Integrating Sources in Academic English: Quote, Paraphrase, Synthesise, and Cite

Using a source well is not the same as inserting source material accurately. Academic integration requires a reason for the source, a clear boundary between voices, and an explanation of what the evidence contributes.

Choose the mode by purpose

Quote when exact wording is evidence. Paraphrase when the idea matters more than the wording. Synthesise when several sources need to be compared or put into tension.

For sentence-level paraphrase, review summary and paraphrase. When several sources interact, use the more demanding C1 synthesis writing.

Citation conventions vary by institution and discipline, but the linguistic principle is stable: readers must be able to tell which idea belongs to whom. In a literature review, source integration is the architecture of the section.