Using Quotations In Your Writing

1. Using Quotations In Your Writing • When you copy text from a source, you are using a quotation. Quotations are also often referred to as passages, excerpts, etc. • Always begin or end a quotation at a logical start/stop point. (Usually start/end of a sentence) • There are rules you must follow when you use a quotation in your writing. Memorize them! • In English, we will use the rules of MLA format.

2. Using Quotations in Your Writing 10-2 • Learn the rules for MLA format • Understand why you would want to use a quotation in your writing. • Learn to correctly incorporate quotations following a simple 3-step plan. • You have a hand-out that explains the basics! • Plus, my web-site has lots of information. • Pay attention!

3. Be Grammatically Correct • When you use a quotation in your writing, insert it as part of your own sentence. A comma or a colon should precede the direct quotation you are using. It should be written as part of a grammatically correct sentence. • Signal Clause—these are the words your write that precede a quotation. Often it will be an independent clause ending with a colon. You only have two grammatical options: • Write an independent clause that end with a colon, then insert your quotation. • Correctly combine independent and dependent clauses using a comma. Either the quotation or your own words can be dependent/independent.

4. Example #1—using a comma and correctly connecting clauses At one point in the novel Uncle Axel states, “ ‘What makes man man is mind’ ” (Wyndham 35). The single quotation marks inside the double quotation marks denote that this quotation is dialogue in a novel. The quotation is an IC and the signal clause is a DC. **For Drama, you do not use single quotation marks because we already know it is dialogue.**

5. Example #2—using a colon and an independent signal clause. The quotation should be double spaced and double indented. (It is single spaced to fit this slide) Shakespeare is one of the greatest writers of all time. It is amazing that he was able to write so many plays, considering he wrote before the age of the typewriter and word processor: It’s hard to imagine, but Shakespeare wrote all his plays with a quill pen, a goose feather whose hard end had to be sharpened frequently. How many times did he scrape the dull end to a point with his knife, dip it into the inkwell, and bring it up, dripping wet, those wonderful words and ideas that are known all over the world? (Bevington 2)

6. Basic Format to Follow When Using quotations in Formal Writing Assignments: • Three Steps. • 1. Provide an introduction to your quotation to provide context (the circumstances in which an event occurs). This should be enough information so that the quotation will make sense to the reader and should flow logically with the rest of your writing. (Do not just insert the quotation into your writing.) • 2. Your quotation should be grammatically inserted into your writing. An independent clause ending with a colon or correctly combining DC and IC. • Once you have correctly inserted your quotation, the last step is to explain the purpose the quotation serves in your writing. Often, you will be using a quotation to help argue or prove a thesis. Be sure that you clearly explain the quotation and how it supports what you are arguing. • (see Inherit the Windexample)

7. GENERAL RULES:SEE THE MLA GUIDE FOR DETAILS • Do not begin or end your essay with a quotation (or do so sparingly) • Quotations must be accurate and must be cited with a parenthetical citation*--which means you will also need a works cited page at the end of your paper • Note rules for quoting dialogue in drama and for irregular spacing in poetry • Learn the rules for using single quotation marks vs double quotation marks

8. If a prose quotation runs no more thanfour lines on your page put quotation marks around the quotation and include it in your writing. • If a quotation is five lines or more, set it off from your text by beginning a new line and indenting the quotation ten spaces. Do not add quotation marks when you do this. • You must always show paragraph changes in prose quotations. This means that you will have to double indent.

9. Practice (next class**) • Choose an important quotation from any play we have read. • Determine if it is a long or short quotation. (over/under four line of writing) • Is there a change of speaker? Writing practice--Write a paragraph • Write a clear topic sentence. • Establish context for your quotation and write a signal phrase. • Insert the quotation. Include a citation. • Explain the quotation.

10. Sample Answer Step one: Choose a quotation that will work for the assignment. Step two: Think about the correct answer and choose a quotation that will enhance this answer. Step three: Write the first draft of the answer. (length as directed)

11. Your Draft • List all specific components of a great answer for the question. • Find a quotation (s) that will support and enhance this answer. • Begin your expository paragraph with a clear topic sentence. • Fully answer the question [while using the three steps for using quotations to insert a quotation (s)] in a well written paragraph*