Using quotations and paraphrasing, in your writing is a great way to make your statement stronger. They give you more credibility in your writing. Just make sure that you don't use to much as this will kill the tone in your writing.
It is extremely important to know how and when to use quotations in your writing, this can lead to a well balanced paper with that evidence you need to support your argument or statement.
When to use Quotations
We using a quotation to support an argument or statement. This gives you authority over whatever you are stating or arguing about in your paper. Make sure they come from a well known place or a highly creditable place.
Do not use a quotation if you are able to state it better in your own words. Paraphrasing or not using the quote at all would be a better option. Make sure to introduce your quotation, there are many different phrases you can use to do this.
Start by introducing the quotation, Tim says... remember that the verb must be in the present tense when introducing the quotation. When quoting directly you must have "quotation marks" around the quotation.
Example:
“Where I Lived, and What I Lived for,” Henry David Thoreau states a purpose: ”I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
The original source is stated, and the quotation is clear to the reader who is reading it. When stating a direct quote from a person, never state just their first name. Both names must be included.
When stating from a site which has no author, state the source just like you would state and article form a newspaper or a magazine. We always state things in the present tense as writing never dies and is considered always there. Meaning that each time you read something it is new. When you quote a historical fact this is the only time you would use the past tense.
A great idea, when quoting, is to summarise or explain the meaning. This gives the reader your understanding and well the reader wants to read your writing so don't just quote.
Never make your reader feel and look like this:
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A 1 to 3 ratio is a great way to keep yourself in check. 1 of course being the quotation (in line), 3 being your own writing(in lines). This does not mean that your paper is one third quotation, but rather for each line you quote you need to write three lines of writing to explain the quote or show its meaning in your writing.
Just on a little side note for self improvement. I will be doing pushups and situps for the amount of $$$ I earn on this post and will give a short feedback every day at the end of each post. This will be split in half pushups, half situps. As promised I will be doing 54 pushups and 54 situps. Any not done will carry onto the next day.