How to Write an
Organized Essay
Using
“TIQA”
What is “TIQA” ?
• Topic sentence
• Introduce quote: Using your own words,
introduce necessary information to put the
quote into context. Often this will include
specific information about exposition (main
characters, inciting actions, the characters’
personalities, conflicts etc.).
• Quote: provide your quote
• Analyze: Explain the importance of the quote
and how it supports your topic sentence.
TIQA Part 2
• Transition Sentence: transition from the
first example to your second example.
• Introduce Point to be Supported By Your
Quote: introduce your second piece of
evidence.
• Quote: provide your second quote.
• Analyze: analyze your second quotes, and
if possible, tie the two pieces of evidence
together to make a larger argument.
Integrating Quotations into
Sentences
The 4 Steps
•
1. FIRST identify the speaker
a. narrator
b. character
c. NEVER the author
Ex: Whitney says, “The place has a
reputation- a bad one.”
Integrating Quotations into
Sentences
2. Copy the quotation exactly as it is
in the book. Put quotation marks
around the quotation.
EX: Whitney says, “The place has a
reputation- a bad one.”
…continued
a. If you want to take any words out of the
quotation, delete the words and replace
with an ellipse. It looks like this- …
b. If you want to add words to the
quotation, add words and put brackets
around them. Brackets look like this: [ ]
Ex: Rainsford thinks, “It’s so dark…I could
sleep without closing my eyes [because]
the night would be my eyelids”
Integrating Quotes
3. Cite the source of the quotation.
Write the author’s last name and page
number. Put parenthesis around
author’s last name and page number.
End the sentence with a period after
the parenthesis. Subsequent
quotations from the same source and
page number should cite only the
page number.
Integrating Quotes
• Ex: Rainsford thinks, “It’s so dark… I
could sleep without closing my eyes
[because] the night would be my
eyelids” (Connell 69). As he fell
overboard “the blood-warm waters of
the Caribbean Sea closed over his
head” (69).
Integrating Quotes
4. Read your sentence to make sure it
flows seamlessly. Marry your
sentence with the quotation!