YouYou can QUOTE me on can QUOTE me on thatthat

A quote is the exact wording of a A quote is the exact wording of a statement from a source. statement from a source.

Quotes make an essay more Quotes make an essay more believable; they are believable; they are evidenceevidence that can that can support your thesis. support your thesis.

Opinions supported by quoted text are Opinions supported by quoted text are evidence of good reading and evidence of good reading and thoughtful responses.thoughtful responses.

There are several types of quotes.There are several types of quotes.

Direct QuotesDirect QuotesQuotes printed word for word exactly Quotes printed word for word exactly as the author wrote them are as the author wrote them are direct direct quotes.quotes. These words appear inside These words appear inside quotation marks. quotation marks. The quote The quote introduction introduction appears outside the appears outside the quotation marks. quotation marks. The attribution is The attribution is the phrase that tells who said itthe phrase that tells who said it - - where you got the information.where you got the information.

Examples of Direct QuotesExamples of Direct Quotes

• “ “I am thrilled to be representing the great I am thrilled to be representing the great State of Texas at the Free Spirit Conference,” State of Texas at the Free Spirit Conference,” Susan Trumpart, newspaper adviser said.Susan Trumpart, newspaper adviser said. “I “I owe it all to my talented students.”owe it all to my talented students.”

• “ “I’m just glad I didn’t have to spend any more I’m just glad I didn’t have to spend any more time with my adviser than I did,” time with my adviser than I did,” said Casey said Casey Deeya, who added that she enjoyed riding the Deeya, who added that she enjoyed riding the subways more than attending the conference.subways more than attending the conference.

Indirect QuotesIndirect QuotesInformation from a source which is not made Information from a source which is not made up of the author’s exact words is not placed up of the author’s exact words is not placed inside quotation marks. This is an indirect inside quotation marks. This is an indirect quote, which is a paraphrase or a summary of quote, which is a paraphrase or a summary of the meaning of the direct quotation.the meaning of the direct quotation.

Indirect quotes are used to:Indirect quotes are used to:

• Express a fact stated by the sourceExpress a fact stated by the source

• Clarify a quote that is too long, confusing Clarify a quote that is too long, confusing or dullor dull

• Condense the ideas of several direct Condense the ideas of several direct quotesquotes

Never change the Never change the meaning of a quote meaning of a quote

when you when you paraphrase!paraphrase!

(And you will still need to (And you will still need to cite your source.)cite your source.)

Partial QuotesPartial Quotes

Sometimes it might work better to Sometimes it might work better to use a portion of a quote to convey use a portion of a quote to convey the information than to use an entire the information than to use an entire quote. To do this, put only the quoted quote. To do this, put only the quoted words inside quotation marks.words inside quotation marks.

Use partial quotes when you need to Use partial quotes when you need to use a speaker’s exact words but the use a speaker’s exact words but the entire direct quote might be too long entire direct quote might be too long or too confusing for the reader.or too confusing for the reader.

Example of a Partial Example of a Partial QuoteQuoteIn his novel, In his novel, Styles at LCCStyles at LCC, author , author

Harry Skaulp states that spiked hair is aHarry Skaulp states that spiked hair is a “part of our cultural heritage, not “part of our cultural heritage, not merely a symbol of rebellion,”merely a symbol of rebellion,” adding adding that he thinks nose piercing should be that he thinks nose piercing should be mandatory.mandatory.

Punctuating Punctuating QuotationsQuotations• The author’s exact words go inside the The author’s exact words go inside the

quotation marks: quotation marks: “I am super, duper cool.”“I am super, duper cool.”

• The end punctuation (period, question The end punctuation (period, question mark, exclamation point) goes inside the last mark, exclamation point) goes inside the last quotation mark. quotation mark. “Give me the damn money!”“Give me the damn money!”

• When the introduction comes after a direct When the introduction comes after a direct quote, use a comma to separate the quote quote, use a comma to separate the quote from the attribution. from the attribution. “Here it is,”“Here it is,” replied Bob.replied Bob.

• If a question mark relates to the sentence If a question mark relates to the sentence and not the quote, place it at the end of the and not the quote, place it at the end of the sentence outside the quotation marks: sentence outside the quotation marks: What What kind of moron says, “I am super, duper cool”?kind of moron says, “I am super, duper cool”?

Punctuating QuotationsPunctuating Quotations

• Use single quotation marks to Use single quotation marks to indicate a quote inside a quote. indicate a quote inside a quote. “And “And so I told her, ‘Fix your own tire, Grandma!’”so I told her, ‘Fix your own tire, Grandma!’”

• Leave off the closing quotation Leave off the closing quotation marks at the end of a paragraph if marks at the end of a paragraph if the quote continues in the next the quote continues in the next paragraph.paragraph.

• If a quote is a complete sentence, If a quote is a complete sentence, begin it with a capital letter. If it’s begin it with a capital letter. If it’s not, don’t.not, don’t.

Punctuating QuotationsPunctuating Quotations

• Use quotation marks to indicate the Use quotation marks to indicate the title of a smaller work, such as an title of a smaller work, such as an article, essay, short story, song, poem, article, essay, short story, song, poem, or speech.or speech.In his essay, “Potatoes are Yummy,” Joe Smith argues that…In his essay, “Potatoes are Yummy,” Joe Smith argues that…

• Use italics (or underline) for larger Use italics (or underline) for larger works such as a book, magazine, works such as a book, magazine, album, play, film, or long poem.album, play, film, or long poem.In her novel, In her novel, Potatoes are YuckyPotatoes are Yucky, Ann Smith argues that…, Ann Smith argues that…

In her novel, In her novel, Potatoes are YuckyPotatoes are Yucky, Ann Smith argues that…, Ann Smith argues that…

Using QuotesUsing Quotes• If a direct quote is very long or boring, If a direct quote is very long or boring, use an indirect quote or a partial quote use an indirect quote or a partial quote instead.instead.

• To clarify or modify a phrase within a To clarify or modify a phrase within a quote, insert brackets. quote, insert brackets. “Slowly, [Bob] “Slowly, [Bob] reached for the meat cleaver.”reached for the meat cleaver.”

• Add the word “sic” (meaning thus) in Add the word “sic” (meaning thus) in italics within brackets after words that italics within brackets after words that are misspelled or used incorrectly in a are misspelled or used incorrectly in a direct quote from a printed source. This direct quote from a printed source. This indicates the quote is exactly like the indicates the quote is exactly like the original source. original source. ““MacbethMacbeth is a grate [ is a grate [sicsic] play.”] play.”

Integrating QuotationsIntegrating Quotations

Never just drop a quotation Never just drop a quotation into your paper. Always into your paper. Always introduce itintroduce it and and explain itexplain it with your own prose.with your own prose.

There are three main ways to There are three main ways to introduce quotations. These introduce quotations. These include:include:

1. 1. Incorporate the quotation into Incorporate the quotation into your sentenceyour sentence, punctuating it just , punctuating it just as you would if it was not a as you would if it was not a quotation.quotation.

As Bob is being beaten, he hopes heAs Bob is being beaten, he hopes he “will “will become unconscious but [he] can’t.”become unconscious but [he] can’t.”

Bob appraises Mrs. Harrison derisively, Bob appraises Mrs. Harrison derisively, stating thatstating that “she looked so complacent, “she looked so complacent, sitting there in her two-hundred dollar chair sitting there in her two-hundred dollar chair [. . . ] bought with dough her husband had [. . . ] bought with dough her husband had made overcharging poor hard-working made overcharging poor hard-working colored people for his incompetent services, colored people for his incompetent services, that I had a crazy impulse to needle her.”that I had a crazy impulse to needle her.”

2. 2. Introduce the quotation by Introduce the quotation by using an attributive tagusing an attributive tag like like he he writeswrites, , she claimsshe claims, and so on., and so on.

To describe his childlike consciousness, To describe his childlike consciousness, Wright explains,Wright explains, “Each event spoke with a “Each event spoke with a cryptic tongue. And the moments of living cryptic tongue. And the moments of living slowly revealed their coded meanings.” slowly revealed their coded meanings.”

After going to Memphis and boarding with After going to Memphis and boarding with Mrs. Moss, Wright wonders,Mrs. Moss, Wright wonders, “Was it wise “Was it wise to remain here with a seventeen-year-old to remain here with a seventeen-year-old girl eager for marriage and a mother girl eager for marriage and a mother equally anxious to have her marry me?”equally anxious to have her marry me?”

3. 3. Introduce the quotation by Introduce the quotation by writing a full sentence and a colonwriting a full sentence and a colon to introduce the quotation, which to introduce the quotation, which should itself be a full sentence.should itself be a full sentence.

Bob’s description of Madge emphasizes her Bob’s description of Madge emphasizes her fake appearance:fake appearance: “She was a peroxide blonde “She was a peroxide blonde with a large-featured, overly made-up face, and with a large-featured, overly made-up face, and she had a large, bright-painted, fleshy mouth.”she had a large, bright-painted, fleshy mouth.”

Richard Wright explains his reasons for writing:Richard Wright explains his reasons for writing: “I was striving for a level of expression that “I was striving for a level of expression that matched those of the novels I read.”matched those of the novels I read.”

Block a quotation if it is four lines or Block a quotation if it is four lines or longerlonger. Indent the quotation one half . Indent the quotation one half of an inch on both sides, and punctuate of an inch on both sides, and punctuate it like the following example. it like the following example. Wright describes how his mother’s illness Wright describes how his mother’s illness

affected him:affected him:

My mother’s suffering grew into a My mother’s suffering grew into a

symbol in my mind, gathering to itself symbol in my mind, gathering to itself

all the poverty, the ignorance, the all the poverty, the ignorance, the

helplessness; the painful, baffling, helplessness; the painful, baffling,

hunger-ridden days and hours; the hunger-ridden days and hours; the

restless moving, the futile seeking, the restless moving, the futile seeking, the uncertainty, the fear, the dread.uncertainty, the fear, the dread. (Wright (Wright

29) 29)

Quote ExplanationsYour explanation for the quote must be much longer than the quote itself. The longer your quote, the longer your explanation needs to be. Explain the quote in your own words and state the significance.

Why is this quote important? How does it show what you’re trying to prove in your thesis?

Example: IQE

Booker uses direct quotes from Mrs. Mobley as she reacts to her son’s battered body: “and cried out, ‘Darling you have not died in vain. Your life has been sacrificed for something’”(1). This quote from the Mrs. Mobley demonstrates her pain and suffering from the loss of her son and shows readers that Mrs. Mobley intended to take action. Booker uses these words from Till’s mother to prove to his audience that Emmet Till’s lynching caused change in society, the change for which his mother says he was sacrificed.

IQE Rules

Always connect back to your thesis. If the quote doesn’t help prove your thesis—don’t use it.

Introduce (who’s talking, what’s happening, why is it important)

Quote (only use the necessary words, someone’s argument/opinion,

evidence for thesis, use correct punctuation)

Explain (explain the argument in the quote, why is it important, connect to your thesis)

Handling Quotes in Your Handling Quotes in Your TextText

Author’s last name and Author’s last name and page number(s) of quote page number(s) of quote must appear in the textmust appear in the textRomantic poetry is characterized by Romantic poetry is characterized by thethe “spontaneous overflow of “spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings”powerful feelings” (Wordsworth 263).(Wordsworth 263).

Wordsworth stated that Romantic Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by apoetry was marked by a “spontaneous overflow of powerful “spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings”feelings” (263).(263).