Embedding Quotes – 2-day review By Ms. Teref, Ms. Johnson and her teacher sources, and their students

Why embed/interweave quotations? How does the use of quotes help your ethos? damage your ethos as a writer? (think long quotations…)

How to do it? Begin your own sentence Insert a snippet of a quote so that it blends flawlessly with your writing. The quote insertion should never feel, look, or sound artificial; on the contrary, it must sound as if YOU were the originator of the quote. In other words, the quote should not sound like a quote but a natural part of your own sentence or thought. e.g. Driving over a (fixed?) pothole (metaphor by Brandon) in Lincoln Park, Lakeview, West Rogers Park and down Pulaski Ave. Use MLA citation rules at the end of your sentence, for ex. for page numbers (63) or line numbers (1-6). Do NOT write a sentence like this:  On page 37, the speaker compares the protagonist to “a bum”… BUT like this: The speaker compares the protagonist to “a bum” … (37) After embedding a quote, spend at least 3 sentences explaining and elaborating and analyzing the quote to justify that its insertion was warranted.

Embedding Quotes: Example The greed of Wang’s uncle’s family causes disharmony between Wang and his uncle who “slap[s] [Wang] vigorously on both cheeks” only to invoke Chinese Sacred Edicts to reprimand his nephew Wang accusing him of having, “no religion, no morals,” so much so that he is “lacking in filial conduct” (63).

Tips (summary): “In chapter I”, “On page 34”, “the author states”, etc. are NOT appropriate context phrases – they provide NO context for the reader. Line and page numbers come at the end of the line in MLA. All context and analysis needs to be in present tense. Try using “time” words to begin context sentences (i.e. After, before, when, during, while, etc.) if you need to “rev up” for introducing a quote. This is called “using summary in service of analysis.” For ex. When Isabel decides not to trap Larry through getting pregnant although she was able to easily “wrap him round [her] little finger,” she appeals to her better self and shifts from being an infatuated and desperate maiden to becoming a grown-up woman who knows what she wants – financial security. Move beyond “he says” using WORDS INSTEAD OF SAID/SAYS mixing them in with your own language. Use brackets [ ] whenever you change or add to a quotation and ellipses (…) whenever you take something out that you don’t need for the purposes of your analysis. You do NOT need to quote an entire sentence – just a phrase is sufficient, if that’s all that is relevant.

Another example: Douglass’s resourcefulness and insatiable desire to learn are demonstrated through his ability to trick children into teaching him new letters, copying from books, and turning unlikely materials, the “board fence, brick wall, and pavement” into places to practice his newfound skill. He even admits that this process was “long [and] tedious,” but because of his persistence he refuses to give up until he succeeds. (105)

Poor examples of embedding this quotation: “It was a moment of the highest excitement I ever experienced.” 1 : Douglass escaped slavery and then moved to New York. “It was a moment of the highest excitement I ever experienced.”  2 : After Douglass escaped slavery and moved to New York, “It was a moment of the highest excitement I ever experienced.” (8-9) 3 : “It was a moment of the highest excitement I ever experienced.” This shows that Douglass escaped slavery and moved to New York.

What to do after a quotation? Include at least 3 complete sentences that provide 1. meaning of the quote 2. other possible interpretations (multiple POVs to show your self-awareness) 3. connection to the central/controlling idea or thesis/claim. OTHER TIPS: -Use the analytical verbs - Words to use instead of SAID

The best way to learn how to embed quotes is to look at professional models of essays, such as those by Nabokov, Perrine, Brodsky, Frost, McCarthy… read movie reviews, such as those from chicagoreader.com read book reviews, such as those from the New York Book Review, Atlantic Monthly, the Guardian

Exercise: In groups, select 1-2 snippets from the passage below to answer the following question in 1-2 sentences: How does Melville subtly display the disparity between reality and illusion? “’Don Benito, I envy you such a friend; slave I cannot call him.’ As master and man stood before him, the black upholding the white, Captain Delano could not but bethink him of the beauty of that relationship which could present such a spectacle of fidelity on the one hand and confidence on the other. The scene was heightened by the contrast in dress, denoting their relative positions. “

REFER TO THE HANDOUT “QUOTE ANALYSIS” FOR DAY 2.