Description: Be able to integrate their ideas with others using summary, paraphrase, quotation, analysis, and synthesis of relevant sources.

In previous English classes, I had been briefly introduced to the different ways to quote a source, but most explanations were confusing or recommended mostly using full quotes with the occasional partial quote. To make matters worse, source integration was never explored in depth. We would talk about it for one class, maybe two, and then it would never be brought up again. Paraphrasing was seldom discussed, and on the odd occasion where it was, it was poorly explained and felt impossible to accomplish effectively. Not once do I recall being taught why I should vary my source integration, or what quote formats worked well in different scenarios. At best, I got examples of how to turn a quote into a paraphrase, and at worst I got to identify the quote format on the flashcards. None of this did anything to explain how to actually frame my quotes, or what kind of quote to use. However, once we began discussing source integration in class, I finally understood the point of varied quote structure and the methods for building a source into your argument instead of hiding your argument behind a source. This brings me to my first essay final draft, where I benefited from discussions in class about the quote sandwich. These in-class examples greatly improved my ability to frame quotes and incorporate them into my argument so that their words directly supported mine. Below is one example from the final draft of my first essay where I used source integration to weave the ideas in Konnikova’s essay directly into a retelling of my personal experience.

Quote from first essay about how sharing experiences through social media can’t replace sharing experiences in-person

In this example, I use a partial quote from Konnikova not just to show that her words relate to my argument somehow, but, more importantly, to show that they directly support my experience in regard to social media being inadequate to provide the same benefits as a face-to-face friendship. Prior to this class, I would have never thought to use sources as extensions of my own words like this, because it puts my perspective out in the open, rather than merely implying where I stand through how I describe the quotes I use. But now that I am more comfortable having what I say on display, I will be using this type of integration far more often.

Additionally, I likely would never have grown to appreciate the different uses of quote formats, specifically paraphrase. Since learning about paraphrase in this class, I found that I loved the flexibility that it offered for source integration. I could reference a topic that the author spoke about for four pages without having to pick a single line that encompassed the totality of what I wanted to convey. Instead, I could explain what they talked about in my own words and cite that. It was especially helpful when it came to formatting Barclay paragraphs, because it allowed me to put the two sources into conversation in a way which felt very fluid and easy to understand, rather than trying to pick an exact sentence or two from each source that don’t seem to have anything to do with each other and trying to link them. Below is an example from my second essay of a Barclay paragraph where I use paraphrase to compare DFW’s thoughts about empathy to Brian Doyle’s descriptions of empathy in practice.

Barclay paragraph from second essay comparing DFW’s alternative way of thinking to Doyle’s description of kindness that supports DFW’s view

Because DFW’s original depiction of the grocery store mindset spans several paragraphs, trying to pick out a full or even partial quote that adequately sums up the point would have been very difficult. By paraphrasing the main idea that his description of a frustrating grocery trip is meant to convey, I eliminated the need to search for an exact phrase that may or may not be as effective. I did this again for DFW’s argument for a more empathetic mindset and Doyle’s recounting of The Hawk’s experiences. Not only did paraphrasing help with presenting the arguments and experiences of the sources I was using, it also brought in a lot of my own voice. Rather than copying from the source word-for-word, I wrote out my own understanding of each argument, which had the added effect of bringing in my interpretation of their stance, allowing for more of myself in the overall essay. Before, I thought paraphrasing just meant copying a quote and rephrasing it, but now I understand it’s many uses and have grown to enjoy deploying it in my writing.

Word Count: 738