How to do it right. Let’s review.

The author’s last name (unless it’s already referenced in your sentence). The page number of the excerpt. In his literary analysis of Star Wars, the author addresses the Oedipal issues of Luke Skywalker (Rinehart 73). OR... In his literary analysis of Star Wars, Rinehart addresses the Oedipal issues of Luke Skywalker (73). Don’t… Use a “p” or “pg” in your parentheses [p. 73] or [pg. 73] Use a comma between the author and the page [Rinehart, p. 73]

1. Begin the excerpt with quotation marks. 2. Close the excerpt with quotation marks before the parentheses 3. Place the period after the parentheses. “What sticks to memory, often, are those odd little fragments that have no beginning and no end” (O’Brien 34).

Place the citation at the end of the sentence in which the evidence was presented. London described White Fang as “antisocial” and “rude”(89). [Note that the author’s name is presented within the sentence, so only the page number is needed in the citation.]

All parenthetical citations must correlate to the sources used in your works cited page. Secondary sources are your friends. They support your statements.

Inserting a comma between the author's name and the page number, such as : (Faulkner, 67). Inserting end punctuation BEFORE the parenthetical citation. “Lennie smiled helplessly in an attempt to make friends.” (Steinbeck 75) Using "p." or "pg.“ as an abbreviation before the number of the page (p. 56) versus (56).

The “somebody said” lead-in: William Agee comments, “Many critics believe that Shakespeare did not write most of the plays credited to him” (10).

The “blended” lead in: Some quoted material is left out and what is retained blends into the rest of your sentence. According to William Agee, there is some skepticism regarding Shakespeare, and “many critics believe that Shakespeare did not write most of the plays credited to him” (10).

The sentence lead-in: This lead-in (which is an independent clause) is followed by a colon which is followed by the excerpt. Agee presents an alternative idea regarding Shakespeare:“Many critics believe that Shakespeare did not write most of the plays credited to him” (10).

Don’t be so obvious. This is a good quote about George: “The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless features”(Steinbeck 2). A quote about friendship is “George lay back on the sand and crossed his hands under his head, and Lennie imitated him, raising his head to see if he were doing it right” (Steinbeck 4). Don’t fail to introduce your quotation (i.e. don’t abandon it) “In a panic he shoveled hay over the puppy with his hands” (Steinbeck 100). Don’t include a quote which has NOTHING to do with your thesis.