Whenever you include a paraphrase, summary, or direct quotation of another writer in your paper, prepare your readers for it with an introduction called a signal phrase. A signal phrase names the author of the source and often provides some context for the source material.
When you write a signal phrase, choose a verb that is appropriate for the way you are supporting your argument. Are you providing background, explaining a concept, supporting a claim, lending authority, or refuting a belief?
Note that MLA style calls for present-tense verbs (argues) to introduce source material unless a date specifies the time of writing.
You can use signal phrases to
mark boundaries between your words and the words of a source
establish the authority of a source
introduce summaries and paraphrases
put direct quotations in context
integrate statistics and other facts
Using signal phrases in MLA papers
Exercise: Integrating sources in MLA papers 1
Exercise: Integrating sources in MLA papers 2
Exercise: Integrating sources in MLA papers 3
Exercise: Integrating sources in MLA papers 4
signal phrase A phrase that cues and introduces the use of source material, usually by naming the author of the material.