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BIOL 180L: Principles of Biology Lab (Elzay/Lazerus)

This guide will help students enrolled in Principles of Biology Lab taught by Nora Lazerus and Dr. Elzay

Citing, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

How to Avoid Plagiarism

Explore the tabs on this box to learn how to summarize, paraphrase, and use quotations in your writing. There are writing formulas to help you incorporate another author's work into your own writing to help you focus on using your own words while crediting where the original ideas came from. Essentially, by following the steps below, you'll avoid plagiarism while following the APA citation style.
 

Step 1: Identify which words and/or ideas you borrowed

Insert a summary, paraphrase or quotation from your an article/book you've found to incorporate another author's words and ideas into your writing. If you use your own words to properly paraphrase or summarize another author's work, the in-text citation helps the reader identify which ideas you've borrowed and from whom you've borrowed them. If you quote another author's words in your paper, the in-text citation also helps the reader identify who and where that quotation originally came from.

 

Step 2: Acknowledge where it came from

Your in-text citation helps acknowledge the author and identify where the words/ideas came from.

Example of using a paraphrase from an author: 

Kearney suggested that writing notes after reading a passage can help students with paraphrasing 
and make it easier to paraphrase in many of the instances in which students instinctively want to 
quote (2019).

 

Step 3: Provide detailed information about where it came from

The original work should also have a full citation in a Reference List or Works Cited page.

Example:
                                       References
Kearney, V. (2019, March 26). How to teach paraphrasing, quotation and summary. Owlcation. 
        https://owlcation.com/academia/Teaching-Quotation-Paraphrase-and-Summary.

A summary is:

  • a way of incorporating an author's main idea by using your own words
  • summarizes the whole source, not just a section or key point
  • much shorter than the original piece

 

Use a summary FREQUENTLY, in cases when:

  • you need to describe the main idea of a book, article or passage
  • referring to an author's major argument
  • describing a theory you plan to apply to your work

 

Sentence Structure Formulas for Summarizing:

  • The purpose of author's article is to argue [insert summary in your own words] (in-text citation). 
  • Author's thesis boils down to [insert summary in your own words] (in-text citation). 
  • Numerous researchers have found [insert summary in your own words] (Author, in-text citation).
  • In summary, author argues that [insert summary in your own words] (in-text citation).

 

Example:

In summary, Kearney argues that students who understand how to quote, paraphrase, and summarize 
will write stronger papers and have less of a tendency to plagiarize (2019).

 

Sources: 

A paraphrase is:

  • an easier way to incorporate another author's specific points into your paper 
  • an accurate and comprehensive account of the author's ideas
  • written in your own words and uses a different sentence structure than the original work (see suggested sentence structures)

 

Use a paraphrase VERY FREQUENTLY, in cases when:

  • you need to describe the author's evidence and engage with his/her findings
  • referring to a short passage
  • the source is not authoritative or interesting enough to quote

 

Sentence Structure Formulas for Paraphrase:

  • On the one hand, author #1 argues [insert paraphrase in your own words] (in-text citation). On the other hand, author #2  believes[insert paraphrase in your own words]  (in-text citation).
  • Author suggested that [insert paraphrase in your own words]  (in-text citation). 
  • According to researchers, [insert paraphrase in your own words]  (Author, in-text citation).

 

Example:

Kearney suggested that writing notes after reading a passage can help students with paraphrasing 
and make it easier to paraphrase in many of the instances in which students instinctively want to 
quote (2019).

 

Sources: 

Paraphrasing Overview

This short video will give you a quick run-down of how to paraphrase something.

Original Text
The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), invasive to Florida and Georgia, is thought to be an important predator of nesting vertebrate species in some areas; yet little is known about how armadillos find these nests and how often depredations occur in areas with low nest densities.

DeGroote, L.W., Ober, H.K. McDonough, C.M. & Mizell, R.F. (2013). An evaluation of the nine-banded armadillo as predators of gopher tortoise and borthern bobwhite quail nests in Florida. American Midland Naturalist, 169(1), 74-85. https://doi-org.ezproxy.fhsu.edu/10.1674/0003-0031-169.1.74

As you read, take notes. Write down the main idea, important details, and where you found the information.

Original Text Main Idea and Detail Where you found it
The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), invasive to Florida and Georgia, is thought to be an important predator of nesting vertebrate species in some areas; yet little is known about how armadillos find these nests and how often depredations occur in areas with low nest densities. Armadillos are an invasive species. They prey on the nests of native species. Before this study, we didn’t know much beyond that. DeGroote, L.W., Ober, H.K. McDonough, C.M. & Mizell, R.F. (2013). An evaluation of the nine-banded armadillo as predators of gopher tortoise and borthern bobwhite quail nests in Florida. American Midland Naturalist, 169(1), 74-85. https://doi-org.ezproxy.fhsu.edu/10.1674/0003-0031-169.1.74

As you research, think about what you've found and how it fits together with other information you've read.

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Now it's time to write about what you've read in your own words. Read over the notes you took and explain the main idea. Use specific details if they support what you're writing about.

Original Text Main idea and details  Where you found it Paraphrase: 
The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), invasive to Florida and Georgia, is thought to be an important predator of nesting vertebrate species in some areas; yet little is known about how armadillos find these nests and how often depredations occur in areas with low nest densities. Armadillos are an invasive species. They prey on the nests of native species. Before this study, we didn’t know much beyond that. DeGroote, L.W., Ober, H.K. McDonough, C.M. & Mizell, R.F. (2013). An evaluation of the nine-banded armadillo as predators of gopher tortoise and borthern bobwhite quail nests in Florida. American Midland Naturalist, 169(1), 74-85. https://doi-org.ezproxy.fhsu.edu/10.1674/0003-0031-169.1.74 While scientists are unsure of the precise level of damage caused by invasive armadillos, it is believed that they have become a major predator for various nesting species in the Florida and Georgia area.

The last step is very important. Give credit to the original author and her research by citing your source.

Original Text Main idea and details  Where you found it Paraphrase: 
The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), invasive to Florida and Georgia, is thought to be an important predator of nesting vertebrate species in some areas; yet little is known about how armadillos find these nests and how often depredations occur in areas with low nest densities. Armadillos are an invasive species. They prey on the nests of native species. Before this study, we didn’t know much beyond that. DeGroote, L.W., Ober, H.K. McDonough, C.M. & Mizell, R.F. (2013). An evaluation of the nine-banded armadillo as predators of gopher tortoise and borthern bobwhite quail nests in Florida. American Midland Naturalist, 169(1), 74-85. https://doi-org.ezproxy.fhsu.edu/10.1674/0003-0031-169.1.74 While scientists are unsure of the precise level of damage caused by invasive armadillos, it is believed that they have become a major predator for various nesting species in the Florida and Georgia area (Degroote, Ober, McDonough, & Mizell, 2013, p. 1).

How do I know if I've plagiarized something?

Most plagiarism happens by accident. This video can help you identify things you may not have known were considered plagiarism.

Where to find writing help: