1. WRITING AND INCORPORATING QUOTES EFFECTIVELY Mini-Lesson

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

3. Most of your essay is in your own words, but you use quotes to: Back up your own thinking Illustrate your own thinking Prove that you are correct Or reveal that an opposing point of view is completely idiotic!

4. LET’S BACK UP A BIT:

5. Rule One: Quote Sparingly Keep quotes to one sentence or less. If you have something that is longer, break it up with signal phrases and author tags, so the reader knows why you are quoting it. “Xxx xxx xxxx,” the author wrote, offering justification for his actions. “Xxx xxx xxxx,” he added.

6. Rule 2: Directly Quote-Just the Good Stuff memorable statements especially clear explanations stated by authorities controversial arguments in the speaker’s/writer’s own words Only directly quote what is so beautifully well-stated that changing it would alter it’s meaning or be tragic!

7. You can actually follow a very simple pattern: The introduction of your paper generally will not have a quote in it; it will be entirely your own words. After that, you will start every paragraph with your own words. Never begin a paragraph with a quote! Do not end a paragraph with a quote. Use only one or two fairly short quotes per paragraph.

8. For example: Midway into his famous “I Have a Dream” speech before 100,000 rapt listeners on a scorching hot day on the Washington Mall, King answered critics, who asked why he was not satisfied with the civil rights gains at the time, by detailing a litany of unjust public behavior towards Negroes, ranging from police brutality to disenfranchisement at the voting both. In his preacher’s voice, King sang out, “We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream,” (304). It was this stunning metaphor of running water and others like it that catapulted King into national respect and prominence.

9. How To Integrate Quotes  When you are using brief quotations, you must integrate them—  work them smoothly into your sentences  show their relevance to your ideas.

10. A well-integrated quote is a lot like a sandwich:  On top you have a sentence that is your own thought and summary, introducing or setting the context for the quote that you intend to use to illustrate a point. Then, in the middle, you have the quote (with author tag/signal phrase) to back up your thought. Then on the bottom you have a sentence of your own that reflects back on the quote and explains how it helps to support your argument.

11. How do you use quotes an essay? Think of the parts of the sandwich! Bread on top Introduce quote Good stuff Quote in the middle Bread on Commentary on bottom quote

12. Chose a meaningful quote and introduce it by using a signal phrase  According to Dr. Torres, “____________________” (50).  Dr. Torres states, “__________________________” (35).  Dr. Torres complicates matters further when he writes that “__________” (56).  The author demonstrates this concept “________” (4). Notice that the page number goes in parentheses after the quotation marks and followed by punctuation. A signal phrase is group of words that signals that a quote will be introduced Adapted from: Graff, Gerald And Cathy Birkenstein. They Say, I Say. New York: Norton and Company. 2006. Print.

13. Signal Phrases Choose different signal phrases to add variety

14. NOT Integrated  Brinker becomes disillusioned with the war, and Ralph becomes disillusioned with the glory of being chief. “ He found himself understanding the wearisomness of this life, where every path was an improvisation and a considerable part of one’s walking life was spent watching one’s feet” (76).  This quote is just dropped into the paragraph. There is no signal phrase before it.

15. Integrated  In the same way that Brinker becomes disillusioned with the war, Ralph begins to feel a sense of disillusionment toward the glory of being chief. Golding’s narrator begins to allude to Ralph’s waning enjoyment of being the leader on the island when he states, “ he found himself understanding the wearisomness of this life, where every path was an improvisation and a considerable part of one’s walking life was spent watching one’s feet ” (76).

16. Methods for Inserting Brief Quotations into Sentences.  Final Position (quote ends the sentence)  For several reasons, “ all of them, all except Phineas, constructed at infinite cost to themselves these Maginot Lines against an enemy they thought they saw across the frontier ”.  Beginning Position (quote begins the sentence)  “ Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy, ” declares Golding’s narrator at the end of his novel.

17. Methods for Inserting Brief Quotations  Middle Position (short quote placed in the middle of sentence)  In the same way William Golding’s novel has been considered a “ body of work that speaks to the tragedy of the human condition ” (Allen 84), John Knowles’ A Separate Peace can be considered a work of literature that shines a light into the dark recesses of the human heart.

18. Interrupted (quote is split by signal phrase)  “As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods,” proclaims King Lear, “– They kill us for their sport." This proclamation by an old king who has just realized that everything he once held dear-- territory and power– has been stripped from him by his own flesh and blood– daughters Regan and Goneril– is said to have inspired the title of William Golding’s Nobel Prize winning novel, Lord of the Flies.

19. Citing sources within the text--- If the author is introduced at the beginning of the sentence:  According to researcher, Carl Smithton, “95% of all cats prefer love seats instead of bean bag chairs” (95). If not:  Research has shown that, “95% of all cats prefer love seats instead of bean bag chairs” (Smithton 95).  Notice where author’s name, page numbers and punctuation are placed in each example.

20. Punctuation is IMPORTANT  To avoid confusing your readers, punctuate quotations correctly, and work them smoothly into your writing.  Punctuation shows your readers: which words are yours which words you have quoted

21. Direct/Indirect Quotations  Direct quotations involve incorporating another person's exact words into your own writing. You will use “quotation marks” to indicate someone else’s exact words.  Indirect quotations are not exact wordings but rather paraphrases or summaries of another person's words. In this case, it is not necessary to use quotation marks. However, indirect quotations still require proper citations, and you will be committing plagiarism if you fail to do so.

22. Direct/Indirect Quotations  Use direct quotations when the source material uses language that is particularly striking or notable. Do not rob such language of its power by altering it.  Use an indirect quotation (or paraphrase) when you merely need to summarize key incidents or details of the text.  Use direct quotations when the author you are quoting has coined a term unique to her or his research and relevant within your own paper.

23. Punctuating Brief Quotations  Quoting a Sentence or Sentences:  Gene begins to reveal his internal war with Finny when he says, “ What was I doing up here anyway? Why did I let Finny talk me into stupid things like this? ” (5). Notice how my words (Gene begins to reveal his internal war with Finny when he says) lead into the quote I have chosen to use.

24. Punctuating Brief Quotations  Quoting a Fragment:  Jack is not able to kill the piglet during their first attempt at hunting for food “ because of the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into the living flesh; because of the unbearable blood ” (31). Again, notice how my words lead into the quote.

25. Quoting a Quotation  Ron said, “ Dad yelled, ‘ No way !’”  Golding writes, “ Jack seized the conch. ‘ Ralph’s right of course. There isn’t a snake- thing. But if there was a snake we’d hunt it and kill it.’” (36).  Just like Leper in A Separate Peace, my brother Shaun said, “‘ You always were a savage underneath.’”

26. Quotations with Brief Insertions  (Using Brackets)  It is evident that Finny believes in the war before his fall from the tree because he tells Gene, “ I’m wearing this [ his pink shirt ] as an emblem. We haven’t got a flag, we can’t float Old Glory proudly out the window. So I’m going to wear this, as an emblem ” (11).  Use brackets when you are inserting your own words into a quote in order to make the meaning of the quote more clear.

27. Structure for Paragraph  The first sentence should introduce the main idea or argument you will focus on in the paragraph (topic sentence).  The next few sentences should provide some general information and/or your ideas leading up to the quote.  Right before the quote, use a signal phrase: The author explains, shows, states, argues, illustrates…  Chose and insert (integrate) a meaningful quote.  After the quote, provide a few sentences of commentary. This is where you explain what is significant about this quote or how this quote supports your own argument.

28.  Ray Bradbury uses repetition to reinforce main ideas in his writing. For example, in the short story “All Summer in a Day,” Bradbury attempts to make the reader understand the magnitude of seven years worth of rain by writing that the children “glanced out at the world that was raining now and raining and raining steadily” (56). This shows that while Bradbury knows his audience is familiar with rain, the concept of seven years of constant rain is so unimaginable that it must be repeated. It also emphasizes the continuous and monotonous nature of long and steady rainfalls.