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Embedding Quotes. By Ms. Teref. Why embed/interweave quotations?. How does the use of quotes help your ethos? damage your ethos as a writer? (think long quotations…). How to do it?. Begin your own sentence
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Embedding Quotes By Ms. Teref
Why embed/interweave quotations? • How does the use of quotes • help your ethos? • damage your ethos as a writer? (think long quotations…)
How to do it? • Begin your own sentence • Insert a snippet of a quote so that it blends flawlessly with your writing. The quote insertion should never feel artificial; on the contrary, it must sound as if you were the originator of the quote. In other words, the quote does not sound like a quote but a natural part of your own sentence or thought. • Use MLA at the end of your sentence, for ex. for page numbers (63) or line numbers (1-6). Do NOT write a sentence like this: On page 37, the speaker compares the protagonist… BUT like this: The speaker compares the protagonist … (1-6)
Embedding Quotes: Example The greed of Wang’s uncle’s family causes disharmony between Wang and his uncle who “slap[s] [Wang] vigorously on both cheeks” only toinvoke Chinese Sacred Edicts to reprimand his nephew Wang, “Have you no religion, no morals, that you are so lacking in filial conduct?” (63).
Tips (summary): • “In chapter I”, “On page 34”, “the author states”, etc. are NOT appropriate context phrases – they provide NO context for the reader. Line and page numbers come at the end of the line in MLA. • All context and analysis needs to be in present tense. • Try using introductory adverbial phrases to begin context sentences (i.e. After, before, when, during, while, etc.) if you need to “rev up” for introducing a quote. • Move beyond “he says” using WORDS INSTEAD OF SAID/SAYS mixing them in with your own language. • Use brackets [ ] whenever you change or add to a quotation and ellipses (…) whenever you take something out that you don’t need for the purposes of your analysis. • You do NOT need to quote an entire sentence – just a phrase is sufficient, if that’s all that is relevant.
Another example: • Douglass’s resourcefulness and insatiable desire to learn are demonstrated through his ability to trick children into teaching him new letters, copying from books, and turning unlikely materials, the “board fence, brick wall, and pavement” into places to practice his newfound skill. He even admits that this process was “long [and] tedious,” but because of his persistence he refuses to give up until he succeeds (105).
Poor examples of embedding this quotation: “It was a moment of the highest excitement I ever experienced.” • 1 : Douglass escaped slavery and then moved to New York. “It was a moment of the highest excitement I ever experienced.” • 2 : After Douglass escaped slavery and moved to New York, “It was a moment of the highest excitement I ever experienced.” (8-9) • 3 : “It was a moment of the highest excitement I ever experienced.” This shows that Douglass escaped slavery and moved to New York.
What to do after a quotation? Include at least 3 complete sentences that provide 1. meaning of the quote 2. other possible interpretations (multiple POVs to show your self-awareness) 3. connection to the central/controlling idea or thesis/claim you are exploring.
The best way to learn how to embed quotes is • to look at professional models of essays, such as those by Nabokov, Perrine, Brodsky, Frost, McCarthy… • read movie reviews, such as those from chicagoreader.com • read book reviews, such as those from the New York Book Review, Atlantic Monthly, the Guardian
Bad Example • Long isolated quote • Long quote. Period. “This means…”
