Integrating and Blending Quotes

​Integrating and Blending Quotes

By Elizabeth Rauscher

• Today's Learning Target: You will master three techniques for seamlessly integrating quotes into your analysis papers

• Think about this: What makes a quote feel natural versus awkward in an essay?

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​Blending and Integrating Quotes

• Poorly integrated quotes stick out like broken glass in your writing

• Well-blended quotes support your arguments like strong foundation stones

• Your voice should remain the dominant one, with quotes as supporting evidence

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​Why it Matters

When Jerry decides to swim through the tunnel, the author builds suspense by describing Jerry “trembling with horror at that long, long tunnel under the rock, under the sea” (34).

​Sudent Two

In paragraph 34, the narrator explains, “He was trembling with horror at that long, long tunnel under the rock, under the sea.”

​Student One

Introducing Quotes

1. It must always be clear who is speaking, thinking, or writing at this moment in the text.

2. Sometimes add additional context if it makes your evidence clearer, such as:

   1. when it is happening

   2. what is happening at that moment

   3. where it is taking place

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​When Providing Context

3. You can also explain the quotations' relevance to your argument.

   1. This can be thought of as putting part of your explanation before the quotation.

   2. If an author uses as specific literary technique, you might also include this in the context.

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​When Providing Context

Open Ended

In your own words, how does using context before a quotation improve your writing?

Multiple Choice

Which introduction phrase best introduces this quote: "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?"

• Romeo says

• Romeo's famous balcony speech begins when he romantically observes

• The quote is

•  In the play Romeo states

Open Ended

Refer back to Act 1, Scene 5, then provide the context for the quotation below.

Take only one line and provide the who, what, and where. YOU MUST INCLUDE THE QUOTE.

Romeo

O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night

As a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear — 

Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear (1.5.43-47).

Eugene’s house was unique because it was “the only house on the block that had a yard and trees” (6).

​Blending Quotes

When describing where Eugene’s family lives, Elena explains, “Eugene and his family had moved into the only house on the block that had a yard and trees” (6).

​Quote Introduction

Blending Quotes

Sometimes, instead of introducing a quotation with context, it makes more sense to blend part of the quotation directly into your context.

It allows you to:
- Focus on the most important part of the quote
- Share several pieces of evidence quickly
- Sound more natural and improve the flow of your writing.

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​Why Blend Quotes

Open Ended

In your own words, how is blending a quote different from introducing a quote with context?

Multiple Choice

Choose the best example of partial quote integration:

• Romeo describes Juliet as having beauty that "doth teach the torches to burn bright" rather than simply calling her pretty (1.5.44).

• "She doth teach the torches to burn bright" (1.5.44) is what Romeo says about Juliet.

• Romeo thinks Juliet is beautiful: "She doth teach the torches to burn bright" (1.5.44).

• Juliet is beautiful according to Romeo.

Open Ended

Using that same earlier quote, now blend portions of the quote to describe Romeo's immediate attraction to Juliet.

Use no more than 4 words from your quote.

Romeo

O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night

As a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear — 

Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear (1.5.43-47).

• Make quotes fit your sentence structure naturally

• Use brackets [ ] to modify words for grammar: "The narrator states that '[he] cannot forget the incident'"

• Use ellipses (...) to remove unnecessary parts: "The author explains that 'students must learn...to think critically'"

• Maintain proper verb tenses and pronoun agreement

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​Blending Quotes Grammatically

Multiple Choice

Which example properly blends a quote grammatically into the sentence?

• Juliet asks "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" (2.2.33) about why he has to be a Montague.

• Juliet wonders why Romeo must be a Montague when she asks, "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" (2.2.33).

• Juliet questions Romeo's identity, asking why "[he] must be Romeo" and a member of the rival family (2.2.33).

• "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" (2.2.33). This shows Juliet's frustration.

Multiple Choice

Choose the best use of ellipses to shorten this quote: "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name."

• Juliet pleads, "O Romeo, Romeo...refuse thy name", showing her desire for Romeo to abandon his family identity (2.2.33-34).

• "O Romeo, Romeo...Deny thy father and refuse thy name" (2.2.33-34).

• Juliet says "O Romeo, Romeo..." (2.2.33-34) in the balcony scene.

•  "...wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father..." (2.2.33-34) shows Juliet's conflict.

Multiple Choice

 Which example properly maintains verb tense consistency?

• Tybalt declared that he "will not endure" Romeo's presence at the party (1.5.76).

• Tybalt declares that he "will not endure" Romeo's presence at the party (1.5.76).

• Tybalt had declared that he "will not endure" Romeo's presence at the party (1.5.76).

• Tybalt would declare that he "will not endure" Romeo's presence at the party (1.5.76).

• Weave key phrases into your own sentences instead of using full quotes

• Example: Rather than a full quote, use "The character's 'desperate longing' for acceptance drives the plot forward"

• This technique keeps your voice strong while using the author's powerful language

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​Using Partial Quotes

• Follow the 80/20 rule: 80% your analysis, 20% quotes and evidence

• Choose quality over quantity - one perfect quote beats three mediocre ones

• Each quote should advance your argument, not just fill space

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80/20 Rule

Multiple Choice

 Which example best follows the 80/20 rule (more analysis than quotes)?

• "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet" (2.2.43-44). "So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title" (2.2.45-47).

• Juliet's famous rose speech demonstrates her mature understanding that names are merely labels that don't change a person's essential nature, as she argues that Romeo "would...retain that dear perfection" regardless of his family name (2.2.45-47).

• Juliet talks about roses and names in Act 2, Scene 2.

• "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet" (2.2.43-44) is Juliet's opinion about names.

• The "Quote Drop": Placing quotes without introduction or explanation

• The "Quote Takeover": Letting quotes dominate your paragraph

• The "Frankenstein": Stitching quotes together without your own analysis

• The "Citation Confusion": Forgetting proper MLA or APA format

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Multiple Choice

Which example maintains the writer's voice while using textual evidence?

• "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun" (2.2.2-3).

• Romeo compares Juliet to the sun. "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun" (2.2.2-3).

• Romeo's poetic nature emerges as he transforms Juliet into a celestial being, declaring that she "is the sun" that brightens his world (2.2.3).

• In the balcony scene, Romeo speaks about light and the sun.

Multiple Choice

Choose the example that best explains how the quote supports the argument:

• Romeo is impulsive: "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!" (1.5.52).

• Romeo compares Romeo says "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!" (1.5.52) which is impulsive.

• "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!" (1.5.52) shows Romeo's personality.

• Romeo demonstrates his impulsive nature when he immediately questions his previous feelings, asking "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!" (1.5.52). This sudden shift from Rosaline to Juliet proves he makes emotional decisions without careful thought.

Multiple Choice

Choose the best partial quote integration:

• Lady Capulet describes Paris as "a flower" when trying to convince Juliet to marry him (1.3.78).

• "Read o'er the volume of young Paris' face and find delight writ there with beauty's pen" (1.3.81-82).

• Lady Capulet tells Juliet to look at Paris: "Read o'er the volume of young Paris' face" (1.3.81).

• Lady Capulet thinks Paris is handsome and tells Juliet to examine his face.

Multiple Choice

Which example avoids letting quotes dominate the paragraph?

• Juliet shows maturity beyond her years when she recognizes that superficial labels cannot change someone's true character, wisely observing that a rose "by any other word would smell as sweet" (2.2.44).

• "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, and for that name, which is no part of thee, take all myself" (2.2.43-47).

• Juliet says many things about names and roses in the balcony scene.

• "What's in a name?" (2.2.43) and "So Romeo would...retain that dear perfection" (2.2.45-47) show Juliet's thoughts.

Multiple Choice

Which example best demonstrates seamless quote integration?

• Romeo's impulsive decision-making becomes clear when he abandons all thoughts of Rosaline after one glance at Juliet, immediately questioning whether his "heart love[d] till now" (1.5.52).

• Romeo is impulsive. "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!" (1.5.52).

• "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night" (1.5.52-53). This quote shows Romeo's impulsiveness.

• Romeo asks if his heart loved before and says he never saw beauty until now.