Note: At CMU-Q, we use different citation styles based on the discipline and professors' preferences. For this guide, we are going to use the American Psychological Association (APA) citation style. For other citation style, please check with the library or your writing specialist. APA is a widely used author-date citation style, particularly in the social sciences. It is used to acknowledge sources used in research papers, ensuring academic integrity, and allowing readers to easily find and verify cited information.
Imagine that you are writing an essay on the representation of good and bad in fiction literature and you want to refer to this original passage from J.K. Rowling fiction book Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:
We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are. (p. 126)
There are three ways to incorporate this passage in your essay: summarize it, paraphrase it, or quote it using the APA style. Let's explore how each one works.
1. Summarizing
Condensing someone else's work, by summarizing the main idea in your own words (be careful not to change the meaning). Make sure you use quotation marks around any exact words you borrowed from the original text, e.g.
While some people presume that we are predestined to serve either good or evil, other people believe that we have a choice. In her book "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", J. K. Rowling (2001) believes that we can always choose between good and bad and "[t]hat's who we really are" (p. 126).
2. Paraphrasing
Reading the text and rewriting it in your own words. This is called paraphrasing and it is the most used strategy when using information sources as it shows that you have read and understood the material you are citing, e.g.
According to J. K. Rowling (2001) people have the choice between being good or bad individuals and our choice defines us.
3. Quoting
Citing someone else's exact words. Make sure you use quotation marks and include the page number(s), e.g.
According to J. K. Rowling (2001) "[w]e've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are” (p. 126).
Remember:
Whether you quote, paraphrase or summarize, you always need to include the in-text citation and the full reference at the end of your work. Here is the book reference in APA style:
Rowling, J.K. (2001). Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban. New York: Scholastic Paperbacks.
Reach out to the Library if you would like to learn more about this topic.