Quotes: Are evidence to make your thesis stronger. Cannot stand alone in a paper because they are not your own words. Must be integrated with your own words.

Option 1: Start with your words and transition to the quote Begin the sentence with: The author says, The character states, The character thought, After your own words you need a comma to introduce the quotation.

Examples Eggers reveals, “[Zeitoun] was of average height, a sturdily built man of forty-seven” (Eggers 8). Eggers explains that Zeitoun “was of average height, a sturdily built man of forty-seven” (Eggers 8). Even without consistently eating meals, Zeitoun “was of average height, a sturdily built man of forty-seven” (Eggers 8).

Good Words to Introduce Quotes Explains Suggests Believes Writes Sees Reveals Argues Emphasizes Claims Observes

Option 2: Colons 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.

Zeitoun is almost superhuman, since he works constantly with little sustenance: “he was of average height, a sturdily built man of forty-seven” (Eggers 8).

Examples The Zeitouns brush off the storm warnings, since they’ve been through so many hurricanes already: “Who ever worried about a Category 1 or 2?” (Eggers 15). Kathy had no problem being assertive in her relationship: “she couldn’t hold anything in. I’m going to speak my mind, she told Abdul early in their relationship. He shrugged; that was fine with him” (Eggers 17).

Now… Introduce this quote two different ways. This quote appears before the beginning of the narrative in Zeitoun. As you think of how to introduce this quote, consider why Dave Eggers chose this quote by Mark Twain. “To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”

Student Examples: Making a complete sentence

Student examples: Using a colon