‘AS HE HIMSELF PUTS IT’ OR THE ART OF QUOTING

They Say, I Say – Ch 3

The Art of Quoting

A quote is the use of an outside source’s exact words in an essay, enclosed in quotation marks, to support or clarify the writer’s ideas.

The use of a quote can lend credibility to your summaries and ensure that you are using the source fairly and accurately.

Using Quotes

A common error regarding quote occurs when writers assume quotes speak for themselves.

There are two ways of avoiding this error: Choosing quotations which directly

support your ideas Framing your quotes by telling who said

them, what they mean, and explaining their connection to your text.

Quoting Relevant Passages

In order to pick effective quotes, you first need to think about how a quote will support a particular point you are making.

You may also find that as your paper evolves you might need to find new quotes to support your ideas and delete old quotes which no longer fit with your ideas.

Frame Every Quotation

Because quotes do not speak for themselves, you must speak for them by framing them.

A quote which is missing a frame is sometimes called a hit and run quote, a dangling quote, or a dropped quote.

To avoid a dropped quote you need to create a “quote sandwich”: Top slice – Signal or introductory phrase Meat – The quote Bottom slice – explanation of the quote

Signal phrases and explanation

When writing a signal phrase it is important to identify who is “speaking” and where the quote is form. Example: In his essay ‘W-O-R-K,” Braaskma

recounts… When explaining a quote it is important

to retell what the quote is saying and tell how it supports your point. Example: Braaskma is saying that work is

often interpreted in different ways. Similarly, I argue that…

Blending quotes into your words

Advanced writers will often blend a quote into a sentence of their own in order to highlight the relationship between ideas. Example: Voting for this proposition will

change the way businesses share financial information, and as Smith argues, “ will impact the relationships between credit markets and consumer credit services.”