Integrating Quotations into Sentences

The Attribution tag…

Introductory phrases with the proper punctuation are the most common signals to a reader that you are presenting another author's ideas. Without an introductory phrase, a quotation.

Definition: When a piece of work is credited to someone, we say that the work is an attribution to that person.

"must quote"

• involves noting down a source’s exact words. When you quote, it is important that you respect the original text:

 Use quotation marks.

 Copy the text carefully, with punctuation, capitalization, and spelling exactly as in the original.

 Punctuate any unavoidable modifications, using ellipses ( . . . ) to indicate deletions and brackets [ ] to indicate additions.

 Use a parenthetical citation to show your reader how to find bibliographic information about the text.

 Use a Works Cited list to provide the source info.

paRTIAL QUOTE 

Fred Barnes takes issue with others on such topics of "conventional wisdom" that paternal instincts, specifically, "being a dad" is considerably difficult, even compared to the roles of the mother (649).

The notion of “quality time” was popular with overworked parents back in the 1980s, but it has always been more a wish than a reality. Today, most parents understand that bonding is less reliant on "plan[ning] magic moments" in establishing relationships with kids (Barnes 605).  

paraphrase 

• accurately states the relevant information from a passage in your own words. Use paraphrase when you want to cite ideas from a source but have no need to quote the exact words.

When you paraphrase, remember these guidelines:

 STAY OBJECTIVE: Check your paraphrase against the original text to be sure you’re accurately representing the writer’s ideas.

 ATTRIBUTION TAG: Give the writer credit for his or her ideas by mentioning the name and/or by using a parenthetical citation.

 Use a Works Cited list to provide the necessary bibliographical info.

Examples of paraphrase

• Like mothers, fathers have to juggle their responsibilities at home and at work. Although they are seldom praised for being there when their children need them, they are blamed – and they feel guilty – when they fail to show up (Barnes 651).

• Barnes points out that fathers, too, have to juggle their responsibilities at home and at work.

• Although they are seldom praised for being there when their children need them, they are blamed – and they feel guilty – when they fail to show up (651).

Example of a Works Cited entry

Barnes, Fred. “Quantity Time.” The Presence of Others: Voices and Images That Call for Response. Ed. Andrea A. Lunsford and John J.      Ruszkiewicz. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2000. 649-652.

integrate quotations (remember! contextualize!)

Make the quotation a part of your own sentence without any punctuation between your own words and the words you are quoting. 

• • • Notice that the word "that" is used in examples. 

    • When it is used as it is in the example, "that" replaces the comma which would be necessary without "that" in the sentence. You usually have a choice, then, when you begin a sentence with a phrase such as "Thoreau says." You either can add a comma after "says," or you can add the word "that" with no comma.

      • • Jerry Seinfield once said that there are “Four Levels of Comedy: make your friends laugh, make strangers laugh, get paid to make strangers laugh, and make people talk like you because it's so much fun."

Use short quotations--only a few words--as part of your own sentence. 

• • • When you integrate quotations in this way, you do not use any special punctuation. 

    • Instead, you should punctuate the sentence just as you would if all of the words were your own.

      • • An Irish saying reminds us that friends that “gossip with you” may also be friends that gossip about you. 

Your Turn (practice activity):

Author: Ray Charles  - "I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great."

Author: Homer Simpson  - "Remember as far as anyone knows, we're a nice normal family"

Author: Indira Gandhi - "Where there is love there is life."

Author: Red Barber - "Baseball is dull only to dull minds." 

Author: Vince Lombardi - "If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?"