Question

Read the following quote:

As prehistorians we are all virtual time travelers. Virtual not in the joy stick-roller ball-3-D-headset-cyberspace sense, but in the space between our own ears sense... that natural, folded, gray-matter space that helps to define us as a species and wherein resides our own inner net. – Steven Watts, director of the Aboriginal Studies Program at the Schiele Museum.

You are writing an article to encourage students to enroll in anthropology classes at your college. Should this quote be paraphrased or directly quoted, and why?


It should be paraphrased so students don’t think the author is teaching the class.


It should be directly quoted because the language is too complicated to paraphrase accurately.


It should be directly quoted because the author knows more about the subject than you do.


It should be paraphrased because the author’s job at a small regional museum makes him a weak source.

Answer 1

Paraphrasing the quote by Steven Watts would likely be more effective for engaging students and encouraging them to enroll in anthropology classes. It maintains the writer's own voice and makes the content more accessible, while ensuring that the essence of the original message is conveyed to the target audience.

Step-by-step explanation:

When deciding whether to directly quote or paraphrase in your article encouraging students to enroll in anthropology classes, there are several factors to consider. Direct quotations are used when someone else's words are distinct and you wish to capture their exact language. They can be especially effective for establishing ethos and providing evidence. However, in the quote provided by Steven Watts, a paraphrase might be more beneficial.

Paraphrasing can help maintain your own voice in the writing and ensure consistency in style and language, which is particularly important when encouraging and engaging students. It's also useful to paraphrase if the original language is long or contains jargon, making it more accessible to a wider audience. By paraphrasing, you can explain the author's ideas in a way that resonates more strongly with potential students, without necessarily attributing him authority over the subject by virtue of his position.

In summary, paraphrasing the quote by Watts would likely be more appropriate for the purpose of the article. It allows you to convey the essence of what he's expressing—how prehistorians use imagination to traverse time—in language that aligns with your writing and appeals to your target audience, the students. Remember, always cite the source appropriately, even when paraphrasing.