Use signal phrases to introduce paraphrases

[ Paraphrasing Sources ]

Use signal phrases to introduce paraphrases

Different disciplines have varying guidelines, but it is always a good idea to alert readers clearly to

the source of the paraphrase and give introductory words that provide context.

For an overview of related key topics on paraphrasing sources, visit the videos and quizzes in this tutorial.

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When you write with sources, you need to clearly and smoothly integrate paraphrases into your writing using signal phrases. Signal phrases are introductory words and phrases you use to give the author's name or other identifying information about your source, along with some other contextual information. Following are some examples from scholarly journals in several disciplines that make effective use of paraphrasing. Highlighted in yellow are the signal phrases used to introduce paraphrased information.

As Rosenau (1961) makes clear in his classic Public Opinion and Foreign Policy, these are the opinionmakers who put their thoughts to paper for the purpose of stimulating debate and moving foreign policy in a particular direction.

--Jerel A. Rosati, Michael W. Link, and John Creed

Today's young people are more aware of the health risks of smoking than any other previous generation, yet 6.4 million of them are expected to die from smoking-related diseases, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

--Rachel Holland

Data collected in the 1990s in Minnesota (Knapp, Rosheim, Meister, & Kottke, 1993) and Kentucky (Hahn, Warnick, & Plemmons, 1999) revealed that few treatment organizations assessed clients for their tobacco use or offered smoking cessation services. A national study of opioid treatment programs showed that while a strong majority of programs asked about tobacco use and advised smokers to quit, few programs offered both counseling and pharmacotherapy (Richter, Choi, McCool, Harris, & Ahluwalia, 2004).

--Hannah K. Knudsen

CREDIT: Rosati, Jerel A., et al. "A New Perspective on the Foreign Policy Views of American Opinion Leaders in the Cold War and Post-Cold War Eras." Political Research Quarterly, vol. 51, no. 2, June 1998. Questia, library/journal/1P3-30234427/a-new-perspective-on-the-foreign-policy-views-of-american. CREDIT: Holland, Rachel. "Trashing the Ash." Dance Teacher, vol. 34, no. 1, Jan. 2012. Questia, article/ 1P3-2554695831/trashing-the-ash. CREDIT: Knudsen, Hannah K. "Smoking Cessation Services in Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment: Opportunities Missed?" Journal of Drug Issues, vol. 39, no. 2, Spring 2009. Questia, article/1P3-1826120711/smoking-cessation-services-in-adolescent-substance.

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1 Use signal phrases to introduce paraphrases |

[ Paraphrasing Sources ]

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The signal phrases you use should help you smoothly integrate the thoughts and ideas of your sources into your work. Take care to set off with signal phrases the material you paraphrase from your sources to help readers know where your cited material appears. Your signal phrase and citation helps readers see the context for your use of a source.

The signal verbs you choose establish your credibility with readers, and they give readers a sense of how you plan to use a source and what you expect them to take from that source. These verbs can be used to suggest that a paraphrase is supporting or arguing a point, challenging another authority, or offering an illustration. Choose the appropriate signal verb carefully and be sure you represent the source accurately.

According to historian Robert Smale . . . Mead writes . . . Socarides argues . . .

Frere-Jones indicates . . . As Toobin points out . . . The American Cancer Society reports . . .

Some Common Signal Verbs acknowledges agrees argues asks believes claims compares concludes declares

describes disagrees discusses emphasizes explains illustrates notes observes remarks

reports refutes responds reveals shows suggests thinks writes warns

Note that MLA style recommends use of the present tense (White concludes), while APA style requires use of past tense for signal verbs (White concluded). The verbs you choose in a Chicago-style paper can be either present or past tense, depending on context; signal verbs should be in the same tense as those in the rest of your discussion. Check the requirements of your discipline.

? 2016 Cengage Learning

2 Use signal phrases to introduce paraphrases |

[ Paraphrasing Sources ]

Use It

Try your hand at using a variety of signal phrases. Remember that the verbs in signal phrases can convey important shades of meaning. Look, for example, at the following sentences that both present information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on obesity among children:

According to the CDC, the obesity epidemic among children is connected to an increase in early onset diabetes. The CDC warns that the obesity epidemic among children is leading to an increase in early onset diabetes.

The first example uses a signal phrase, according to the CDC, that simply helps identify the source for a statement. But the second example uses the signal verb warns to indicate that the CDC is making a strong point--one that perhaps the writer of the sentence supports. Rewrite the following paraphrases, replacing the signal phrase according to with more appropriate, imaginative signal verbs.

According to Blumer, we conceive of a mass as a large, heterogeneous collection of individuals who act autonomously and are, for the most part, anonymous.

According to an industry trade organization, in 1999 over $4 billion was spent on Internet advertising.

According to Drezner, while the Internet may allow social movements to influence government actions, governments have become savvier in their regulation of information technology.

According to the introduction of Castells' book The Internet Galaxy, the Internet's contribution to society is as wide and broad in influence as the printing press (3).

? 2016 Cengage Learning

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