On Quotations

There are two kinds of quotations:

1) embedded: these quotations are placed inside a sentence you've written.

- Example: Jing Mei purposely disappoints her mother because she "does not want to be what [she's] not" (191). In other words, she wants to be her own person, to define her identity for herself. She does not want her mother to define it for her.
- Such sentences must illustrate an analytical point about the quotation.
- Often, they are followed by another sentence or two that analyzes the quotation in further detail.

2) framed quotations: these quotations are not embedded but represent sentences unto themselves.

Such quotations use the following format:

- A sentence to introduce the quotation
- The quotation itself
- Analysis of the quotation
  - - Should be 2x length of the quotation

Example: Even though Jing Mei continually disappoints her mother and father, she loves them deeply. She says, "I felt the shame of my mother and father as they sat stiffly throughout the rest of the show" (196). Her sense of shame shows that she is very sensitive to her parents' feelings. It suggests that underneath her resistance to her mother's wishes lies a strong connection and bond with her.

3) Quotations must be followed by the page number in parentheses after the quotation or end of the sentence.

- See the above examples
- Note that the period always comes after the closing quotation mark and the parentheses.
- You do not need to write a 'p.' for page number

4) Try not to follow a quotation with a sentence that begins: "This quotation shows that . . ." Instead, just state what the quotation shows. In other words, do NOT do the following:

"So maybe I never gave myself a fair chance"(194). This quotation shows that Jing Mei, in looking back on her life, realizes that she purposely denied herself the opportunity to succeed.

Also, do not introduce a quotation with a page number: "On page 194 . . ."

a. Do this instead: "So maybe I never gave myself a fair chance" (194). Jing Mei thus indicates her awareness, upon looking back on her life, that she purposely denied herself the opportunity to succeed.

b. Or, even better: By commenting that she "never gave [her]self a fair chance," Jing Mei shows her awareness, upon looking back on her life, that she purposely denied herself the opportunity to succeed (194).

TIP: Never use a longer quotation than you need. In other words, quote the least amount of text necessary to make your point.