Key strategist for critical thinking and paragraph building

1. Solo E
Paraphrasing, Quoting &
summarising the pillars
of critical thinking

2. “One of the most important things one can do in
life is to brutally question every single thing you
are taught” (Bryant McGill)

3. Building an Argument & acknowledging your sources
1. Quoting - (Ross, 2017, p. 1)
2. Paraphrasing - (Lant, 2017)
3. Summarise - (Binge, 2017)
The pillars of
critical thinking

4. Evidence 1 - quotes
Purpose - exact words of the author or source because it is really good in itself.
Style -
the same as the original within “quotation marks”.
You include any spelling or syntax errors which can be highlighted using [square brackets] or if you
wish to add to add flow to your message again you use [square brackets]
Citing - include an in-text citation with author, year, page.
(Potter, 2016, p. 23)
Common pitfalls - using a quote without explaining the significance to the point
you are trying to make.

5. Quoting
When you quote you present
information from outside sources.
When you quote, present the
original text in quotation marks (“
”). The words in quotation marks
must be exactly the same as the
original; you must not add,
change or omit any words.
However, look at points 1 to 3
next.
1. You can use this in the quote (...) to indicate that you
have taken out a chunk of information not relevant to
your discussion.
2. Use this [ ] when there are missing letters or verbs
or you wish to add a small connective to add flow to
your discussion. This is common when reporting
from verbal communications: interviews.
3. When do you quote?
a. When the original text is a powerful and well
delivered claim that leaves a strong impression
on the reader.

6. Sample quote: how many features can you identify from what we have seen about
quoting.
Many of the current journalists and reporters have expressed their frustration with politicians
and the use of the media to represent their political agenda rather than answering questions
posed by professional reporters during interviews on behalf of public opinion. This has led
many journalist to call for a boycott of interviewing political figures. This is exemplified by a
famous UK television reporter’s view: “We don’t do promotional interviews on Channel 4
News” (Guru-Murthy, 2017, p. 43). Another reporter from The Guardian Newspaper has
highlighted that the situation creates doubts, mistrust and disappointment towards the
professional media (Opel, 2017). The situation has been partly exacerbated by Donald
Trump’s accusation of “fake news”, which is “a type of yellow journalism that (...) deliberately
[seeks to] misinform” public opinion. According to an extensive article in The Washington
Post (2017), this is done through traditional modes such as newspapers, new[s] and social
media.

7. Evidence 2 - Summaries
Purpose - to briefly describe the idea(s) put forward by others, but in your own
words
Style - Reducing content by writing it in your own words with no additional
material/ideas added
Citing - include an in-text citation with author and year.
(Potter, 2016)
Common pitfalls -
Using a summary strategy without explaining the significance to the point you are trying to make.
Providing too much detail. The secret is to be selective.

8. Summarising
It is similar to paraphrasing as it
involves rewriting the original text
using different vocabulary and
structure. However a summary is
different in that it:
Only has the main idea from the
original text.
Is much shorter that the original text.
How to summarise - six step process
1. Read original passage. Make sure you understand it.
2. Identify key points. Normally supported by specific
details.
3. From the key points, identify and write down: shared
language and details from the original.
4. Using only the words and phrases resulted from the
above write your summary. Do not look at the
original. First draft.
5. Compare your summary with the original. Check:
a. Does the summary use different vocabulary?
b. Does the summary have a different sentences
structure?
c. Does the summary include only key points?
d. Does the summary avoid using more than three
words in a row from the original?
6. Revise your summary as necessary - final draft.

9. Read the text below

10. Compare these summaries of the original passage

11. Compare these summaries of the original passage

12. Evidence 3 - Paraphrasing
Purpose - to express the meaning of a relevant idea(s) from an author or source in
your words.
Style - To capture the original idea but restating in your own words
Citing - include an in-text citation with author and year.
(Potter, 2016)
Common pitfalls -
Paraphrasing without explaining the significance to the point you are trying to make.
Using too many of the original words that it is almost a quote
Too much detail
Not distinguishing which are your points and which are the author’s

13. Paraphrasing
Ideas written in your own words and
structure, but must have the same
details as the original, so
do not change any ideas in the
original
do not remove or add any ideas
shared language such as proper
nouns, common nouns difficult
to reword, technical terms and
numbers and dates are not
changed
It is more and less the same length
● Only 9% of the students who work part-time
earn sufficient income to support themselves.
● Due to the widespread availability of imported
food, even ordinary people’s diets are
becoming internationalized.
● Due to the shortage of space, on-campus
housing is not common in big city universities.
Most students commute from their home or
rent an apartment near the campus.
● Throughout most of the developed world,
universities have seen a steady increase in the
number of women enrolling in engineering
courses.

14. What evidence type are these
paragraphs using?

15. The extensive literature found about the history of Formula makes it almost
impossible to define the attraction and popularity of the sport. It has it own
world championship, with its own point system and drivers hold a valid and
super license. Event are held in rural and purposely build areas. The Monaco
Grand Prix is the exception and the most famous of them all (Hamilton, 2017).
This is the reason why I want to talk about this particular event.

16. There are a great deal of charities around the world, but to my heart “Médicines
Sans Frontières” provides the ultimate support and care in war zones and
conflict areas. According to their website, they provide “assistance to
populations (...) in distress, [to] victims of natural or man-made disasters and to
victims of armed conflict. They do so irrespective of race, religion, creed or
political convictions” (MSF, 2017). To me this mission encapsulates my own
aspirations in life for which I wish to produce a booklet promoting their work
as a final product for my SOLO E.

17. David Beckham is one the most famous figures in the football history. He is
regarded as one of the most gifted midfielders of the modern era (The Observer,
2015). Thanks to his skills, he has accumulated a fortune that it is estimated in
over 100 million pounds a year, making him one of the richest celebrity in the
world (The Financial Times, 2016).

18. Create your paragraphs with similar evidence and features. Use some of the reporting words to help
you.
Author says/ said that
states/ stated that
reports/reported that
argues/argued that
claims/ claimed that
StrategiesAccording to (author)
Reporting verbs argue, state, found,
claim, suggest,
conclude, note,
believe, point out,
show, indicate, assert
By using these words you
can integrate your
paraphrases, summaries
, quotations or synthesis
into your EE.