Com_220

Amanda Harris June 11, 2010 COMM 220 Assignment for Sunday. Quoting, Summarizing, and Paraphrasing Sources Noteworthy information must have one of several criteria to be worth including in a research report. Being published, even in a credible, relevant source is far from enough to ensure the material is valuable for a specific purpose. Critical analysis is required to sort out the noteworthy from the irrelevant or unhelpful information. It is important to confirm the information is recent or still relevant, particularly with scientific topics, as well as being corroborated by other reputable sources. In addition, noteworthy information will provide a new vantage point on an important issue, and fit into a narrowly focused research question which is the subject of the essay. In summary, noteworthy information will be credible, supported by other information sources, recent, relevant to the specific assignment, and provide some type of new view on the issue. In order it is important to place it in proper context and form through the use of quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing. The use of quotations is advised only sparingly, when an individual makes a point so eloquently worded, or so difficult to paraphrase, that to do so would drastically weaken the point. In contrast, a paraphrase may be used somewhat more freely, when properly cited, to build upon the work of several experts leading to the writer's new conclusion, which may be a synthesis of these sources, combined with the writer's own insights. Finally, a summary is best the annotated bibliography, where a combination critique and summary is required, and also to bridge the gaps in understanding a reader might encounter when not familiar with an important source required to understand the scope of the research paper.