The Elements of Writing Proficiency
Synthesize source materials into your argument.
Select quotations that are relevant to your argument. Use the readings to provide evidence and support for your central idea, hypothesis, or thesis. Quotations are evidence from the readings that support and substantiate your thesis. Use only as much of an author's idea as you need to support your specific point, and if you can phrase the author's idea more economically by summarizing or paraphrasing than by quoting, do so. Use quotations to provide a key term or an important definition in support of particular aspects of your argument. Analyze all quotations to show how they support your ideas; remember if you do not analyze quote, then it may be interpreted by the reader in a way that is different from your intent.
If you have an excessively long quotation and you thoroughly analyze it, then you may be sidetracked into a digression. Every quote should focus the reader's attention on particular evidence that supports your thinking. Remember, you must analyze, frame and interpret the evidence to persuade your reader of the reasonableness of your central idea, hypothesis, or thesis.
Also, remember you must attribute ideas to the appropriate sources; if you are reading with (in agreement) or against (in disagreement) with an author, make sure you credit his or her idea, and why you agree or why you disagree with his or her point of view. While summary condenses, paraphrase accurately translates an author's ideas into your own words. Although paraphrase is helpful, remember to cite a paraphrase just as if it were a quotation because it is the author's idea even though you express it in your own words.
If you are summarizing or paraphrasing, you should use a signal phrase such as "according to Lewis Thomas," or "in Thomas's view," to name the author, and add the page number in parenthesis. For example, "In Thomas's view, doctors would be more effective if ..." (4). Or, you may include the author's name in the citation: "doctors would be more effective if ..." (Thomas 4).
Rules of thumb:
A) For every quotation you should have a minimum of two or three sentences that set up the context and lead into the quote. The quote should not be more than three or four sentences. And, you should have a minimum of two to three sentences that follow and analyze the quote in clear and specific ways.
B) Normally, you do not cite your personal experience as proof or evidence unless the question calls for you to do so. However, that does not mean you can not respond to the question with interest. Writers often respond to reading as if it was a conversation. In order for a conversation to develop, you must articulate your response in terms of your self-interest; if you are not interested, what usually happens to a conversation? However, self-interest does not mean that you simply assert your supported "opinion"; rather, it means that you care enough to support your position by developing reasons, weighing evidence, and carefully considering and evaluating what others are saying.