Is it better to use direct quotes or paraphrase when citing sources in a thesis?

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    Thesis Writing
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the best practices for citing sources in a thesis, specifically whether to use direct quotes or paraphrase. It addresses concerns about plagiarism, clarity in attribution, and the implications of each method in academic writing.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about the appropriateness of copying text verbatim and questions how to properly cite it.
  • Another participant advises that if quoting directly, it should be made clear that it is a verbatim quote, suggesting the use of block quotes for larger passages.
  • Several participants agree that clarity in distinguishing quoted material from original thought is essential to avoid plagiarism.
  • There is a suggestion that paraphrasing is acceptable, but it must be done carefully to ensure that the original meaning is preserved and properly cited.
  • One participant emphasizes that using direct quotes may be safer as it automatically delineates the source's ideas from the writer's own.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of clarity in citation and the risks of plagiarism, but there is no consensus on whether direct quoting or paraphrasing is the better approach, with differing opinions on the safety and effectiveness of each method.

Contextual Notes

Participants express concerns about the potential for misinterpretation when paraphrasing and the need for clear attribution, but do not resolve the nuances of when to choose one method over the other.

cks
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I'm in the final year of my undergraduate studies and now I'm writing my final year report.

In my thesis, there're certain things I need to mention and I find that I lack of words to describe the phenomena. However, I find there's a certain paragraph in a book that describe very well. I intend to copy the words about 80-90 words and put it in my thesis. I'll cite the origin of the words from this book. But, I'm not sure, in writing a thesis, is it a good idea to copy the words exactly from the book?

Let's say there're a few sentences that I copy, I need to put the citation after the last sentence? or in every sentence, I need to put the citation from the same book.
 
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You need to make it very clear that you are quoting the text verbatim. If it is a sizeable passage it's probably best to use a block quote (http://www.englishdiscourse.org/block.quotes.htm ) with the citation either at the end of the quote or in the text leading up to it.
 
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I agree with CrazyJimbo. If you quote text verbatim, you need to make it obvious that it's a direct quote.
 
I see. Thank you for your information.

So, if I don't want to make a direct quote, is it still ok to paraphrase the words and cite it afterward ?
 
You need to be clear enough about what comes from the book and what is your take on it that you can't be accused of plagiarism. If you are worried that your wording is still too close to the authors, maybe say something like:

To paraphrase T. Author (2009), this idea can be explained by...
 
cks said:
So, if I don't want to make a direct quote, is it still ok to paraphrase the words and cite it afterward ?

Yes, but you'll be much safer just using a direct quote. Apart from having to clearly delineate where your reference's ideas stop and yours begin (something that happens automatically with a direct quote), you have to make sure you don't misinterpret the reference, even in subtle ways.
 

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