Using quotations strategically

You are expected to refer to other sources and authorities throughout your assignments in the Faculty of Law in order to give authority to your line of argument. There are a number of ways you can use quotations that will strategically showcase your research skills while adding an interesting variety to your writing style.

Direct quotations

A direct quotation is one in which you copy an author's words directly from the text and use that exact wording in your essay. Try not to use too many quotes: only use them when they are focused precisely on the point you want to make and are both brief and telling, or where the substance/wording of the quote is what you wish to address.

When using direct quotes, remember to:

• use single quote marks around any words that are not your own
• lead into the quote in your own words (don't let quotes stand alone)
• make sure that the grammar of the quote matches the grammar of your sentence
• use ellipses ... or square brackets [ ] to indicate any words that you have omitted or changed to suit your sentence
• for quotations longer than 3 lines, indent the quote as a single-space block and don't use quotation marks

Indirect quotations

An indirect quote is where you present an author's ideas in your own words. You still need to include a citation to the original source - even though you have rewritten the sentence, it is still someone else's idea.

You can use indirect quotes by paraphrasing or summarising. Unilearning encourages you to use indirect quotations more than direct quotations in your assignments, as this will indicate to your reader not only that you have clearly understood the information, but that you are capable of smoothly integrating it into your argument.

Good writers will use a blend of summaries, paraphrases and direct quotations into their texts.

Evaluating your source material