Look at the sample paragraph (below) which uses information from various cited sources.

  1. Identify the topic and main idea of the paragraph in the topic sentence.
  2. List the words in the paragraph which repeat these ideas (either repetition of the key words or synonyms of them).
  3. Underline the information from sources—both the quoted material and the information which is paraphrased by the student writer.Notice how much of the paragraph is written by the student: the topic sentence,the comment linking the information together, the concluding sentence.
  4. Circle the words in the paragraph which the writer added to connect the information together (transition words and pronoun reference).

Example paragraph (in ISO 690):

In the Middle Ages, the length of the toe on a person’s shoe was a sign of rank, which was more important than practicality. A commoner was allowed no more than six inches, a landlord could have points up to twelve inches, and only princes and kings could wear any length they wanted (Shoe history, n.d.). However, pointed shoes were forbidden to anyone who did not have an income at least 40 pounds per year (Shoehistory, n.d.). According to Northampton Borough Council (2009), the longest toes were worn by the King and his courtyard. To show their rank, therefore, those of high society wore shoes which became increasingly impractical. For example, Dorfman (n.d.) states that “Two of the oddest creations from this colourful epoch were the peaked shoe or Crackow and the Duckbill shoe in Elizabethan England.The former was made with a toe so long that walking was extremely difficult if not impossible.” These styles indicate that little attention was devoted to comfort during medieval times, since the sign of status was extravagance.
Last modified: Thursday, 4 November 2010, 5:21 PM