that we’ve always cited.
Our examples may be in either APA or MLA documentation style.
Let’s
look at three strategies you can use to signal source material:
You also can
view
an example of all these
strategies within a context.
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