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Who Said What? Introducing and Contextualizing Quotations

Quotations (as well as paraphrases and summaries) play an essential role in academic writing, from literary analyses to scientific research papers; they are part of a writer鈥檚 ever-important evidence, or support, for his or her argument.

But oftentimes, writers aren鈥檛 sure how to incorporate quotes and thus shove them into paragraphs without much attention to logic or style.

For better quotations (and better writing), try these tips.

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Identify Clearly Where the Borrowed Material Begins

The quotation should include a signal phrase, or introductory statement, which tells the reader whom or what you are citing. The phrase may indicate the author鈥檚 name or credentials, the title of the source, and/or helpful background information.

  • Sample signal phrases
    • According to (author/article)
    • Author + verb
  • Some key verbs for signal phrases
    • says, writes, accepts, criticizes, describes, disagrees, discusses, explains, identifies, insists, offers, points out, suggests, warns

Two Signal Phrase Examples

  1. According to聽scholar Mary Poovey, Shelley鈥檚 narrative structure, which allows the creature to speak from a first-person point of view, forces the reader 鈥渢o identify with [the creature鈥檚] anguish and frustration鈥� (259).
  2. In an introduction to聽Frankenstein聽in 1831, the author Mary Shelley聽describes聽even her own creative act with a sense of horror: 鈥淭he idea so possessed my mind, that a thrill of fear ran through me, and I wished to exchange that ghastly image of my fancy for the realities around鈥� (172).

Create Context for the Material

Don鈥檛 just plop in quotes and expect the reader to understand. Explain, expand, or refute the quote. Remember, quotations should be used to support your ideas and points.

Here鈥檚 one simple, useful pattern: Introduce quote, give quote, explain quote.

  • 鈥淚ntroduce, Give, Explain鈥� Example 1

    [Introduce] Dorianne Laux鈥檚 鈥淕irl in the Doorway鈥� uses many metaphors to evoke a sense of change between the mother and daughter: [Give] 鈥淚 stand at the dryer, listening/through the thin wall between us, her voice/rising and falling as she describes her new life鈥� (3-5). [Explain] The 鈥渢hin wall鈥� is literal but also references their communication barrier; 鈥渞ising and falling鈥� is the sound of the girl鈥檚 voice but also a reference to her tumultuous preteen emotions.

  • 鈥淚ntroduce, Give, Explain鈥� Example 2 (longer block quotation)

    [Introduce] After watching the cottagers with pleasure, Frankenstein鈥檚 creature has a startling moment of revelation and horror when he sees his own reflection for the first time:

    [Give] I had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers 鈥� their grace, beauty, and delicate complexions: but how was I terrified, when I viewed myself in a transparent pool! At first I started back, unable to believe that it was indeed I who was reflected in the mirror; and when I became fully convinced that I was in reality the monster that I am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification. Alas! I did not yet entirely know the fatal effects of this miserable deformity. (76)

    [Explain] This literal moment of reflection is key in the creature鈥檚 growing reflection of self: In comparing himself with humans, he sees himself not just as different but as 鈥渢he monster that I am.鈥�

Additional Advice

Pay attention to proper format and grammar (See VU Writing Studio handout Quotation Basics: Grammar, Punctuation, and Style), and always, always credit your source in order to avoid plagiarism.

Citation styles (e.g. MLA, APA, or Chicago) vary by discipline. Ask your professor if you are uncertain, and then check style guides for formats. (The above examples use MLA format.)

Last revised: 06/2008 | Adapted for web delivery: 06/2021

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