If a source makes an argument especially well, uses particularly elegant phrasing, or contains an expert's assessment that you want to address, you may decide to quote that source in your notes. You'll copy the sentence exactly and put quotation marks around it, then cite the author and page number where the quotation appears.

Other times, though, you may just want to capture the key ideas or arguments of a source without including its exact language. In this case, you will paraphrase the source, restating the source's point or argument in your own words. Once you have paraphrased an idea, you may want to agree with it, offer support for it, argue against it, or raise a criticism of it. Paraphrasing allows you to join the conversation by showing that you are fluent with the ideas others have expressed.