Quote 

  1. “The communication failure here is simple: you’re used to finding certain kinds of basic information in the places people usually put it. If it’s not there, you’re annoyed.”
  2. “Sadly, a poorly introduced quotation can lead readers to a similar exclamation: “It just came out of nowhere!” And though readers probably won’t experience the same level of grief and regret when surprised by a quotation as opposed to an armadillo, I submit that there’s a kinship between the experiences: both involve a normal, pleasant activity (driving; reading) stopped suddenly short by an unexpected barrier (a sudden armadillo; a sudden quotation).”
  3. “You may have guessed the biggest weakness in an essay like this: what’s annoying varies from person to person, with some readers happily skimming past awkward introductions to quotations without a blink, while others see a paragraph-opening quotation as something to complain about on Facebook.”
  4. “People are often unreasonably picky, and writers have to deal with that—which they do by trying to anticipate and preemptively fix whatever might annoy a broad range of readers.”

Response

  1. This quote is important because it applies to almost everyone who feels the same way about it. I have chosen it because of the truth that lies within the quote. I want my reader to know that information is scarce wherever it is, no matter where it is hiding.
  2. This quote is important because if the introduction to the quote won’t attract the reader they won’t bother reading the quote. I have chosen this quote because it was something I used to do myself. I want my reader to notice the word choice in this quote and how it connects with the point that Stedman is trying to make.
  3. This quote is important because it gives a sense of difference of how people view quotes. I have chosen it because I am like those people who skip the awkwardness of introductions to quotes and merrily read the text with no problems. I want my reader to notice the difference in these two type of people.
  4. This quote is important because it applies to everyone at best. I have chosen it because as a reader and writer I consider myself picky with words I choose and how I can apply it to my writing. I want my reader to know that they should read and understand words at their own pace no matter how picky the writer could be with their words.

 

What did you learn from reading this? Anything new? What questions or comments do you have on how to use sources?

What I learned from reading “Annoying Ways People Use Sources” by Kyle Stedman is the things I shouldn’t do when it comes to quotes. I liked how he took a literal thing like driving and compared it to sloppy writing. Stedman states, “I hate slow drivers.* When I’m driving in the fast lane, maintaining the speed limit exactly, and I find myself behind someone who thinks the fast lane is for people who drive ten miles per hour below the speed limit, I get an annoyed feeling in my chest like hot water filling a heavy bucket. I wave my arms around and yell, “What . . . ? But, hey . . . oh come on!”” I agree with this quote because if drivers are slow they will end up irking other drivers around them. Stedman also states, “But here’s the thing: writers can forget that their readers are sometimes just as annoyed at writing that fails to follow conventions as drivers are when stuck behind a car that fails to move over.” This is a good comparison in the slightest because the way a writer cites sources should be traditional like a car that should be driven within the speed limit. One comment I have on how to use sources is using sources that strictly go with your research or writing that way everything is pieced together and not all over the place.

Write a paragraph for your intended audience for unit 3 using one of your “quotables” from Unit 2 in that paragraph. Keep Stedman’s guidelines in mind while writing this paragraph. Be kind to your audience! Try not to lose them by the side of the road!

My research is about climate change and the effect it has in ruining the planet. This quote from the Climate Solutions article states, “Climate change is one of the most challenging problems that humanity has ever faced. At stake are hundreds of millions of lives, innumerable species and ecosystems, the health and viability of the economy, and the future habitability of this planet.” This quote goes to show that each small step can be made as everyone comes together. Referring back to Stedman’s guidelines, he talks about the annoying way people use sources and when people use them, writers often confuse the reader with how they have written things and I would like to say that when you are reading my piece I will try my best to keep everything concise that way I wouldn’t lose you by the side of the road.