Embedding Quotes Mini-lesson

Embedding Quotations--ALL QUOTES must be introduced in an essay.  Embedded quotes: most impressive; demonstrates you are a sophisticated writer; most difficult to master Incorporate a quote into a sentence that you have already begun: Realizing how hurt Piggy is, Ralph can’t decide “between the two courses of apology or further insult.” Smokers continually “infringe on the rights of others when they light up in confined places such as elevators and restrooms.” Evidence of a plane crash was “visible in the trees; there were the splintered trunks and then the drag, leaving only a fringe of palms between the scar and the sea.” Americans must learn “that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide.”

Practice with a line from your favorite song: In the 1960s, many people saw “something happening here.” Sometimes we feel “a little drunk” when we are in love. People who are addicted to gambling “live just to play the game.”

What we often do instead: Introduce or end the quote by identifying the speaker. Loyd says to Codi, “Too good to speak to an Indian boy on the street?” “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” says Dr. King. According to Emerson, “In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts.”

Find a quote that supports one of your three topic sentences. Write clear context to introduce the quote in light of the topic sentence. Embed each quote into a sentence that also interprets the quote. In other words, what is it about this quote that’s important?

Example Topic sentence: Context: Embedded quote: