The Synthesis Essay

Writing Focus: The Art of Quoting

Adapted from They Say/I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein

Why Quote?

Credibility: it says to readers “Look, I’m not just making this up.”

Where do writers go wrong?

Quoting too little: don’t want to bother going back to the text or think they can construct the argument from memory

Overquoting: lack confidence in own ability or don’t understand what they’ve quoted and can’t discuss it.

The Biggest Error

Writers sometimes assume that quotations speak for themselves.

It’s obvious to you, right? Nope.

How to Think of Quotations

Orphans: words that have been taken from their original context and need to be integrated into their new textual surroundings.How to do this: (1) by choosing quotations wisely, with an eye to how well they support part of your text, and (2) by surrounding every quotation with a frame explaining whose words they are, what the quotation means, and how the quotation relates to your own text.

Quote Relevant Passages

Think first: have a sense of what you want to do with the quote--how will it support your text?

Be willing to change quotes if your argument evolves

Frame Every Quotation

Don’t “hit and run” with your quotations!“Susan Bordo writes about women and dieting. ‘Fiji is just one example. Until television was introduced in 1995, the islands had no reported cases of eating disorders. In 1998, three years after programs from the United States and Britain began broadcasting there, 62 percent of the girls surveyed reported dieting.’

I think Border is right. Another point Bordo makes is that…”

The Quotation Sandwich

Meaningful introductory statement…QUOTE…explanation.Meaningful introductory statement: explain who is speaking and set up what the quotation says.Explanation: discuss why you consider the quotation important and what you take it to say.

Templates for Introducing Quotations

X states, “not all steroids should be banned from sports.”As the prominent philosopher X puts it, “_____.”According to X, “____.”X himself writes, “____.”In her book, _____, X maintains that “____.”In X’s view, “_____.”X agrees when she writes, “____.”X disagrees when he writes, “_____.”X complicates matters further when she writes, “____.”

Templates for Explaining Quotations

Basically, X is warning that the proposed solution will only make the problem worse.In other words, X believes _____In making this comment, X urges us to _______X is corroborating the age-old adage that _______X’s point is that _______The essence of X’s argument is that ______

A Note about Word Choice

When explaining quotations, use language that accurately reflected the spirit of the passage.

If your author is alarmed or outraged, it’s more accurate to say “X is alarmed that…” or “is disturbed by…” in place of “X states” or “asserts”

Can You Overanalyze a Quotation?

General rule: the most framing is needed for quotations that are hard for readers to process: long and complex, filled with details or jargon, or full of hidden complexities.

When in doubt, go for it.

What NOT to do

“Orwell asserts the idea that”

“A quote by Shakespeare says”

What’s wrong with these?