How do I use quotations in my essay?
The use of quotations from your primary source is always necessary. The careful use of quotations will bolster support for your own ideas. You should be able to back up your claims about a text with specific examples/ quotations. When you make a claim about a character, event, or circumstance, you bolster your point by providing evidence for your thinking.
Using quotations and textual evidence isn’t an arbitrary exercise invented by English teachers to torture students. The purpose of using quotations is to build an airtight case for proving your thesis. If you’re trying to prove something about a text, what better to use than the author’s own words? This is not to say that your opinion isn’t present in an analytical essay—it’s there, in the background, guiding every word that you write. It’s a bit of an academic game, though, to express your own opinion through the widely-accepted words of others in order to lend it some more credibility, since one person’s opinion on its own holds very little analytical weight. If you are writing a research based essay about a literary selection, you will also need to use direct quotations from other writers to support your claims about the piece.
No matter what, a quote can never stand alone in your essay. All quotes must be properly introduced and then followed by an explanation of how/why the quote is important to proving your point and your thesis. Don’t assume that what you are thinking is obvious to the reader. You must SO WHAT every aspect of quoted text for your reader. The formula for using quotations is similar to making a juicy hamburger -- you need more than just meat (the quote) -- you must also have a top and bottom bun. The top bun introduces the quote. The bottom button follows the quote with your own commentary and explanations. Some burgers taste even better with lettuce, ketchup, mustard -- you get the idea! -- some quotes require multiple sentences of explanation and so what-ing. Review the 12 Sentence Paragraph for an example of how to use quoted text in your essay. Keep your quotes short and to the point. Remember, every integrated quote must be followed by your analysis and explanation. Do not string together quotes to make a point. Use the quotes to support your ideas and insights. The more you practice using quoted evidence, the easier it will become.
Remember the following advice when using quotations:
-
Quotations should be kept as brief as possible. The longer your quote, the more you should have to say about the quote. In other words, one sentence to introduce your quote, three to analyze it. Focus on specific word choice, connection to theme, characterization, syntax, etc. (See the 12 Sentence Paragraph example.)
-
Only use quotations that clearly support your ideas and avoid plot summary—don’t quote long passages that summarize events that you can otherwise (more concisely) explain yourself, or that don't directly relate to your thesis.
-
NO MATTER WHAT - always, always, always introduce your quote and then follow it with a comment or explanation of your own. The longer the quote, the more you should have to say about it. We call this Quote Dumping—failing to weave the quote that you’re using into an actual sentence. As a general rule, your quote should be a small part of a larger sentence that’s making an analytical claim (Torvald demeans Nora when he calls her “skylark” and “spendthrift”).
-
Using long, irrelevant quotations will only detract from your essay and annoy your audience. Only use what you need from the quote/passage to prove your point. In the example above, for instance, you don’t need to include the whole conversation between Nora and Torvald to make your point. Use important or significant words from the quote woven into your own analysis.
-
Don't simply quote dialogue. You only need to use a full statement from a character in very specific situations. Don’t set up dialogue (as if you’re telling a story) and presume that it’s “woven” into your argument (Ex. Torvald says, “Come here my little skylark”). In this example, we have not actually woven the text into our own words -- we have merely written dialogue. This type of integration lack sophistication.
-
AVOID phrases that directly introduce your quote. Example: The following quotation will prove... The quote itself CAN NOT DO ANYTHING. The author is doing something by using a particular word, metaphor, structure, etc. -- but the quote can not DO anything.
-
Introduce every quotation within the context of your own sentence so that your essay will flow coherently. Example: In Chapter 1 Quentin declares that he sees himself as two separate entities: "The Quentin Compson preparing for Harvard in the South,...and the Quentin Compson still too young to deserve to be a ghost" (9).
-
Do not be afraid to paraphrase a quote - just make sure you still properly document your paraphrase using MLA guidelines.
-
DO NOT cite your primary source and then immediately follow it with a secondary source.
-
Do not bother memorizing the current MLA format because it is continually changing - just know where to go and how to use the handbook. There are many online sites that provide information on the most current way to document quotations.