USING QUOTES IN YOUR ESSAYS

Using quotes in your papers is very important. You must be able to find quotes that help you prove your point, introduce them, integrate them into your writing, correctly punctuate and cite them, and then connect and analyze them. We�ll take this process step by step:

Selecting Quotes:

Pick powerful quotes! Don�t pepper your papers with quotes because you know quotes have to be in there somewhere. Pick powerful, meaningful quotes that support your argument and interpretation. Be choosy about which quote you pick. This is where good annotation of the book comes in really handy! As you read and write about your reading, note the �powerful� quotes. They are usually pointers to important ideas.

Do not use quotes to prove that events happened. Don�t ever say: So I can prove that this character leaves, �I am leaving.� (author page x). Never use a quote that merely repeats your point or confirms that an event occurred. Use quotes as evidence to extend, support, or qualify your argument. Be fussy; be sure that the quote is the best one for the job. If the quote is right, you should be able to easily integrate into your paragraph and then analyze and apply it to your thesis and main points (contentions).

Introducing Quotes:

Prior to using a quote, set it up. Introduce a quote by describing when it was said, who said it or in what context or scene it was said. Let the reader know what to think about as s/he is reading the quote.

Do not precede a quote with �On page X, it says..� Go right to the analysis; i.e. Equality struggles with his desires, �Quote� (p#).

Integrating Quotes:

Try to make quotes a natural, seamless part of your paragraph. Rather than sticking them in, try to make them part of your sentences. This means that you may use parts of sentences or take bits and pieces of quotes. That is fine. Use only the parts that are meaningful; longer is not better when using a quote.

Since quotes need to be introduced, they do not make good topic sentences for body paragraphs. Since they need to be analyzed, they do not make good closing sentences in body paragraphs.

Quote Punctuation and Citation:

After you introduce a quote, you use a comma and then the quote itself. For example: Sandra proved herself to be evil, �I�m doing it for the devil�s work and I love it.� (Author 7) Please note that the citation in parentheses is after the final period.

Use Proper Citation Form: After the quote, put the author and page number in parentheses (Author #). In papers where you were only using quotes from one book, you can use the author�s name in the parentheses the first time and then just use the page number each time thereafter. The only time you use the title of the work is when you are citing more than one work by a single author or there is no author listed on the work.   No matter what you MUST cite all quotes!

There is no need to bold or italicize quotations. They should, however, be in quotation marks!

Connecting and Analyzing Quotes:

Following a quote, you should connect it to your main point (contention) and thesis. Explain it and analyze it. This does not mean that you simply paraphrase the quote in your own words. You must connect the quote to your ideas, thesis and claims. Restating is not analysis � it is just repetitious 

Don�t just list quotes. After you use the quote, explain and analyze it; A list of quotes is confusing. Help us to understand what each quote means. If you have many quotes to use, you may need more paragraphs or you may have to make choices.