1.  What is your paragraph about, and/or what is it trying to prove?  Example: My paragraph is trying to prove that Ismene would prefer to stay alive and give up on her convictions than to die holding true to her convictions.

2.  Find a quote that is relevant to your argument.  Example: “the law is strong, we must give in to the law…I beg the Dead to forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield to those in authority”

3.  Place the quote strategically into your essay. › Not where the topic sentence should be › Not where the clincher sentence should be › Not the sentence before the clincher sentence

4.  Explain the context of the quote before you use it. › Example: Even though she seems to accept the spiritual laws that are being proposed by Antigone, she claims, “the law is strong, we must give in to the law…I beg the Dead to forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield to those in authority” (349).

5.  After you use the quote, explain HOW this quote helps support your argument. › Remember our argument is about Ismene willing to give up on her convictions. › Example: Even though she seems to accept the spiritual laws that are being proposed by Antigone, she claims, “the law is strong, we must give in to the law…I beg the Dead to forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield to those in authority” (349 ). Ismene recognizes what the god’s wishes are by asking for forgiveness from the dead, but she is unwilling to fight against the established institution of the state.