© Worth Weller; M. Stadnycki

Your essays must be your own words with your own thoughts and your own voice. However, quoting sources in your essays:  adds authority to your essays by illustrating that you are presenting informed opinions  shows your reader exactly how you arrived at a particular thought of your own

Quote Sparingly  Keep quotes to one sentence in a short literary analysis (five or fewer paragraphs).  Longer quotes belong in research papers (we will cover quoting four or more lines later).  Remember that the reader has read the text.

Quote Just the Good Stuff  Memorable statements  Powerful lines  Ideas that further your argument

Quotes and Paragraphs: Your introduction generally will not have a quote in it; it will be entirely your own words. Your body paragraphs should use quotes to support your ideas. Your conclusion will usually not have a quote in it.

A couple of rules of thumb: Do not start a paragraph with a quote. Do not end a paragraph with a quote. Use only one or two fairly short quotes per paragraph in a short literary analysis.

A well-used quote is a lot like a sandwich:  On top you have a sentence that is your own thought and summary, setting the context for the quote that you intend to use to illustrate a point.  Then you have the integrated quote to back up your thought.  Then on the bottom you have a sentence or more of your own that explains the quote.

 Introduce  Set up the quote.  Integrate  Integrate the quote.  Interpret  Explain the significance of the quote in relation to your thesis. The Three “I’s”:

The Situation: KWPQ You want to use the following line from Chapter 27: –“Thus began out longest journey together” (Lee 340). However, you only want to use the noun and its modifiers— “longest journey together.”

Key word or phrase quotation A “key” word or phrase quotation is a method to include important details or terms from the text you’re quoting. We’re not talking about a sentence quotation. The quoted phrase should not be able to stand on its own.

End of Sentence In key word and phrase quotations, we do NOT need a comma before the quotation. Mrs. Basta skipped to English class “with much vigor and excitement” (Funk 34). Take away quotation marks – does it work as a sentence? NO

Use at end of sentence with author Notice! We do NOT need a comma before the quotation. When you use the author’s name in your quotation introduction, remove them from your citation: Ms. Brinker suggests to readers that students “revere Mr. Stadnycki as the Greeks did their gods” (34).

Middle of a sentence When using a quotation in the middle of a sentence, there are no commas needed on either side of the quotation. Basta writes that “kind, angelic” English classes drive Mr. Stadnycki to unbridled joy (84).

The significance of the pageant night is foreshadowed when Scout calls their experience that night their “longest journey together” (Lee 340). KWPQ Example

The Steps: KWPQ 1.Choose a dynamic/expressive word or phrase to quote (less than a full sentence in your source). 2.Blend the quoted words with your own words to create one complete sentence. 3.Place the quoted words at the beginning, middle, or end of the sentence. 4.Place quotation marks around the quoted words, and place the citation at the end of the sentence.

The Situation: FSQ You want to use the following line from Chapter 27: –“Thus began our longest journey together” (Lee 340). This time, you want to include the entire line.

Formal Sentence Quotations introductions are followed by a colon (:) –What does a colon do? The colon indicates that what follows it is an explanation or elaboration or what precedes it. –A colon never follows a verb, preposition, or a conjunction Formal Sentence Quotation

The significance of the pageant night is foreshadowed in the last line of Chapter 27: “Thus began out longest journey together” (Lee 340). Formal

Informal Sentence Quotations introductions are followed by a comma (,) –Introduced by a verb implying speech (said, exclaimed, discusses) –Still requires a full clause as introduction Informal

The significance of the pageant night is foreshadowed in the last line of Chapter 27 when Scout says, “Thus began out longest journey together” (Lee 340). Example

The Steps: FSQ 1.Choose a dynamic/expressive sentence to quote. 2.Write a full clause to introduce it. 3.Decide whether to use a formal (colon) or informal (comma) introduction. 4.Place the quoted words after the introduction clause and punctuation. 5.Place quotation marks around the quoted words and follow with a citation (closing punctuation on the outside).

What is an ellipsis? –Omits unnecessary content from your source material. Why do we use them? –Everything you quote should be discussed. Only when material is removed from the middle—not necessary in the beginning or end. Ellipsis

Brackets look like this [ ] and are used for three distinctly different purposes: –…to add a SHORT fact to clarify the meaning. (Remember that when a sentence is removed from its context, the pronouns in the quotation might be inadequate.) –…to change grammar (tense, word endings, etc.) for blending purposes (This technique is most often used in the key word/phrase quotation style) Brackets

Scout is constantly complaining about being left behind by Jem and Dill. Never is this more evident than when Jem and Dill are sneaking out to see Boo Radley and she says, “You never let me go anywhere” (Lee 80). She says this to Jem intending to get him to bring her along. Introduce, Integrate and Interpret:

 Introduce, Integrate, Interpret.  Keep your quotes short.  Just quote the good stuff.  Never quote plop.  Do not start/end paragraphs with quotes.

Using quotes from the book, complete the following: –Integrate a KWPQ into the middle of a sentence –Integrate a KWPQ at the end of a sentence –Formally introduce an FSQ –Informally introduce an FSQ All four must be punctuated perfectly for full credit (20 points). Unlimited resubmissions are permitted. Earn an A