Using Quotations In Your Writing

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Using Quotations In Your Writing 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 inserting.
The quotation becomes part of a grammatically
correct sentence that you write. NEVER JUST
PLUNK A QUOTATION INTO YOUR WRITING.
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Example 1using a comma and making the quotation
a part of an original sentence. 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. For
Drama, you do not use single quotation marks
because we already know it is dialogue.
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Example 2using a colon. 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 Its 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)
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• Basic Format to Follow When Using quotations in
  Formal Writing Assignments
• Three Steps.
• 1. Provide an introduction to your quotation to
  provide context. The clause preceding a
  quotation is called the signal phrase. 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 drop the quotation into
  your writing.)
• 2. Your quotation should be grammatically
  inserted into your writing. It should be part of
  a complete sentence that you have written.
• 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 Wind example)

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• GENERAL RULES
• Do not begin or end your essay with a quotation
  (or do so sparingly)
• Quotations must be accurate and must be
  referenced with in-text citations--which means
  you will also need a works cited page at the end
  of your paper
• Note rules for quoting dialogue in drama
• Learn the rules for using single quotation marks
  vs double quotation marks

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• If the quotation is less than four lines of your
  writing, put quotation marks around the quotation
  and include it in your writing.
• If a quotation is four lines or more, double
  indent the quotation, but do not enclose it in
  quotation marks. Only use quotation marks that
  were in the original text.

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Sample Answer Step one Choose a question that
will work for the assignment. Step two Think
about the correct answer and list all relevant
supporting details. Then, choose a quotation
that will enhance this answer. Step three Write
the first draft of the answer. (250
words)
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Your Draft

• List all specific components/details 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 well organized paragraph

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Grammar

• Dont worry too much about grammar, spelling and
  punctuation as you work on your first drafts.
• Editing should occur after you have organized and
  written a thorough answer.
• Worry about Thought and Detail first.

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Purpose/Audience

• Purpose 1. provide a top-quality paragraph
  answer to a review question.
• 2. Make sure that an important quotation
  from the play is used to support the answer.
• 3. Use the MLA format guide on my
  web-site
• Audience A very picky English teacher who
  has high expectations.