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Read the following quote:

“I love the movies, and when I go to see a movie that's been made from one of my books, I know that it isn't going to be exactly like my novel because a lot of other people have interpreted it. But I also know it has an idea that I'll like because that idea occurred to me, and I spent a year, or a year and a half of my life working on it.” Stephen King, novelist, screenwriter, and philanthropist

Should this quote be paraphrased or directly quoted and why?

User Laalto
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Final answer:

The choice between using a direct quotation or a paraphrase depends on whether the specific language or compelling nature of the original quote is fundamental to your purpose, or if the aim is to integrate the idea while maintaining your own writing style and voice. The given quote should be directly quoted because it contains specific language and ideas that the author wants to convey.

Step-by-step explanation:

Deciding whether to use a direct quotation or paraphrase depends on the specific situation and the intent behind using the quote. In the case of Stephen King's quote about watching movies made from his books, you have options. If the quote's spirited delivery or its emotive power is essential to your discussion, then a direct quotation is appropriate.

However, if only the idea is necessary, and you wish to maintain a consistent writing style or simplify complex language, a paraphrase would be more suitable. In academic writing, paraphrasing can allow you to incorporate multiple ideas while keeping your voice uniform and can also serve to clarify or condense the original statement. Remember, any borrowed ideas presented in paraphrase must still be properly attributed to the source.

The quote should be directly quoted because it contains specific language and ideas that the author wants to convey. By directly quoting the author, we can capture their exact words and the meaning behind them. In this case, Stephen King is discussing his perspective on movie adaptations of his books and the idea that while they may not be exactly like his novels, they still contain the core ideas that he worked on.

User Lopa
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