© Worth Weller
Your essays must be your own words
with your own thoughts and your
own voice.
However, quoting sources in your essays:
 shows your reader
exactly how you arrived at a
particular thought of your own.
 adds authority to your essays by
illustrating that you are
presenting informed opinions
In fact, essays can be comprised
of three components:
 your own thoughts about something you
have read or an issue you are studying
 quotes from your textbook, reading, or
assignment (primary source)
 quotes from outside sources
(secondary sources)
Most of your essay is in your own
words, but you use quotes to:
 Back up your own thinking
 Illustrate your own thinking
 Prove that you are correct
 Reveal that an opposing point of view
is incorrect
Rule 1:
Quote Sparingly
 Keep quotes to one or two sentences.
 Quotes should rarely take up more than
four typed lines.
 Remember that your words are more
important.
 When writing about literature, remember
that I’ve read the text so do not
summarize what happen; focus on the how
and the why.
Rule 2:
Quote Just the Good Stuff
 Memorable statements
 Powerful quotes
 Ideas that further your support
 Clear explanations
 Controversial arguments
Quotes and Paragraphs:
Your introduction generally will not
have a quote in it; it will be entirely your
own words.
Your body paragraphs should use
quotes to support your ideas.
Your conclusion will usually
not have a quote in it.
A couple of rules of thumb:
Do not start a paragraph
with a quote.
Do not end a paragraph
with a quote.
Use only one or two fairly
short quotes per paragraph
(unless otherwise noted).
A well-integrated quote is a lot
like a sandwich:
 On top you have a sentence that
is your own thought and
summary, setting the context for the
quote that you intend to use to illustrate a
point.
 Then you have the quote (with author
tag/signal phrase) to back up your thought.
 Then on the bottom you have a sentence
of your own that reflects back on the quote.
The Three “I’s”:
 Introduce
 Set up the quote with your own thoughts.
 Integrate
 Integrate the quote using signal phrases
and/or author tags.
 Interpret
 Explain the significance of the quote in regards
to your paper; use your own thoughts.
Avoid the following
phrases:
 This quote shows…
 In this quote…
 Here’s a statement…
 As shown here…
 In the previous quote…
Some examples of signal
phrases with author/
character/narrator tags
According to Jane Doe, "..."
As Jane Doe goes on to explain, "..."
John Doe believes that "..."
Jane Doe claims that "..."
In the words of John, "..."
Characterized by John Doe, the society is "..."
You need a lead in or a lead out!
List of Signal Phrases
acknowledges, adds,
admits, affirms,
agrees, argues,
asserts, believes,
claims, comments,
compares, confirms,
contends, declares,
demonstrates, denies,
disputes, emphasizes
endorses, grants,
illustrates, implies,
insists, notes,
observes, points out,
reasons, refutes,
rejects, reports,
responds, states,
suggests, thinks,
underlines, writes
Introduce and Integrate:
WRONG: T.S. Eliot, in his "Talent and the
Individual," uses gender-specific language.
“[N]o poet, no artist of any art, has his
complete meaning alone. His significance, his
appreciation is the appreciation of his relation to
the dead poets and artists" (Eliot 29).
RIGHT: T.S. Eliot, in his "Talent and the
Individual," uses gender-specific language. He
argues, for instance, that "no poet, no artist of
any art, has his complete meaning alone. His
significance, his appreciation is the appreciation
of his relation to the dead poets and artists"
(Eliot 29).
Introduce and Integrate:
WRONG: Children are exposed to a lot of
violence. “One finds violence, hostility and
aggression everywhere, including TV, the
movies, and in many of our everyday social
relations” (Zigler 40).
RIGHT: Children are exposed to a lot of
violence. It is difficult for children to avoid
violence because “[o]ne finds violence, hostility
and aggression everywhere, including TV, the
movies, and in many of our everyday social
relations” (Zigler 40).
Introduce, Integrate and Interpret:
Poe suffered from some of his own
personal struggles. “Poe spent his
early adult life engaging in an ongoing
struggle over money and developing
the notorious habits of alcoholism and
debt” (“The Masque” 233), which
resulted in the fact that Poe’s life
progressively worsened. Many critics
believe that all of the things he went
through and witnessed led to his
passion for horror.
Introduce, Integrate and Interpret:
Scout is constantly complaining
about being left behind by Jem and
Dill. Never is this more evident
than when Jem and Dill are
sneaking out to see Boo Radley and
she says, “’You never let me go
anywhere. If you don’t let me go
this time I’m gonna tell Atticus on
the both of you’” (Lee 80). She
says this to Jem intending to get
him to bring her along.
 Introduce, Integrate, Interpret.
 Keep your quotes short.
 Just quote the good stuff.
 Use author tags and/or signal phrases
with ALL quotes.
 Do not start/end paragraphs with quotes.
 Use MLA Format.