Do not insert a quotation solely for its literary merits. If a quotation begins the sentence, set it off with a comma from the unquoted part of the sentence unless how to cite an article in an essay example it ends with a question mark or exclamation point. Because the explanatory words simply continue the sentence, do not begin them with a capital letter.
Notice as well the punctuation of the sentences above in relation to the quotations. For whatever reason, this is the way we do it in America. In England, though, the commas and periods go outside of the final punctuation mark. A signal phrase is a short introduction phrase that indicates that a quote or paraphrase is coming. By introducing a quotation or paraphrase with a signal phrase, you provide an effective transition between your own ideas and the evidence used to explore your ideas. The quote you use for the introduction should not stand alone in the essay. Also, while mentioning the quote, you should punctuate it appropriately by using quotation marks around them.
How do you greet a audience when presenting a speech?
After you provide a quotation, explain how the quotation supports your idea and/or add commentary about what the quotation expresses. Doing this will help your writing flow smoothly and make you seem credible as a writer. However, it is appropriate to use quotations in your writing, especially in research writing. Even in research writing, quotations should be used to support your ideas! Let’s review some guidelines for using quotations in your writing.
Used effectively, quotations can provide important pieces of evidence and lend fresh voices and perspectives to your narrative. Used ineffectively, however, quotations can clutter your text and interrupt the flow of your argument. This handout will help you decide when and how to quote like a pro. A colon can also be used to introduce a quotation if it is preceded by a complete sentence . Use a full sentence followed by a colon to introduce a quotation. We hope you are now clear about how to begin an essay with a quote. In general, choosing a quote for introducing an essay is a time-consuming process.
“Huckleberry Finn” PowerPoint to Introduce Mark Twain and the Novel
Reproduce the spelling, capitalization, and internal punctuation of the original exactly. H. Lawrence’s maxim, “Books are not life,” the first is not acceptable in some style systems. Show the importance of the quote with respect to your argument and your thesis. Explain the significance…Tell the reader why they bothered to read your essay.
You still need to use quotation marks even if you’re only quoting a few words. Pick a quotation that supports your argument and convinces your reader. Usually, it is the results of credible research, an opinion of a subject matter expert, or confirmed statistics. You can also quote from the text you’re reviewing or critiquing to back up your opinion. Apart from the standard words like “believes” or “notes,” you can use dozens of synonyms as quote starters.
Provide Commentary after Quotations
If you do quote in the first paragraph, make sure it is short and to the point. All the quotes you use in your essay require proper acknowledgment. If you use any quote in your essay, then be certain to mention from where you took that quote because acknowledging the source will enhance the credibility of your essay. When you include quotes in your essay, remember to follow a proper citation essay format. The quote you use should be relevant to your essay topic or thesis. Make sure to establish a connection between the quotation and the topic of your essay. Most importantly, explain how the quote supports your argument or opinion about a certain essay topic.
As a member, you’ll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you succeed. When quoting poetry, indicate line breaks with a slash mark. Reinforcement – Quotes reinforce your argument because they offer a second voice in support of your claim. Here are some things to consider when using a quote in introduction. The quote you use should be tailored to the interests and values of your specific audience.
Have you ever wanted to put a block quote in your essay, but you dont know how? If your answer is yes, then you just
This lets the reader know that you have borrowed from another writer. As long as you use quotation marks and cite the source where you got the material, you can use someone else’s ideas without plagiarizing. It would be hard to write a good essaywithout quoting sources. And as well as using quote marks, this means working quotations into your own writing. In this post, we provide a few helpful tips on how to introduce quotes in academic writing. To put a quote in an essay, incorporate it directly into a sentence if it’s shorter than 4 typed lines. For example, you could write “According to researchers,” and then insert the quote.
Do not use ellipses at the beginning or ending of quotations, unless it’s important for the reader to know that the quotation was truncated. Be sure that you don’t fundamentally change the meaning of the quotation by omitting material. Twenty times, in the course of my late reading, have I been on the point of breaking out, ‘this would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it!!!! ’ But in this exclamation, I should have been as fanatical as Bryant or Cleverly. Without religion, this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in public company—I mean hell. Note that when you use “that” after the verb that introduces the quote, you no longer need a comma.
Use the words of the quote grammatically within your own sentence. Interrupt the quote with an attribution to the speaker. Again, you will need to use a comma after the verb, as well as a comma leading into the attribution.
- Another way to use ellipses is to shorten a longer quote that includes multiple sentences.
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- You can also use square brackets to show that you changed or added some words.
- Reinforcement – Quotes reinforce your argument because they offer a second voice in support of your claim.
- The quote you use in your essay must sync with the purpose of your topic appropriately.
While introducing a quotation, use a full sentence followed by a colon. Considering all these ways to introduce a quote in an essay tips on how to start an essay with a quote will help you to select the right quote.
What words should I use to start a speech?
Remember, being selective with quotes and using them strategically will make your speech or essay much stronger than packing in lots of quotes and drowning out your own voice. Whatever direction your speech or essay takes, there’s a host of quotations to choose from.
Here are some common disadvantages of starting an essay with a quote. In progress report 12, Steven explains “This is not a real quote; this is a formatting example” . Typically, you can use a quote from a pop culture celebrity or popular personality to attract the general audience. But to connect with more specific audiences, you should choose a source that is fitting your target audience. Using a quote in your paper is pretty straightforward; quoting a quote, however, requires a little more attention to detail. Long quotes should be typed on a free standing block and indented at ½ Inch from the left margin.
Use block quotations sparingly
If it’s a quote that’s been repeated or retweeted a thousand times, it starts to lose its weight, much like a cliché. Introduce your quote – If your quote isn’t from a well-known figure, introduce the person you’re quoting.
You can use questions or trivial facts leading up to the quote to intrigue your readers. It should set up the rest of the essay without going on too long. I would like to extend a special thank you to my friend and fellow grammar enthusiast Lisa for contributing to this post. In a future post, I will discuss block quotations, which are longer quotations that stand apart from the surrounding text.