Transcript Quote Integration - Mr. Verdin's Neuqua Valley English site

Quote Integration
The Art of Seamlessly
Weaving Sources Into
Original Content
Quotation Uses
To
argue with another author’s
definition of a term
 To provide statistical evidence or
testimony to validate a claim
 To present the reader with a
statement we wish to refute or
discuss in detail
Quotation Problems
The
Weak Weave: If the reader sees
clear distinctions between the writer’s
voice and those of his sources, the text
becomes disjointed and loses fluency. This
will likely result in frustration for the
reader.
 Ex: Jill and Sandy were best friends. “You
are my best friend” (Jones 10). This was
stated by Sandy.
Quotation Problems Cont’d
The
Dreary Design: If each quotation is
introduced using the same sentence
structure and the same verb to indicate
the author’s opinion, readers will quickly
become bored with the presentation and
tune out the writer’s message.
Ex: Jones says, “…” Jones says, “…” Jones
says, “…”
Quote Problems Cont’d
The
Salting Syndrome: If a reader
can remove the quotes that have been
“sprinkled” through the paper and
still understand the essay, then the
quotes are not an integral part of the
essay and do not further the
argument.
Quotation Problems Cont’d
The
Overpowering Opinion: If the
writer over-quotes, essentially
summarizing another author, the
writer’s voice will be lost as the
powerful opinion of an “expert”
occupies the slot in which the reader
expects to find original content.
Quote Integration Tips
Make
sure that they are integrated
smoothly into the argument, flow, and
syntax of the paper without any logical or
grammatical jolts.
All borrowed ideas or words should be
accompanied by a signal phrase that names
the author or otherwise alerts the reader
that the information is from a source.
Quotation Steps
Introduce
Integrate
Interpret
Step 1: Introduce
 You
start by setting
up, or introducing, the
quote. You should
establish the point you
will be making and
provide enough
background
information so that
the quote makes sense
Camaraderie
among the soldiers is
never more evident
than in the
relationship between
Lemon and Rat. One
day, Rat, following
Lemon’s untimely
death, “writes a
tearful letter to his
sister”(O’Brian 65).
 Ex:
Step 2: Integrate
Next,
you
integrate the quote
into a sentence by
setting it off using
a comma or blend it
into your own
writing
 Ex:
When he receives
no response, Rat
states, “Jesus Christ,
man, I write this
beautiful . . . letter, I
slave over it, and what
happens? The dumb
[girl] never writes
back” (O’Brien 69).
Step 3: Interpret

Finally, you interpret the
quote. NEVER LET A
QUOTE SPEAK FOR
ITSELF. Interpret does
not mean restate or
repeat; Interpret means to
explain the significance of
the quote in regard to the
point you are making. Avoid
using phrases like, “This
quotes shows . . .” or “In
the previous quote . . .”

After enduring the
horrifying experiences of
war together, Lemon and
Rat are clearly extremely
close. The way Rat
describes it, their
relationship is even deeper
than that of family; that is
the reason Rat reacts so
violently to being ignored
by Lemon’s sister.
Verbs/Signal Phrases and
Quotation
Verbs
can be used to introduce summaries,
paraphrases, and quotations that indicate the
author’s point of view on the topic, thus
adding to the writer’s rhetorical power.
In the sentence Smith __________ that the
“flood might have been disastrous,” filling in
the blank with observes, finds, or insists
would create different meanings.
Verb/Signal Phrase Options
 Neutral
Author
Comments
Describes
Explains
Illustrates
Notes
Observes
Relates
Writes
Says
 Author
Implies
Analyzes
Asks
Concludes
Finds
Predicts
Proposes
Reveals
Speculates
Suggests
Supposes
Verb/Signal Phrase Options
Cont’d
 Author
Claims
Contends
Defends
Holds
Insists
Maintains
Agrees
Concedes
Concurs
Grants
Argues
 Author
Disagrees
Disparages
Belittles
Bemoans
Complains
Condemns
Deplores
Deprecates
Derides
Laments
Warns
Some examples of signal
phrases with author tags
According
to Jane Doe, "..."
As Jane Doe goes on to explain, "..."
Characterized by John Doe, the society
is "..."
As one critic points out, "..."
John Doe believes that "..."
Jane Doe claims that "..."
In the words of John Doe, "..."