The document discusses different types of quotes used in academic writing, including direct quotes, which use exact wording from a source and require quotation marks, and indirect quotes, which are paraphrased and do not require quotation marks. It provides examples of integrating direct quotes into sentences and introducing them with attribution or a colon. The document also covers summarizing, paraphrasing, and properly punctuating and citing quotes based on MLA style guidelines.

2. What Are Quotations?
“Quote means that you take a word, phrase, or sentence
directly or indirectly from the person who originally
created that word or phrase or sentence” (OWL Purdue).
A Direct quote means you copy that word, phrase, or
sentence exactly as it was written and place this inside of
quotation marks and include an in-text citation.
An Indirect quote means that you generally take a
phrase or sentence from the person who created it, but
you put it in your own words. In this case, make sure it is
completely in your own words to avoid plagiarism. Do not
use quotation marks, but DO include an in-text citation to
give credit to the original author.

3. Example of Direct Quotes
In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, the narrator recounts a life
lesson from his father that resounded strongly in my own beliefs as well:
"In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some
advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. 'Whenever you
feel like
criticizing any one,' he told me, 'just remember that all the people in this
world haven't had the advantages that you've had'" (12).
Rules demonstrated:
•Quote has a valuable introduction that tells about the upcoming quote
•Author and title are clear in the sentence leading up to the quote, so the
in-text citation in parentheses at the end only requires a page number
•Punctuation (period, in this case) belongs after the in-text citation
•A direct quote needs beginning and ending quotation marks to show that
it is a direct quote
•A quote inside of a quote gets only a single quotation mark, inside the
regular double quotation marks.
*See OWL Purdue website or MLA Handbook for additional explanation of
punctuation and MLA formatting rules

4. Use of Indirect Quotes
Taking ideas/information from a source, but not
copying the authors exact words. This is an indirect
quote, which could be a paraphrase or a summary of
the original text.
Indirect quotes are used to:
• Express a fact (simple facts should NOT be
quoted directly!)
• Simplify a quote that is long, complicated, or
boring
• Shrink ideas from several direct quotes into a
clear, concise segment

5. Use of Indirect Quotes
“Plagiarizing means that you have taken information, ideas, or phrasing
from a source and then used them in your own text without mentioning
anything about the author who originally created your sources. In a way, you
are stealing something from people without telling the people who had
created the original source” (OWL Purdue). You need to credit the author by
using an in-text citation for all indirect – anything that is not YOUR OWN
idea or and idea considered common knowledge.
“When you summarize, you find the main points of the original text and
compose a shorter version of the original text. A summary should be able to
tell the readers what the original text is about and who the author is. You
may use summaries to review some materials about a topic or support your
ideas” (OWL Purdue).
“Paraphrase means that you take some words or sentences from your
sources, and put them in your own words. You still need to mention the
original author of the words and sentences by appropriate citation style
(APA, MLA). You paraphrase words or sentences by changing them to
different words, or sentence structures without changing the original
meaning” (OWL Purdue).
Do not change the meaning of a quote when you paraphrase or summarize!

6. Punctuating Quotations
• The author’s exact words go inside the quotation
marks: “I am super, duper cool.”
• The end punctuation (period, question mark,
exclamation point) goes inside the last quotation
mark. “Give me the damn money!”
• When the introduction comes after a direct quote,
use a comma to separate the quote from the
attribution. “Here it is,” replied Bob.
• If a question mark relates to the sentence and
not the quote, place it at the end of the sentence
outside the quotation marks: What kind of moron
says, “I am super, duper cool”?

7. Punctuating Quotations
• Use single quotation marks to indicate a
quote inside a quote. “And so I told her, ‘Fix
your own tire, Grandma!’”
•If a quote is a complete sentence, begin it
with a capital letter. If it’s not, don’t.
• To clarify or modify a phrase within a
quote, insert brackets. “Slowly, [Bob]
reached for the meat cleaver.”

8. Punctuating Quotations
• Use quotation marks to indicate the title
of a smaller work, such as an article, essay,
short story, song, poem, or speech.
In his essay, “Potatoes are Yummy,” Joe Smith argues that…
• Use italics (or underline) for larger works
such as a book, magazine, album, play, film,
or long poem.
In her novel, Potatoes are Yucky, Ann Smith argues that…
In her novel, Potatoes are Yucky, Ann Smith argues that…

9. Integrating Quotations
Never just drop a quotation into
your paper. Always introduce it
and explain it with your own
prose.
There are three main ways to
introduce quotations. These
include:

10. 1. Incorporate the quotation into your
sentence, punctuating it just as you
would if it was not a quotation.
As Bob is being beaten, he hopes he “will
become unconscious but [he] can’t.”
Bob appraises Mrs. Harrison derisively,
stating that “she looked so complacent,
sitting there in her two-hundred dollar chair
[. . . ] bought with dough her husband had
made overcharging poor hard-working
colored people for his incompetent services,
that I had a crazy impulse to needle her.”

11. 2. Introduce the quotation by using
an attributive tag like he writes, she
claims, and so on.
To describe his childlike consciousness,
Wright explains, “Each event spoke with a
cryptic tongue. And the moments of living
slowly revealed their coded meanings.”
After going to Memphis and boarding with
Mrs. Moss, Wright wonders, “Was it wise
to remain here with a seventeen-year-old
girl eager for marriage and a mother
equally anxious to have her marry me?”

12. 3. Introduce the quotation by writing a
full sentence and a colon to introduce
the quotation, which should itself be a
full sentence.
Bob’s description of Madge emphasizes her
fake appearance: “She was a peroxide blonde
with a large-featured, overly made-up face, and
she had a large, bright-painted, fleshy mouth.”
Richard Wright explains his reasons for writing:
“I was striving for a level of expression that
matched those of the novels I read.”

13. Block a quotation if it is four lines or
longer. Indent the quotation one half of
an inch on both sides, and punctuate it
like the following example (no quotation
marks).
Wright describes how his mother’s illness
affected him:
My mother’s suffering grew into a
symbol in my mind, gathering to itself
all the poverty, the ignorance, the
helplessness; the painful, baffling,
hunger-ridden days and hours; the
restless moving, the futile seeking, the
uncertainty, the fear, the dread.

14. Rules for Direct/Indirect Quotes
 Always connect back to your thesis. If the quote
doesn’t help prove your thesis—don’t use it.
 Short quotes are more effective than long quotes. If
a quote is long, consider paraphrasing all or parts of
it.
 Quotes do not take the place of your writing. They
should support ideas you have already explained in
your words.
 Quotes should be sprinkled throughout the body of
your essay to help support your ideas. Too many
quotes is just as bad as too few.
 Effectively integrate quotes into your writing by
sandwiching them between a quote introduction and
quote explanation. I call this IQE form.

15. Introduce who’s talking/where did the quote
come from, what’s happening, why is it important, or ideas
you want to emphasize for the reader
Quote only use the necessary words, someone’s
argument/opinion, evidence for thesis, use correct
punctuation
Explain explain the argument in the quote, why is it
important, connect to your thesis. DO NOT just repeat what
the quote says—add meaning, emphasis, and a clear
connection to your argument
* Use the recommended text “They Say, I Say” for additional
ideas and sentence starters for sandwiching quotes.
IQE Form

16. Quote Explanations
Your explanation for the quote must be much longer than the
quote itself. The longer your quote, the longer your explanation
needs to be. Explain the quote in your own words and state the
significance.
Why is this quote important? How does it show what you’re
trying to prove in your thesis?
Example: IQE
Booker uses direct quotes from Mrs. Mobley as she reacts to her
son’s battered body: “and cried out, ‘Darling you have not died in
vain. Your life has been sacrificed for something’”(1). This quote
from the Mrs. Mobley demonstrates her pain and suffering from
the loss of her son and shows readers that Mrs. Mobley intended
to take action. Booker uses these words from Till’s mother to
prove to his audience that Emmet Till’s lynching caused change
in society, the change for which his mother says he was
sacrificed.

17. In-text citations
• If the author’s name is clear from your sentence, the in-text
citation just needs a page number.
Romantic poetry is characterized by the “spontaneous overflow of
powerful feelings” (Wordsworth 263).
• If the author is not named in your sentence, the name must be
part of your in-text citation.
Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a
“spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” (263).
If there is no author for your source, use the title of the text instead.
Follow rules for italics or quotation marks of a title.
If there is no page number, like a website, use the paragraph number
instead (para. 6).
In MLA style, referring to the works of others in your text is done
by using what is known asparenthetical citation. This method
involves placing relevant source information in parentheses after
a quote or a paraphrase.