1. Embedding Quotations
Create a supportive Concrete Detail (CD) by embedding a quote into your own sentence.

2. Concrete Details accomplish several goals:
ALL Quotes must be introduced in an essay or any question that requires specific evidence. They should not just appear or be unceremoniously plopped into the essay.
Concrete Details accomplish several goals:
Provide context and precision: Who is saying what to whom, when and where are we in the work?
Support the topic sentence (TS) and thesis (T)
An embedded quote is the most impressive strategy and demonstrates more sophisticated writing and understanding of the text.

3. Embedded Quotes
Your words + author’s words + your words=embedded quotation, or CD.
Example:
Jimmy Cross “[spends] the last hour of light pretending” that Martha loves him (O’Brien 1).
Notice:
punctuation and capitalization in CD.
citation at the END of the sentence.
Brackets around the verb—change of tense!

4. How to Cite Your Quotation
Missing citation=plagiarism.
Always cite at the end of the sentence using the author’s last name and page number.
Do not insert a comma between the author and page number)
For multiple pages or lines, use a dash to indicate the start and end point (Homer ).
For poetry, cite author’s last name and line number (Plath 5).

5. Playing with the Author’s Words
In Literary Analysis essays, avoid the past tense and 1st and 2nd personal pronouns
I, me, my, mine, you, you’re, your, yours, our(s), we and us.
To change the wording (NOT meaning) in a quote, take out the word in question and insert the new word inside [brackets].
Verb tense, pronoun changes, or de-capitalizing first words in sentences

6. Use… of Ellipses…
Do not use ellipses at the beginning OR the END of an embedded quote. ✗
Jimmy Cross“… [spends] the last hour of light pretending” that Martha loves him (O’Brien 1).
DO use an ellipses to indicate missing words or phrases in the middle of the quote.
He “[spends] the last hour…pretending” (O’Brien 1).
Make sure that the sentence is still grammatically correct once you remove words that are not necessary to your idea or make the quote too long.

7. How to Choose Your Quote
Consider the following when choosing CD’s to embed:
LENGTH: the shorter and more precise, the better. Full sentences are usually too long and it’s difficult to relate to the prompt or question at hand.
Strength of relationship to the prompt and your thesis.
Key words in quote that you can clearly and persuasively explain in commentary.
Insightful passage that goes beyond surface-level detail. Search for character motivation, effect of specific language, connection to major theme.

8. The Heart of It
The HEART is the most important 5-7 words from your chosen passage.
Underline it and embed it.
Choosing smaller, more precise quotes can help you stay focused on your argument.
The Heart should point directly to the TS and Thesis.
Use the VERBS in the quote to help embed seamlessly.
Focus on the story, rather than the writing

9. Some Things to Avoid On page 365, Achilles…
This quote reveals… Achilles’ ability to denounce his loyalties.
This shows that… Agamemnon is a powerful leader.
Homer writes, “

10. Practice
Questions:
How is Lt. Jimmy Cross’ relationship to his men characterized in “The Things They Carried”?
What kinds of emotional burdens do the men of Alpha company carry?
What do the men feel shame about in “The Things They Carried”?