Blending Quotations into your sentences

Method 1: Introductory Sentence With this strategy, the student uses a complete sentence that gives context to the quote he or she is using. After this introductory sentence, the student uses a colon before the quotation.

Example New York University professor and media consultant Clay Shirky explains how this aspect of blogging is affecting news: “The change isn’t a shift from one kind of news institution to another, but rather in the definition of news” (32).

Signal Phrase at the Beginning of the Quotation With this strategy, a student uses a brief signal phrase at the beginning of a quotation often followed by a comma.

Example As New York University Professor Clay Shirky explains, “The change isn’t a shift from one kind of news institution to another, but rather in the definition of news” (32).

Signal Phrase Interrupting the Quotation With this strategy, the student begins the sentence with a quotation, but inserts the signal phrase into the middle of the quotation. The trick to this strategy is to place the signal phrase correctly so that the sentence isn’t awkward.

Example “The change,” Shirky explains, “isn’t a shift from one kind of news institution to another, but rather in the definition of news” (32).

A Note on Paraphrases The above strategies work not only for quotations, but for paraphrases as well. Note, however, that paraphrases need to be in your own words and worded so differently from the original that it often involves changing the sentence structure of the original. Remember that since paraphrases put the source’s information in your own words, quotation marks are not used.

Varying Signal Phrases If you find yourself using the same signal phrase over and over to the point of sounding incredibly repetitious, you need to vary the signal phrases you use. The following list gives some suggestions. However, make sure that the signal phrase makes sense with the quotation and the context in which you’re using it.

Various Signal Phrases According to Explains Aknowledges Implies Adds Maintains Admits Observes Argues Points out Asks Shows Asserts States Charges Suggests Claims Comments Contends

Practice Take one of the essays that we have been working with and select a quotation from that article. Write three sentences using the quote. First, use an introductory sentence with the quote, then use a signal phrase before the quote, and finally use a signal phrase that interrupts the quote. When you are finished, form groups of 3-4 people. Examine each other’s sentences and make any necessary corrections. Then select three sentences (one of each kind) to read to the class as examples.