WRITING PAPERS
USING CITATION – DOs & DONTs
Below is a list of how to use quotations and citations in the body of your paper. It is very
important for you to introduce every quotation and citation. You also must explain each of the
citations – then your evidence will tie back to the thesis statement.
DO
DON’T
Always introduce citation: This can be done with
an entire sentence or with a couple of words.
Simply list a citation with no introduction.
Use a colon for your citation if you introduce the
citation with a complete sentence.
Put two quotes or citations next to each other with
no sentence in between them. Each citation should
have an introduction and explanation.
Work short quotations into the body of your
paper. If the text is four lines or fewer, it should
be within the text of your paper.
Start a paragraph with a citation. Each paragraph of
your paper should be a topic sentence of your own
writing (no quotes)!
Set off long quotations by indenting on both
sides of the margin. This should be done with
direct quotes longer than 4 lines. Generally, a
colon is used to set off long quotations. After the
quote, double space and cite the source as usual.
Use quotation marks within quotations marks…
even when quoting dialogue.
Tie EACH quotation and citation in your paper
back to your topic sentence and thesis sentence.
If you do not do this, the citation loses its
meaning and its function!
Use transitions between points and paragraphs in
your paper.
Use ellipses (…) when eliminating part of the
quote & use block parenthesis [ ] when making
any changes to direct quotes.
Samples of Correct Quote Type & Integration
The following quotes were taken from an article titled A 2nd State Lets Doctors Lend Help in
Suicide from the New York Times on March 5, 2009 by William Yardley.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT/RESEARCH THESIS: Assisted suicide becomes less a stigma
as initial states legalize the practice.
PARTS OF QUOTE INTEGRATION:
This is a quote introduction which gives the
reader background information and prepares
them for the information in the quote/citation.
The state of Washington recently passed a law which “allows terminally ill patients who are 18
or older, and who have been found mentally competent, to self-administer lethal drugs under the
prescription of a doctor” (Yardley).
This is the actual citation
taken word for word from
The in-text MLA citation
the source.
from the source.
PARTIAL QUOTE:
According to Yardley “the Washington law requires hospitals to publicize a decision not to
participate” (1). The hospitals requirement to “publicize” their decision puts the responsibility of
the moral decision on the staff at the hospital.
Here, to further the point, the writer uses the
selected word “publicize” directly from the quote to
further their own point in the paper.
PASSAGE QUOTE:
An assisted suicide law was recently passed in the state of Washington:
The law, approved overwhelmingly by voters last fall, allows
terminally ill patients who are 18 or older, and who have been
found mentally competent, to self-administer lethal drugs under the
prescription of a doctor. (Yardley 1)
Notice a block
quote does not
use quotation
marks instead it
is offset by
additional 1 inch
margins on
either side.
QUOTE WITH ELLIPSES & BLOCK PARENTHESIS
Cassie Sauer, a Washington State Hospital Association spokesperson, noted that “several board
were having meetings about the issue last night… [even though the law has been enacted ] the
law [is] confusing” (Yardley 2).
SUMMARY
Sauer also notes that hospitals seemingly have a couple of options which include participating,
not participating, or allowing doctors not employed by hospitals to participate by writing
prescriptions to patients. (Yardley 2).
The summary has the information from the
passage, but stays away from using exact wording
from the article.
Summary & Paraphrase Examples
The following quotes were taken from an article titled A 2nd State Lets Doctors Lend Help in
Suicide from the New York Times on March 5, 2009 by William Yardley.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT/RESEARCH THESIS: Assisted suicide becomes less a stigma
as initial states legalize the practice.
Summary
The state of Washington recently passed a law allowing for assisted suicide in participating
hospitals. While participation is expected to be limited, this law is the first of its kind to be
passed after the Supreme Court decision in 2006 that allow states the right of this legislature
(Yardley 1).
A summary typically covers the
entirety of a piece, article or editorial
and is offered as a generalization.
Paraphrase
This week assisted suicide became legal in the state of Washington even though hospitals may
not participate and there is not expected to be an onslaught of participation in the practice
(Yardley 1).
This is a paraphrase of the first sentence of the
article. A paraphrase is typically used to make a
specific point. Paraphrase allows a writer to break
up the monotony of using direct quote after direct
quote. It aids in a paper’s readability.
Paraphrase with Direct Quotes
A law for assisted suicide of those over 18 years of age was passed in the state of Washington
this week. While the law was passed through the legislature “dozens of hospitals are not
expected to participate” (Yardley 1).
The introduction for this quote is a
paraphrase of the articles content. Then, the
direct quote gives additional, pointed
information.