“Embedding Quotations” How to pick’em How to put’em in How to cite’em

A Quote is… . Any line or lines you take verbatim (word for word) directly from the text This can be dialogue, a character statement or a narrators words. Anything!!!!!

To Kill a Mockingbird Do you see a quotation?? Chapter One When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow. When it healed, and Jem's fears of never being able to play football were assuaged, he was seldom self-conscious about his injury. His left arm was somewhat shorter than his right; when he stood or walked, the back of his hand was at right angles to his body, his thumb parallel to his thigh. He couldn't have cared less, so long as he could pass and punt

The Rules of the Game BE Sure That… The quotations is relevant to the point your are making The quotation strengthens and supports the point you are supporting The quotation does not disrupt the flow of your paragraph The quotation is adequately introduced and explained The quotation is embedded within your idea (i.e. use partial rather than whole quotations)

Procedural Points (How to follow the rules!) Do not begin or end a paragraph with a quote. Paragraphs begin with topic sentences Paragraphs end with thesis reminders.

2. Create a “lead in” or “plot summary” and a transition word + comma before the quotation. Lead In: A sentence that helps to convey the context in which the quote exists in the text. Transition word + Comma: Some words to use other than “said” are: (states,) (asserts,) (argues,) (explains,) (reveals,) (Said,) can be replaced with a colon :

3. Provide an explanation of the quote that connects the quote to the point you are supporting. Explanation follows the use of the quote. Concentrating on the author’s language in the quote is helpful. Do not simply summarize or restate the quote.

Example of Explanation of quote: In one of his most riveting and inspiring speeches to the people of India, Mahatma Gandhi encourages, “ You must become the change you wish to see in the world” (Gandhi 12). Gandhi understands that you have little power to change others and so he inspires his followers to change themselves and therefore the world.

Citing Quotes Using MLA Provide an MLA format internal citation at the end of the sentence that contains the quotation, but before the final punctuation. “I can’t stop biting my lips. It looks like my mouth belongs to someone else, someone I don’t even know” (Anderson 17).

For Longer Quotes: 4 or more lines in your paper. Long quotations of 4 or more lines are: set off from the text by double-spacing indented from the left Do not use quotation marks Place the page reference in parenthesis after the final period.

Example of Quote that is 4 or more lines long: Harlan expresses great disstress over the loss of his dog when he exclaims, I cannot believe he’s gone. In no way did I expect that this would ever happen. What am I going to do? How will I ever get over this? I need help. (Brown 13) – note the change in location of punctuation Harlan’s grief . . .