Purdue Online Writing Lab is a frequently used spot for students to find out information on MLA (Modern Language Association) format. I have been using it for close to 20 years!
Here is an example of the information that can be found on the site:
What are the differences among quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing?
These three ways of incorporating other writers' work into your own
writing differ according to the closeness of your writing to the source
writing.
Quotations must be identical to the original, using a
narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word
for word and must be attributed to the original author.
Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source
material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to
the original source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the
original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and
condensing it slightly.
Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into
your own words, including only the main point(s). Once again, it is
necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source.
Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad
overview of the source material.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/563/01/
Check it out!
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