1. Signal Phrases
Introducing Quotes

2. What’s a signal phrase? A phrase that leads into a quote or paraphrase
Requires:
Speaker/author’s name and title of the piece
Indication as to why they are considered reliable
Power verb
*Possibly* Context of the quote/paraphrase
Example: Sarah Smith, New York Times columnist and author of “Using Signal Phrases,” explains, “The best way to introduce a quote is to use a signal phrase.”

3. Why do I need a signal phrase?
Shows your audience you are introducing an outside source
Prevents “drop quotes”
A sentence can never be just a quote
Proves you found your evidence from a reliable source
Ensures you no longer need parenthetical citations

4. A signal phrase is not An entire sentence The quote itself
Anything in parentheses

5. Requirements: Speaker/author’s name and title of the piece
Full name
Indicate any important title they hold:
Dr. Johnson
John Johnson, Ph. D
Senator Johnson
President Johnson
Title of the article, book etc.
“Articles are in quotation marks”
Long works like books or newspapers are in italics

6. REQUIREMENT: INDICATION AS TO WHY THEY ARE CONSIDERED RELIABLE
Any important job title
Dr. Robert Campbell…
What source they write for
Robert Campbell, author for the New York Times
Life experience
Robert Campbell, a lawyer with 20 years of experience…

7. Requirements: Power Verb
List

8. Example: Speaker/author’s name and title of the piece
Indication as to why they are considered reliable
Power verb
Sarah Smith, New York Times columnist and author of “Using Signal Phrases,” asserts that, “The best way to introduce a quote is to use a signal phrase.”

9. Possible requirement:
Necessary when explaining a quote from the middle of a story (the audience needs to know what action is going on in the story) OR
A statement made under specific circumstances

10. Example with context for a story:
Speaker/author’s name and title of the piece
Indication as to why they are considered reliable
Power verb
Context
In To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus gives his closing argument to the jury responsible for the verdict of Tom Robinson’s trial, and he pleads, “In the name of God, do your duty.”

11. Example with context for specific circumstances:
Speaker/author’s name and title of the piece
Indication as to why they are considered reliable
Power verb
Context
When speaking at the Convention for Gardeners, Charlie Beach, renowned butterfly expert, explains, “Gardens with milkweed and at least six colors of flowers will attract a plethora of species.”

12. Example
Speaker/author’s name and title of the piece
Indication as to why they are considered reliable
Power verb
Context
Kanye West, Grammy award- winning songwriter and rapper, shares his opinion about the results of the Video Music Awards by insisting, “Beyoncé has one of the best videos of all time!”

13. Outlines of Types of Signal Phrases
Author, author of “Title,” power verb, “Quote.”
“Title,” an article/book/etc by Author, power verb, “Quote.”
“Quote,” power verb author in “Title.”

14. Articles Articles may have interviews
If you are using a quote from something someone other than the author said, you must include the person who said the quote AND who the author of the article is

15. Stories
Quotes said by a character must give the character credit

16. Write your own!
Use info from one of your hero articles