Quotes: Are evidence to make your thesis stronger. Cannot stand alone in your writing because they are not your own words. Must be integrated with your own words. Must be thoroughly explained. They’re not your words, so give credit where credit it due.

How to Integrate Quotes When using quotes remember that they cannot stand alone! You need to introduce them with your own words. There are two main ways to do this in your writing. Never take credit for someone else’s words.

Linking quotes with your words Start with your words and transition to the quote It should read as a complete sentence. Make sure it’s grammatically correct! And try not to misattribute quotes either. You might end up looking stupid, just like… well, you know who.

Linking quotes with your words An easy way to do this is to start your sentence with phrases like these: Begin the sentence with: The author says, “quote… The character states, “quote… The character thought, “quote… Hey you. You in the third row. You’ve got a booger hanging. Thought you should know.

Good Words to Introduce Quotes Explains Suggests Believes Writes Sees Reveals Argues Emphasizes Claims Observes I wish you people would stop staring at me.

Examples The author explains “you have to have parents who encourage and support you” (Gladwell 42). To practice something for 10,000 hours, “you have to have parents who encourage and support you” (Gladwell 42). Seriously. Stop staring at me.

Look, I’m getting really creeped out now. Stop it! More examples The study was surprising because they “couldn’t find any ‘naturals,’ musicians who floated effortlessly to the top while practicing a fraction of the time their peers did” (Gladwell 39). Although many people believe that you can be born with natural talent, Ericsson’s study “couldn’t find any ‘naturals,’ musicians who floated effortlessly to the top while practicing a fraction of the time their peers did” (Gladwell 39). Look, I’m getting really creeped out now. Stop it!

Introducing a quote a complete sentence and a colon You can join a complete sentence and a quote with a colon. The quote must describe or clarify your sentence if you want to join it with a colon. Stop staring at me!!!

show! Take your notes and Examples Since doing something for 10,000 hours is a huge task, people need to have a support system: “you have to have parents who encourage and support you” (Gladwell 42). The author believes that some things people need to be successful are out of their control: “you have to have parents who encourage and support you. You can’t be poor, because if you have to hold down a part-time job on the side to help make ends meet, there won’t be time left in the day to practice enough” (Gladwell 42). This isn’t some side show! Take your notes and stop staring at me!!!

That’s it, I’m out of here. More examples Practice is more important than natural ability: “the striking thing about Ericsson’s study was that he and his colleagues couldn’t find any ‘naturals,’ musicians who floated effortlessly to the top while practicing a fraction of the time their peers did” (Gladwell 39). A belief in natural talent pervades our cultural perception of success, even though a study found otherwise: “the striking thing about Ericsson’s study was that he and his colleagues couldn’t find any ‘naturals,’ musicians who floated effortlessly to the top while practicing a fraction of the time their peers did” (Gladwell 39). That’s it, I’m out of here.

Bad Examples Be careful that you don’t use your quotes in a clunky or unnatural way. For example, you don’t want to do this: Practice is more important than natural ability and Gladwell shows this in the following quote. Gladwell says, “The striking thing about Ericsson’s study was that he and his colleagues couldn’t find any ‘naturals,’ musicians who floated effortlessly to the top while practicing a fraction of the time their peers did” (Gladwell 39). This quote shows how practice is more important than natural ability. People think that talent is natural, but Gladwell doesn’t. He mentions a study where there were no naturals: “The striking thing about Ericsson’s study was that he and his colleagues couldn’t find any ‘naturals,’ musicians who floated effortlessly to the top while practicing a fraction of the time their peers did” (Gladwell 39). This proves that no one has natural abilities. You have to work for it. This writing is hamhanded and unnatural. It will annoy rather than inform your reader, and if your reader is grading you, it’s best not to annoy him/her.

Bad Examples It’s also important that things make sense. Don’t choose quotes that have little or no bearing on your argument. Even the Beatles weren’t good at first: “The striking thing about Ericsson’s study was that he and his colleagues couldn’t find any ‘naturals,’ musicians who floated effortlessly to the top while practicing a fraction of the time their peers did” (Gladwell 39). The strange thing about hockey is that even the goalie has to practice. The author says, “The striking thing about Ericsson’s study was that he and his colleagues couldn’t find any ‘naturals,’ musicians who floated effortlessly to the top while practicing a fraction of the time their peers did” (Gladwell 39). Your arguments have to be organized, and your quotes need to support your arguments.

Now… Introduce this quote two different ways: 1- Link the quote with your words. Together, your words and the quote must create a complete sentence. 2- Write a complete sentence that relates to the quote and end your sentence with a colon to join it with the quote. “Practice isn't the thing you do once you're good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good” (Gladwell 42). Freaks!!!

Student Examples: Linking a quote with your words

Student examples: Using a colon