You’ve decided to use a source to support your point, but should you use a direct quotation or paraphrase the idea. How do you decide?
The short answer: Choose direct quotations when the passage has PERSONALITY!
The long answer: Both direct quotations and paraphrasing are used to contribute to an idea in your writing. You build credibility as a writer by including them; however, paraphrasing should be used most of the time. In other words, use direct quotations sparingly and only if, (a) you want to retain the eloquence of the author’s words, (b) you need to show how the author’s specific word choice impacts the point, (c) you plan to develop and discuss the quotation fully.
Strive to keep the direct quotation as short as possible. (This may require the use of ellipses.) If it is longer than four lines, set it off as an indented block. (Indented blocks do not have quotation marks at the beginning and end.) Make sure to quote accurately and include every quoted passage in quotation marks. Some less sophisticated writers include direct quotations because they want to avoid having to think of how to express the idea using their own words. Laziness should not be the reason for choosing to include a direct quotation. Do the hard work for your reader. Patching together a bunch of direct quotations will make a paper choppy, hard to follow, and less integrated.
One way to integrate direct quotations and paraphrasing into your text is to use lead-in verbs (also know as verbs of attribution). The most common verb of attribution is states (or stated). For example, Yogi Berra stated, “If you don’t know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else!” Here’s a handy list of many common lead-in verbs to get you where you need to go.
List of attributive verbs:
accepts assumes contends explains notes retorts
accounts for believes contents expresses objects reveals
acknowledges categorizes criticizes finds observes sees
addresses challenges decides grants offers speculates
adds charges declares hypothesizes opposes states
admits cites declares illustrates points out suggests
advises claims defines implies proposes supports
affirms comments denies indicates questions supposes
agrees compares describes insinuates realizes thinks
alleges complains disagrees insists reasons uses
allows concedes discusses interprets refutes utilizes
analyzes concludes disputes introduces rejects verifies
answers concurs emphasizes lists remarks writes
argues confesses endorses maintains replies
asks confirms exclaims responds
asserts considers