The effects on readers of direct quotations versus paraphrases, and reader comprehension of material from direct quotations versus paraphrases were examined in this experiment. Four reasonably short and clear stories--two speech stories and two interview stories--were selected from metropolitan daily newspapers. Two versions of each story were set into type and printed: one with all statements attributed to the speaker by means of direct quotes, and one with all statements attributed to the speaker by means of paraphrases. Results of this experiment on the use of direct quotations versus paraphrases indicated that: (1) quotation marks did not significantly influence how 126 college students evaluated the stories; (2) the use of direct quotes did result in more dramatic and more emotional perceptions of the persons in the stories; and (3) no consistent significant difference was found concerning reader comprehension and retention of material given in direct quotes versus the same material given in paraphrases. (RB)