quicktips

integrating quotations from sources

(pdf)

Problem

Writers often use quotations from sources to support and develop their own claims and arguments. Less experienced writers risk letting other authors' words, ideas, and claims overwhelm their own, or use quotations out of context in ways that are confusing or change the author's original meaning. Common problems include:

• Drop and run: Throwing in a quotation without introduction or comment.
• Letting the quotation speak for itself, or leaving the reader to figure out the connection.
• Quoting information that would better be summarized or left out.

Solutions

ALERT THE READER WHO YOU ARE QUOTING WITH A SHORT SIGNAL-PHRASE LEAD-IN AND COMMA.

Example:
Rohan Preston observes, “Director Lou Bellamy has a way of looking so deeply into the theatergoer's soul that audience members often call out involuntarily to characters—responding to their queries and whims, offering advice and succor.”

Example:
According to Rohan Preston, “Director Lou Bellamy has a way of looking so deeply into the theatergoer's soul that audience members often call out involuntarily to characters—responding to their queries and whims, offering advice and succor.”

Example:
Although there are “procedural aspects related to the measurement of conditioned inhibition of fear potentiated startle,” Englemann argues that researchers should also be concerned with “the actual conditioning procedure that is used” during training (35).

VARY THE VERBS USED TO SIGNAL QUOTATIONS.

• argues
• agrees
• asserts
• claims
• comments
• compares
• declares
• demonstrates
• disputes
• disagrees
• emphasizes
• illustrates
• implies
• notes
• observes
• responds
• states

INTEGRATE PART OF THE QUOTE INTO YOUR COMPLETE SENTENCE.

Example:
Rohan Preston suggests that Bellamy is a skillful director because he “has a way of looking so deeply into the theatergoer's soul that audience members often call out involuntarily to characters.”

WRITE A COMPLETE SENTENCE STATING YOUR CLAIM OR OBSERVATION, and follow with a colon and the quotation.

Example:
Preston demonstrates that Director Lou Bellamy knows how to get the audience involved: “members often call out involuntarily to characters—responding to their queries and whims, offering advice and succor.”

USE SQUARE BRACKETS TO ADD WORDS NECESSARY FOR UNDERSTANDING THE QUOTATION. USE ELLIPSES TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY WORDS.

Example:
Engelmann summarizes a current theory about the relationship between learning and anxiety disorders: “When these [learning] processes fail to work properly... , a state of chronic fear or anxiety may develop because the animal cannot discriminate between periods of safety and danger” (1-2).

For more information:

Ahrenhoerster, Greg. “Plopped Quote.” English Department. 2004. University of Wisconsin Colleges. 25 July 2005 <http://www.uwc.edu/uwc/depts/english/Faculty_Materials/PloppedQuote.pdf>.

Hacker, Diana. A Writer's Reference. 4th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 1999. 326-27.

“MLA Formatting and Style Guide.”  Purdue Online Writing Lab. 13 May 2007. Purdue University. 15 June 2007 <http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01>.

“Using Literary Quotations.” The Writing Center. 2004. University of Wisconsin-Madison. 21 March 2005 <http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/
QuoLitIncorporating.html>.

Works Cited:

Engelmann, J.M. “Backward Conditioning with Single or Multiple Unconditioned Stimulus Presentations Measured by Fear-Potentiated Startle in Rats.” Honors Thesis. University of Minnesota, 2005.

Preston, Rohan. “Audience Can’t Help Talking Back to the Incisive ‘Diva Daughters.’” Star Tribune. 15 Feb. 2004: 4B.