The Coventry University Guide to Referencing in Harvard Style: Using Sources

How to integrate directly quoted material

• The word 'quote' is short for 'quotation', which means giving the exact words used in a source within quotation marks.
• The Coventry University Guide to Referencing in Harvard Style allows you to use either single quotation marks (i.e. ' ') or double quotation marks (i.e. " ") to indicate that text is directly quoted. Make sure you are consistent in your choice.
• Quoting is one of the simplest ways of integrating research sources into writing.
• Direct quotes should be introduced and explained to show how they are relevant to the argument a writer is making.
• Direct quotes should only be used occasionally, and short quotes should be preferred to long ones.
• Within an academic paper, balance the use of quoting with paraphrasing, summarising and critiquing to demonstrate that you can integrate research into your argument in different ways and to show evidence of critical thinking.
• Every time you directly quote from a source you must include an in-text citation and a corresponding entry in the List of References.

Example short direct quotes (less than 40 words)

Components

• Place short quotes in either double or single quotation marks and be consistent throughout your document.
• Single quotations marks are preferred.
• Add an in-text citation appropriate to the type of source you are using.

Example long direct quotes (more than 40 words)

Components

• Indent quotations longer than 40 words and leave a space before and after the quoted passage.
• Add an in-text citation appropriate to the type of source you are using.
• Do not use quotation marks; the indentation and in-text citation at the beginning or end are sufficient to indicate that the passage is a quote.

Format the corresponding entry in the List of References following the appropriate guidelines for each type of source quoted.

The green tabs at the top of this page give examples of how to format different types of sources.

How to integrate paraphrased material

• To paraphrase a source means to put it into your own words in an accurate way, so be careful not to distort the meaning as you rephrase the words.
• To paraphrase a source, take your own notes first and rephrase these, then check you have captured the meaning.
• Paraphrasing is an effective method of integrating research into your writing because it shows you have understood the argument in the source.
• A paraphrase of a source is approximately the same length as the original passage.
• A reader may wish to find the information you have paraphrased to use it, or to check you have understood the source's argument fully.
• Every time you paraphrase a source you must include an in-text citation and a corresponding entry in the List of References.

Examples

Components

• A suitable citation for your type of source (in most cases, author’s surname and year)

If your source type is paginated (e.g. a book or article, but not a web page):

• Page number(s) because you are referring to a specific place in your source.

Format the corresponding entry in the List of References following the appropriate guidelines for each type of source paraphrased.

The green tabs at the top of this page give examples of how to format different types of sources.

How to integrate summarised material

• A summary of a source is much shorter than the original passage.
• It provides only information that is relevant for your own purpose.
• To summarise a source, select the key points and condense them within your own argument.
• Summarising is an effective means of integrating research into your writing because it shows first that you have fully understood the source, and secondly that you can make this information work for you.
• Every time you directly quote from a source you must include an in-text citation and a corresponding entry in the List of References. 

Examples

Summarising information from a particular part of a text

Components

• Author's surname.
• Year.
• Include page numbers if you are giving a detailed summary of a particular part of an argument, or summarising information from a specific page.

Summarising an overall argument

Components

• Author's surname.
• Year.
• You do not need to provide page numbers if you are summarising what an author has argued in an entire book or article.

Format the corresponding entry in the List of References following the appropriate guidelines for each type of source summarised.

The green tabs at the top of this page give examples of how to format different types of sources.

How to integrate critiqued material

• Critiquing is the most advanced way of integrating sources into your writing, and consists of producing a reasoned evaluation of an author's key argument(s)
• It can be focused on ideas from a single source or it may combine, compare, contrast, evaluate ideas from multiple sources.
• Critiquing can incorporate quotes, paraphrases and summaries.
• Unlike quoting, paraphrasing and summarising, which are limited to describing other authors' arguments, critiquing allows you to demonstrate your ability to make reasoned judgments on those arguments, and implicitly to integrate your own views in your writing.
• Every time you use material from a source you must include an in-text citation and a corresponding entry in the List of References.

There are no referencing guidelines specific to critiquing. 

Critiquing incorporates quotes, paraphrases and summaries and is cited accordingly.

Format the corresponding entry in the List of References following the appropriate guidelines for each type of source integrated.

The green tabs at the top of this page give examples of how to format different types of sources.