Embedded Quotations

Embedding Quotes

​Textual Evidence

​Academic writing... Analysis essays... require supporting evidence.

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This evidence = quotes from the text.

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​​Essays call for the student's own ideas and discussion of the topic SUPPORTED BY quotes from the text.

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​When using QUOTES, there should be a smooth transition.

​Placing the quote in the context of your writing...

​​Original Text by John Doe: "As Sarah walked up the stairs, she came upon John, waiting at her door wig her favorite flowers and a sorrowful expression on his face."

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Embedding the Quote: John exhibits his true feelings for Sarah when she finds him "waiting at her door with her favorite flowers and a sorrowful expression on his face" (Doe 75).​

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​Followed by further discussion and explanation...

Open Ended

What could be a follow-up explanation sentence for this embedded quote?

John exhibits his true feelings for Sarah when she finds him "waiting at her door with her favorite flowers and a sorrowful expression on his face" (Doe 75).​

Multiple Choice

The quote should only be a small part of my writing.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

In order to embed a quote correctly, I should have an introductory explanation before and after the quote.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of the following embedded quote has the best introductory explanation?

• The American dream is believed to be “a dream of getting ahead painted in strokes of gold wherever we look” (Zinsser 93).

• Zinsser explains it's “a dream of getting ahead painted in strokes of gold wherever we look” (93).

Multiple Choice

Which of the following embedded quotes has the strongest introduction?

• For some Americans, achieving and maintaining their American Dream is easy, but for others “that comfortable and content lifestyle is harder to achieve and maintain” (Wallechinsky 60).

• In America “that comfortable and content lifestyle is harder to achieve and maintain” (Wallechinsky 60).

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a properly embedded quote?

• Hughes shows how Americans have to maintain hope that people will be treated fair and that “equality [should be] in the air we breathe” (38).

• “Equality [should be] in the air we breathe” (Hughes 38). Americans should maintain hope that people will be treated fairly.

​Brackets...

​Brackets [ ] are used when you need to change a verb tense or a few words in the quote to make it grammatically correct within the sentence.

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​Notice the brackets...

​Hughes shows how Americans have to maintain hope that people will be treated fair and that "equality [should be] in the air we breathe" (38).

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​The original line is Equity is in the air we breathe.

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​is... changed to... should be

Open Ended

"I took the one less traveled by," is used in the following:

He was faced with a difficult decision which took him time to ponder, and “[He] took the one less traveled by” (Line 19).

Why is the word 'he' in brackets?

​Ellipses...

​Sometimes we don't need the full quote. We can take parts out by using ellipses...

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​Ellipses = . . .

​The 3 dots with spaces in between mean that words have been taken out.

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​Ellipses example:

Original: "I stopped believing in Santa Clause​ when my mother took me to see him in a department store, and he asked for my autograph." (Actress Shirly Temple)

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​With ellipses: "I stopped believing in Santa Clause when . . . he asked for my autograph."

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Multiple Choice

Look at the original quote. Which answer uses ellipses correctly?

I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. - Thoreau

• Thoreau argues that "if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams . . . . he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

• Thoreau argues that "if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams . . . he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

• Thoreau argues that ". . . if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams . . . he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

• Thoreau argues that, "if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours . . . ."

Open Ended

Embed the following quote using an explanation BEFORE and AFTER:

“The American dream comes from opportunity. The opportunity comes from our founding principles, our core values that’s held together and protected by the Constitution. Those ideas are neither Republican, Democrat, conservative, liberal, white, or black. Those are American ideologies.”—Ted Yoho, United States Representative

Poll

How do you feel about how to embed quotes.

• I get it!

• I'm starting to understand but need a little more practice.

• I'm confused and don't understand.

Poll

How do you feel about your writing in general?

• I feel pretty good and about where I should be.

• I can see where I need to improve and can do that on my own.

• I'm not doing very well and would like some extra writing workshops.