After reading the article Annoying Ways People Use Sources by Kyle D. Stedman, I have admit I may know the rules of the road but often times I don't know the rules of writing. I relate to the idea of frustration when you know the rules but realize others don't and you often overlook the fact that there are many times when you fall in that same situation yourself.
The first important point of this article stresses that quotations need to be first be introduced. If they are not anchored the float around without any purpose or meaning which can make for a very confusing document. It is important to have in introduction to the quote, the quote and then follow up with an evaluation. This method of including quotations in a document creates the best rhetorical effect.
The second important point in this article is the idea that a paragraph more often than not should not start or end with a quotation. It makes the paragraph feel fragmented thus subtracting from the rhetorical goal.
The rest of the article explains in detail more annoyances of those who are more skilled and knowledgeable in citations. It draws attention to the importance of citing properly so that you have the best rhetorical effect. It is also important to correctly cite so that the information is easy to find and your reader is able to find the sources used for further information.
Reading this article has helped me to realize it is easy to overlook citation conventions and make careless mistakes that bother scholars in the field. It has also made me more aware of these mistakes when I am reading something myself. It is much easier to recognize the misuse of these conventions and the articles gave me many ideas for quick fixes to improve my own writing.
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