Quotations

Writing Quotation, Summary, and Paraphrase

Imagine that you are writing an essay on the decline of an ancient civilization. Your thesis is that the civilization was wiped out by the effects of migraine headaches. In order to proceed with your argument, you first need to define what a migr aine actually is. In addition, you need to describe the effects of a migraine.

1) You discover a paragraph by Isadora Rosenfeld, M.D. that explains this phenomenon extremely clearly and effectively. You decide to use Dr. Rosenfeld's information in your paper, but before using it, you must first summarize her paragraph in one sen tence in order to understand it precisely.

Read Dr. Rosenfeld's paragraph below and write a one sentence summary.

Dr. Rosenfeld's Original Paragraph

The term "migraine," from a Greek root meaning "half a head," was applied to these headaches because the intense, throbbing pain is often one-sided, focused around one eye and the forehead. The "common" type, which affects 90 percent of sufferers, strikes without warning and can last for days. The "classic" variety is preceded by a 15 to 20 minute "aura" stage with a constellation of symptoms. The most common of these are visual--sparkles or stars before the eyes, lightning -like flashes, blurs or distortions. Sometimes individuals perceive odors that are not there at all. Occasionally there may be numbness and tingling in the face or weakness in an arms. Or there may be a change in mood--depression, irritability, a loss of appetite. These symptoms are followed by pain, nausea, and vomiting of the "sick headache," which usually lasts for four to twelve hours (Rosenfeld 39).

2) After summarizing, paraphrase Dr. Rosenfeld's paragraph--that is, you should restate Rosenfeld's ideas in your own words, following her line of reasoning closely. Keep her emphasis and order of presentation. Write your paraphrase now.

3) Once you have completed the paraphrase, draft a paragraph for your own essay on the decline of the ancient civilization. Be creative--pick a civilization from history, or make one up and add details of your choice. In your paragraph, includ e at least two paraphrased portions of Dr. Rosenfeld's paragraph and one direct quotation. Remember to use verbs like the author states, concludes, considers, finds, insists, maintains, warns, report s, says, thinks, or sees to build a bridge from your own writing to the paraphrased or quoted material. Be sure to put quotation marks and the author's name and page number with all quoted material.