The key to 3s on SARs

Embedding Quotes

Incorporating quotes

There are two ways to incorporate quotes:

1)Using a full quote

2)Using an embedded or integrated quote

Using a Full QuoteWhen you incorporate a full quote, you

should introduce the quote and then follow with a full sentence of quoted material:

Example: My friend Bob says, “The safety corridor is a huge improvement in terms of saving lives.”

Using an Embedded QuoteWhen you incorporate an embedded or

integrated quote, you should introduce the quote and continue that same sentence with a partial sentence of quoted material woven in: Example: Bob also argues that “the old speed limit was particularly dangerous” because of the aggressive traffic crossing 101 at Indianola.

Weak vs. Strong

Really good embedded quotes work well within the context of your own ideas. They sound like they could be your own words.

Weak = The author states, “Genetic engineering is man playing God (Mehrens, “Genetics”).”

Strong = The benefits of genetic engineering do not outweigh “the moral and ethical dilemma created by the blatant manipulation of life” (Mehrens, “Genetics”)

Grammar

Quotes must be used in grammatically accurate sentences.

Example:WRONG: The author disagrees “genetic

engineering is the best thing there ever was” (Cite 22).

RIGHT: The author disagrees, saying that “genetic engineering is the best thing there ever was” (Cite 22).

Identifying SourcesOne way to identify a source in your text

is simply identify it by using a phrase, such as “According to”:

Example: According to an article in the Times

Standard, “Bugs fly,”

Remember, if you use the source word-for-word, you have to put quotes around the language.

Identifying Sources Cont…

You may also use internal citations to identify sources.

Example: The ethical issue of genetic engineering is “nondescript and difficult to discuss” (Mehrens 47).

Literary Present Tense

When you refer to a text, you have to write about it in the present tense:

ExampleJ.T. Gatto writes that “I don’t teach English.”

(Note: it’s “writes” not “wrote”, even though he did it in the past tense. The reason we do this is because texts never age, authors do.

Authors Don’t “Say”

Remember, authors aren’t talking, so they don’t “say”; they “write”, “argue”, “note”, “describe”, “posit”, “speculate”, etc.

Identifying TitlesTitles of other people’s essay go in

quotes: “The Seven-Lesson Schoolteacher”. (Your own title does not go in quotes.)

Titles of books are italicized, as are names of newspapers, films, CDs.

In general, the smaller thing goes in quotes (such as a song title), but the larger thing it comes from is italicized, such as the CD.

Tips on embedding quotes:

Ellipsis: Use an ellipsis to show an omission. Brackets: use them to include explanatory words or

phrases within quoted languageParaphrase: to give your concrete detail contextDo embed and/or integrate the author’s words and

always put a spin to your commentary that connects the text to a deeper level of thinking

DO NOT use: “I believe,” “The reader can infer,” “I can infer that”

Do be assertive and have confidence in your abilities to explicate