Examples of signal phrases (Bedford Handbook 583)
In the words of researchers Redelmeier and Tibshirani (2007),"...."
As Matt Sundeen (2005) has noted, "...."
Patti Pena, mother of a child killed by a driver, points out that, "...."
"...." writes Christine Haughtney (2008).
"...." claims wireless spokesperson Annette Jacobs (2007).
| acknowledges adds admits agrees argues asserts believes claims comments compares confirms contends declares denies disputes emphasizes |
endorses grants illustrates implies insists notes observes points out reasons refutes rejects reports responds suggests thinks writes |
Use shortened version of title.
Format:
Signal phrase, "quote" (Shortened title, Year, p. page number).
Example:
One article states that, "A death row inmate may demand his execution for notoriety" (Right, 2005, p. 135).
Use author or title only.
Format:
Signal phrase, "quote" (Author, Year).
Signal phrase, "quote" (Shortened title, Year).
Example:
According to a study, "Twins reared apart report similar feelings" (Palfrey, 2005). or (Twins reared, 2005).
Quoting Sources
When you quote a source, you include the author's exact words in your text. Use "quotation marks" around the author's words. Include signal phrases and an in-text citation to show where the quote is from.
Paraphrasing & Summarizing Sources
When you paraphrase or summarize a source, you restate the source's ideas in your own words and sentence structure. Select what is relevant to your topic, and restate only that. Changing only a few words is not sufficient in paraphrasing/ summarizing. Instead, you need to completely rephrase the author's ideas in your own words. You do not need to use quotation marks.
Always use in-text citations when you paraphrase or summarize, to let the reader know that the information comes from another source. Continue to use signal phrases as well.
If the author's name is in your text, you do not need to repeat.
Format:
Signal phrase, Author (Year), "quote" (p. page number).
Example:
One researcher, Carol Gilligan (2005), concludes that "women impose a
distinctive construction on moral problems" (p. 105).
Last names only and add commas and "&" before final name.
Format:
Signal phrase, "quote" (Author, Author, & Author, Year, p. page number).
Example:
Our text discusses the "ethical dilemmas in public relations" (Wilcox, Ault, & Agee, 2005, p. 125).
Give only the first author followed by et. al.
Format:
Signal phrase, "quote" (Author, et. al., Year, p. page number).
Example:
Our text discusses the "ethical dilemmas in public relations" (Wilcox, et. al., 2007, p. 125).