Introducing Quotations
She said, “Wait, what?”
Introducing quotations
• When you include quotations, make sure that
they are inserted so the paper still reads
smoothly and flows. Avoid making halting
sentences. All of another author’s ideas and
words should start or end using a signal
phrase that names the author or otherwise
alerts the reader that the information is from
a source.
You cannot just plunk a direct
quotation into your essay OR make the
quotation too long.
Bradford was a brilliant writer who wrote in the plain style
about the Puritans’ hard work ethic. “In the most time of most
distress, there was but six or seven persons who to their great
commendations, be it spoken, spared no pains night nor day.
but with abundance of toil and hazard of their own health,
fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed them meat,
made their beds, washed their loathsome clothes, clothe and
unclothed them. In a word, did all homely and necessary
offices for them which dainty and queasy stomachs cannot
endure to hear named; and all this willingly and cheerfully,
without any grudging in the least, showing herein their true
love unto their friends and brethren; a rare example and
worthy to be remembered. ”
Instead, introduce it using one of the
following followed by a comma:
•
•
•
•
•
According to Bradford,
Bradford writes,
Bradford explains how
As Bradford notes,
In the Mayflower Compact, Bradford states,
Author is neutral
Author implies or
suggests
Author argues
claims
Author is uneasy or
disagrees
Author agrees
comments
analyzes
contends
disparages
admits
describes
asks
defends
belittles
agrees
explains
assesses
disagrees
bemoans
concedes
illustrates
concludes
holds
complains
concurs
notes
finds
insists
condemns
grants
observes
predicts
maintains
deplores
points out
proposes
deprecates
records
reveals
derides
relates
shows
laments
reports
speculates
says
suggests
sees
proposes
thinks
writes
Combine any of these to make introductions
and cut or paraphrase….. Put quotation marks
around any exact wording!
According to Bradford, “In the most time of most distress,
there was but six or seven persons who to their great
commendations, be it spoken, spared no pains night nor
day.”
In “Of Plymouth Plantation,” Bradford states, “In the
most time of most distress, there was but six or seven
persons who to their great commendations, be it
spoken, spared no pains night nor day.”
Consider incorporating just a small part of
the quotation, including an elipse if there
are words in front of or inbetween lines.
Note: no commas when yours and the
author’s sentences flow together…..
Bradford portrays the Puritans as having to
work seven days a week just to survive and
when everyone but “…six or seven sound
persons” become ill, the healthy settlers who
are left tend to the whole village.
Adding some parts of the quote
Rowlandson writes, “Thus nine days I sat upon
my knees, with my babe in my lap, till my flesh
was raw again; my child being even ready to
depart this sorrowful world, … and down I sat
with the picture of death in my lap”
(Rowlandson).
Adding some parts of the quote that is longer
than 4 lines of prose or verse:
•Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote
•indented one inch from the left margin;
•maintain double-spacing.
•Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark.
Throughout “From A Narrative From the Captivity,” Rowlandson demonstrates
perseverance while she is in the custody of the tribe. She writes:
Thus nine days I sat upon my knees,
with my babe in my lap,
…my child being even ready to depart
this sorrowful world, … and down I sat with
the picture of death in my lap. (Rowlandson 1)
Rowlandson turns to God while she bears hardship in her captivity.
Adding some parts of the quote that is longer
than 4 lines of prose or verse:
•Start the quotation on a new line
•indented one inch from the left margin;
•maintain double-spacing.
•Your parenthetical citation should come after the
closing punctuation mark.
• When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks.
Adding some parts of the quote that is longer
than 4 lines of prose or verse:
Edwards illustrates the importance of self-evaluation in “Huswifery.” He writes:
Then clothe therewith mine Understanding, Will,
Affections, Judgment, Conscience, Memory
My Words, and Actions, that their shine may fill
My ways with glory and Thee glorify.
Then mine apparel shall display before Ye
That I am Clothed in Holy robes for glory. (Edwards 126)
Edwards uses an extended metaphor, comparing himself to a spinning wheel, to
help explain how God can make him a better minister.
In text citations
You must give credit to the author whether you
quote directly or paraphrase!
1. Use citationmachine.net to help you
2. You must complete a citation for your Works
Cited page for EACH author
3. For your in-text citation, you must list the
author’s LAST NAME and PAGE # with NO
punctuation inside parenthesis for MLA.
4. Example: (Bradford 125)
Works Cited
Bradford, William. "Of Plymouth Plantation." Literature and the Language Arts. Ed. Laurie Skiba. St.
Paul: EMC/Paradigm Publishing, 2001. Print.
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “Self-Reliance.” Literature and the Language Arts. Ed. Laurie Skiba. St. Paul:
EMC/Paradigm Publishing, 2001. Print.
Keller, Helen. "Helen Keller Quotes." Brainy Quotes. Xplore, Inc., 2010. Web. 3 Nov 2010.
<http://ranking.brainyquote.com/cgi-bin/citation.pl>.
Rowlandson, Mary. "From the Narrative of the Captivity." Gutenberg Project. Gutenberg Project, 22
Sep 2010. Web. 3 Nov 2010. <gutenberg.org>.
Smith, John. "The Description of New England." Digital Commons at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 08 Aug 2006. Web. 3 Nov 2010.
<http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=etas>.
In text citations should match the
Works Cited information!
5. Insert the in-text citation right after the
quote or paraphrase…
OUTSIDE the quotation marks
INSIDE the punctuation
In “Of Plymouth Plantation,” Bradford states,
“In the most time of most distress, there was but
six or seven persons who to their great
commendations, be it spoken, spared no pains
night nor day” (Bradford 125).