A research paper is a paper that makes an argument about a topic based on research and analysis.  Any time you use someone else's ideas in your paper, you will write two citations for it: an in-text citation and then a full citation at the end of your paper, usually on a separate page.  But how do you go about using other people's information in your research?  There are several ways, including:

• Quoting: Quoting is when you use the exact words of another person.
• Paraphrasing: Paraphrasing is when you restate a concept or passage from someone else using your own words.
• Summarizing: Summarizing is when you take a large portion of the material and condense it down to the main points using your own words.

You use quotes, paraphrases, and summaries to provide evidence of having researched your topic, which shows you have a thorough understanding of the topic you are discussing and shows support for your arguments.

Patchwriting is taking other people's ideas and changing only a few words using synonyms or changing the order or phrases without adding your own thoughts or ideas.  While it appears to be putting thoughts into your own words, it is too close to the original and as a result is often a form of unintended plagiarism.

Paraphrasing is when you restate a concept or passage from someone else using your own words. In addition to changing the words used, correct paraphrasing also changes the sentence structure. Unlike summaries, which are much condensed representations of the original work, paraphrases are typically similar in length to the original text. Paraphrases often include your own thoughts, interpretations, and understanding of the information being conveyed.

Remember, paraphrasing is not simply swapping out words or phrases with synonyms, or reordering the phrases within the sentence (this is considered "patchwriting" and is a form of plagiarism - see the section on Patchwriting below for more information)

Paraphrasing should be the most frequently utilized method of incorporating sources into your research since it shows a deeper understanding of the material and that you have developed your own thoughts on the topic.

Using Paraphrases...

• Shows that you've done research into your topic
• Shows understanding of the topic and source being cited, and adds value to the conversation surrounding the topic being discussed
• Provides supporting evidence for your arguments, adding credibility to your ideas and work
• Improves the flow of your paper by retaining your own tone and voice rather than that of your sources

Formatting Paraphrases

There is no special formatting for including paraphrases in your writing, except that you must still include an in-text citation, citing where you got the information being paraphrased. (Check the style guide assigned by your professor for information on formatting the in-text citation correctly.)

Example:
Haroldson suggests that science teachers incorporate graphic novels into their lessons because the pictorial format encourages student interest and therefore engagement in scientific concepts and supports literacy acquisition (37-38).

Just like with quotes, you would also include a full citation in the References or Works Cited page in addition to the in-text citation:

Haroldson, Rachelle. "Picture This! The Versatility of Graphic Novels in Science Class." The Science Teacher, vol. 89, no. 2, Nov.-Dec. 2021, pp. 37+. Gale In Context: Science, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A682564407/SCIC?u=ctstate&sid=bookmark-SCIC&xid=bd60e957. Accessed 12 July 2024.

(adapted from content on James Cook University Library "Writing Guide" licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International License and Academic Integrity, by Ulrike Kestler, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License)

Summarizing is when you take a large portion of the material (paragraphs, chapters, or the entire contents) and condense it down to the main points using your own words.  A summary is very short overview of the resource, or portion of the resource, focusing on the key concepts.

Using Summaries

• Summaries must be written entirely using your own words
• Summaries should be used when you need to quickly introduce background information or another person's ideas into your work to provide context or help set-up your analysis for your reader
• Try not to use summaries as "stand-alone evidence". You should always try to provide your own commentary, opinions, and/or analysis on the content of the summary.

Formatting Summaries

There is no special formatting for including summaries in your writing, except that you must still include an in-text citation, citing where you got the information provided in the summary. (Check the style guide assigned by your professor for information on formatting the in-text citation correctly.)

Example:
In her article, "Picture This!" Rachelle Haroldson discusses the benefits of using graphic novels in science classrooms and provides suggestions for teachers on how to incorporate them into their lessons (37-43).

As above, when summarizing you must include not only an in-text citation, but also a full citation in your References or Works Cited page:

Haroldson, Rachelle. "Picture This! The Versatility of Graphic Novels in Science Class." The Science Teacher, vol. 89, no. 2, Nov.-Dec. 2021, pp. 37+. Gale In Context: Science, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A682564407/SCIC?u=ctstate&sid=bookmark-SCIC&xid=bd60e957. Accessed 12 July 2024.

(adapted from content on James Cook University Library "Writing Guide" licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International License)

Patchwriting is when you only change a few words or the sentence structure without incorporating your own ideas or voice in an attempt to paraphrase. Patchwriting mimics the language and structure of the original source and therefore cannot be considered a true paraphrase, which also requires your own thoughts and understanding of the content be included. As such, patchwriting is often an unintentional form of plagiarism.

Patchwriting vs. Paraphrasing

(from Academic Integrity, by Ulrike Kestler, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License)

Patchwriting Example

Original Text

Graphic novels by their nature are intriguing. They are colorful, full of pictures, word bubbles, and funny sounds coming out of the characters’ mouths. Many recent publications are culturally diverse, offering traditionally underrepresented students the opportunity to see themselves in the texts and majority students the opportunity to connect with different characters and perspectives. (Haroldson 39)

Haroldson, Rachelle. "Picture This! The Versatility of Graphic Novels in Science Class." The Science Teacher, vol. 89, no. 2, Nov.-Dec. 2021, pp. 37+. Gale In Context: Science, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A682564407/SCIC?u=ctstate&sid=bookmark-SCIC&xid=bd60e957. Accessed 12 July 2024.

Patchwriting

Graphic novels are inherently captivating due to their vibrant visuals, use of illustrations, word bubbles, and sound effects. Many contemporary graphic novels embrace cultural diversity, providing traditionally marginalized students with a chance to identify with characters who resemble them, while also allowing students in majority groups to engage with diverse perspectives and characters (Haroldson 39).

This would be considered patchwriting because the text very closely resembles that of the original.  The organization and structure of the sentences remains mostly unchanged, and many of the words or phrases were simply reordered or swapped out for synonyms. 

Paraphrase

Graphic novels have a unique ability to capture student interest in scientific concepts due to their inherently entertaining method of conveying information through visual imagery. Moreover, these novels offer a valuable opportunity for students from traditionally underrepresented groups to identify with and relate to the characters and storylines presented within the narrative, making students more likely to engage with the material (Haroldson 39).

This is a correct paraphrase because the author restated the meaning of the original text using their own voice. Other than keywords that would be difficult to replace without changing the meaning of the text, like "traditionally underrepresented", the sentences and their structure have been significantly changed to reflect the author's own understanding.