Whenever writing, it is vital that your own ideas are integrated with those of others. Combining your own thoughts with those of others strengthens your argument as the reader of the paper can understand why you are taking the specific stance that you are by being able to compare it to the points of view on the argument from different people. This can be done through a variety of means, including summary, paraphrase, quotation, analysis, and synthesis of relevant sources. Whenever I choose a quote, I make sure that it not only helps explain my point of view, but I elaborate on how it does and how it builds a deeper meaning, making my argument more concrete. I integrate it within my essay which demonstrates how the ideas of another author correlate with mine.
This can be seen in my second essay, which is my significant writing project. I discuss how my identity is constantly changing and how different aspects of my life hold varying amounts of importance as I enter another stage. To further explain this point, I include a quote from Julie Beck’s essay, “Life Stories”, in which she says, “People aren’t writing their life stories from birth though. The ability to create a life narrative takes a little while to come online-the development process gives priority to things like walking, talking, and object permanence.” I elaborate on this point by discussing how life stories are constantly being re-written by what we experience during each stage of our life. To further solidify my point, I include examples of what I currently find important, such as finding research opportunities or a job, staying in shape for soccer, building relationships with those around me, and excelling in school. I also explain that when I was younger, I did not find these to be of any importance to me, rather I was focused on playing around and not making critical decisions that would impact my future. By combining my thoughts with those of Beck I was able to go further in-depth in my argument, enabling the readers of my essay to understand why I believe identity is constantly shifting. Being unable to integrate the ideas of others with your own makes your argument seem empty as it is not supported by outside evidence and readers cannot understand why you are making the specific claims that you include within your writing.
