Some notes on quotes

Two Essential Tips

• Make sure we know what your source is.
• Make sure your quote makes sense.

He said, she said

Tag Source Info

• The first time you use source material (quote or paraphrase), use author's full name and title.
• Example: Joe Smith, biochemist at X University, claims that chemistry is very complex.

Cite Source Material

• ANY material that is not common knowledge needs a citation.
• Use MLA format: page 505 in How to, page 457 in Rules.
• Joe Smith, biochemist at X University, argues chemistry is extremely complex (57).

Oh and...

• Use the right gender pronoun for your author.
• Use author's last name after first introduction with full name.
• Parenthetical citation goes "BEFORE period but AFTER quotation marks" (like this).

Check your work.

Sense & Sensibility

Integrate Your Quote

• Stay true to source material's intent.
• Incorporate quotes into your own sentences.
• No quote should stand alone.

Examples:

• YAY: Smith argues "atoms and molecules, those essential nothings," are the building blocks of life (87).
• NAY: "Atoms and molecules, those essential nothings." Smith believes particles are small but important.

Adjust quotes for clarity

• Use ellipses (...) to show you removed something.
• Use brackets to add clarity [Smith].
• Use block format for long quotes (see page 505 in How to).

Examples

• Few scientists believe that "atoms...are made of fairy dust" (Smith 75).
• "[Chemist Jane Austen] loves to study the ingredients of fast food," and she is working to prove it's made of unicorns (Doe).

Check your work.

Final Reminders

• Cite & integrate all source information.
• All sources cited in the paper must appear on Works Cited page.
• Use long quotes (4 lines or more) sparingly (1 or fewer in this paper).