Integrating Sources
Readers need to move from your own words to the words of a source without feeling a jolt.
Avoid dropping quotations into the text without warning. Instead, provide clear signal
phrases, usually including the author’s name, to prepare readers for a quotation.
Dropped quotation
California law prevents the killing of mountain lions except for specific lions that have been
proved to be a threat to humans or livestock. “Fish and Game is even blocked from keeping
mountain lions from killing the endangered desert bighorn sheep” (Perry 54).
Quotation with signal phrase
California law prevents the killing of mountain lions except for specific lions that have been
proved to be a threat to humans or livestock. Tony Perry points out that, ironically, “Fish and
Game is even blocked from keeping mountain lions from killing the endangered desert
bighorn sheep” (54).
Varying signal phrases
To avoid monotony, try to vary both the language and the placement of your signal phrases.
When your signal phrase includes a verb, choose one that is appropriate in the context. Is
your source arguing a point, making an observation, reporting a fact, drawing a conclusion,
refuting an argument, or stating a belief? By choosing an appropriate verb, you can make
your source’s stance clear.
Verbs in signal phrases
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
Using signal phrases to introduce summaries and paraphrases
Without the signal phrase in the following example, readers might think that only the last
sentence is being cited, when in fact the whole paragraph is based on the source.
For much of this century, the U.S. government has encouraged the extermination of
mountains lions and other wild animals. Sketching a brief history, Kevin Hansen reports that
in 1915 Congress appropriated funds to wipe out animals that were attacking cattle, and the
U.S. Biological survey hired hunters and trappers to accomplish the mission. Then, in 1931,
the government stepped up its efforts with the passage of the Animal Damage Control Act,
nicknamed “All Dead Critters” by its critics. Between 1937 and 1970, Hansen notes, over
seven thousand mountain lions were killed by Animal Damage Control (57).