Introducing Quotations

She said, “Wait, what?”

Introducing quotations

• When you include quotations, make sure that they are inserted so the paper still reads smoothly and flows. Avoid making halting sentences. All of another author’s ideas and words should start or end using a signal phrase that names the author or otherwise alerts the reader that the information is from a source.

You cannot just plunk a direct quotation into your essay OR make the

quotation too long. Bradford was a brilliant writer who wrote in the plain style about the Puritans’ hard work ethic. “In the most time of most distress, there was but six or seven persons who to their great commendations, be it spoken, spared no pains night nor day. but with abundance of toil and hazard of their own health, fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed them meat, made their beds, washed their loathsome clothes, clothe and unclothed them. In a word, did all homely and necessary offices for them which dainty and queasy stomachs cannot endure to hear named; and all this willingly and cheerfully, without any grudging in the least, showing herein their true love unto their friends and brethren; a rare example and worthy to be remembered. ”

Instead, introduce it using one of the following followed by a comma:

• According to Bradford, • Bradford writes, • Bradford explains how • As Bradford notes, • In the Mayflower Compact, Bradford states,

Author is neutral Author implies or suggests

Author argues claims

Author is uneasy or disagrees Author agrees

comments analyzes contends disparages admits

describes asks defends belittles agrees

explains assesses disagrees bemoans concedes

illustrates concludes holds complains concurs

notes finds insists condemns grants

observes predicts maintains deplores

points out proposes deprecates

records reveals derides

relates shows laments

reports speculates

says suggests

sees proposes

thinks

writes

Combine any of these to make introductions and cut or paraphrase….. Put quotation marks around any exact wording!

According to Bradford, “In the most time of most distress, there was but six or seven persons who to their great commendations, be it spoken, spared no pains night nor day.”

In “Of Plymouth Plantation,” Bradford states, “In the most time of most distress, there was but six or seven persons who to their great commendations, be it spoken, spared no pains night nor day.”

Consider incorporating just a small part of the quotation, including an elipse if there are words in front of or inbetween lines. Note: no commas when yours and the author’s sentences flow together…..

Bradford portrays the Puritans as having to work seven days a week just to survive and when everyone but “…six or seven sound persons” become ill, the healthy settlers who are left tend to the whole village.

Adding some parts of the quote

Rowlandson writes, “Thus nine days I sat upon my knees, with my babe in my lap, till my flesh was raw again; my child being even ready to depart this sorrowful world, … and down I sat with the picture of death in my lap” (Rowlandson).

Adding some parts of the quote that is longer than 4 lines of prose or verse:

Throughout “From A Narrative From the Captivity,” Rowlandson demonstrates

perseverance while she is in the custody of the tribe. She writes:

Thus nine days I sat upon my knees,

with my babe in my lap,

…my child being even ready to depart

this sorrowful world, … and down I sat with

the picture of death in my lap. (Rowlandson 1)

Rowlandson turns to God while she bears hardship in her captivity.

•Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote

•indented one inch from the left margin;

•maintain double-spacing.

•Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark.

Adding some parts of the quote that is longer than 4 lines of prose or verse:

•Start the quotation on a new line

•indented one inch from the left margin;

•maintain double-spacing.

•Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark.

• When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks.

Adding some parts of the quote that is longer than 4 lines of prose or verse:

Edwards illustrates the importance of self-evaluation in “Huswifery.” He writes:

Then clothe therewith mine Understanding, Will,

Affections, Judgment, Conscience, Memory

My Words, and Actions, that their shine may fill

My ways with glory and Thee glorify.

Then mine apparel shall display before Ye

That I am Clothed in Holy robes for glory. (Edwards 126)

Edwards uses an extended metaphor, comparing himself to a spinning wheel, to

help explain how God can make him a better minister.

In text citations

You must give credit to the author whether you quote directly or paraphrase!

1. Use citationmachine.net to help you2. You must complete a citation for your Works

Cited page for EACH author3. For your in-text citation, you must list the

author’s LAST NAME and PAGE # with NO punctuation inside parenthesis for MLA.

4. Example: (Bradford 125)

Works CitedBradford, William. "Of Plymouth Plantation." Literature and the Language Arts. Ed. Laurie Skiba. St.

Paul: EMC/Paradigm Publishing, 2001. Print.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “Self-Reliance.” Literature and the Language Arts. Ed. Laurie Skiba. St. Paul:

EMC/Paradigm Publishing, 2001. Print.

Keller, Helen. "Helen Keller Quotes." Brainy Quotes. Xplore, Inc., 2010. Web. 3 Nov 2010.

<http://ranking.brainyquote.com/cgi-bin/citation.pl>.

Rowlandson, Mary. "From the Narrative of the Captivity." Gutenberg Project. Gutenberg Project, 22

Sep 2010. Web. 3 Nov 2010. <gutenberg.org>.

Smith, John. "The Description of New England." Digital Commons at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 08 Aug 2006. Web. 3 Nov 2010.

<http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=etas>.

In text citations should match the Works Cited information!

5. Insert the in-text citation right after the quote or paraphrase…OUTSIDE the quotation marksINSIDE the punctuation

In “Of Plymouth Plantation,” Bradford states, “In the most time of most distress, there was but six or seven persons who to their great commendations, be it spoken, spared no pains night nor day” (Bradford 125).