Embedding Quotations in a Sentence

Anything that is copied word for word is a quotation; it doesn’t have to be just what someone says.

Quotations need to be introduced so that the quoted material flows naturally and coherently into your paragraph.

By reminding the runaways of the plight of others, Harriett Tubman “forced them to go on” (565). Example: By reminding the runaways of the plight of others, Harriett Tubman “forced them to go on” (565).

When written properly, the reader should not be able to hear where the quotation marks are when the sentence is read aloud.

A properly embedded quotation creates a seamless transition from the background information to the quoted material.

When done poorly, the transition is choppy and/or leaves the reader confused.

Poor Example: This is shown by “And he was no whit bigger” (6).

The prior example is choppy and does not make sense when read aloud. Every sentence in a paragraph must make sense, even if it contains quoted material.

You may need to change words within your quote so that the sentence is grammatically correct and coherent.

When changing words in a quoted sentence, place brackets [ ] around the alteration.

What Might You Change? Verb tense Verb tense Was/ Is Were/ Are Replace a pronoun with a name Replace a pronoun with a name

To omit words in the middle of a long quote, use ellipses … (three dots)

Example: Liesel, thinking her papa was asleep “whispered, ‘I think I’m going to hell’… and she kissed his scratchy cheek. ‘You’re not going to hell,’ Papa replied” (256). The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

In the last quote, five sentences were omitted and were represented by three dots. Look at the quote again. See how it still reads smoothly.

Liesel, thinking her papa was asleep “whispered, ‘I think I’m going to hell’… and she kissed his scratchy cheek. ‘You’re not going to hell,’ Papa replied” (256). The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The purpose of the quote was to show an event and the reaction. The omitted sentences were not needed for that.

Summary How to create a good transition into a quotation:

Give needed background and context for all quoted material -- who, what, when, where, how, why

 Use only the most important part of the quote.  More is not better.

 Read your sentence aloud.  You shouldn’t “hear” the quotation marks.

 Change word tense if necessary.  Omit unnecessary words and phrases.  Use ellipses and brackets to indicate your changes

Your Turn

Look on page 268 of your literature book

Decide on the point you want to make Think of one word that would describe Moses’ actions. Think of one word that would describe Moses’ actions. Write an assertion. (You may copy the following example and fill in the blank with your idea.) Write an assertion. (You may copy the following example and fill in the blank with your idea.) When Harriet Tubman went to a plantation to begin a journey with a new group of slaves, her actions indicate that she is __________.

Locate a piece of evidence Find something on page 268 that gave you the idea you wrote in your assertion statement. Find something on page 268 that gave you the idea you wrote in your assertion statement. Don’t forget that you can use … or [ ]. Don’t forget that you can use … or [ ]. Don’t forget to put the page number in ( ). Don’t forget to put the page number in ( ).

Write the needed background Who Who What What When When Where Where How How Why Why

Put Your Work in Order Assertion StatementBackground InformationQuotation with Page Number

Headed in the right direction