TLQs: Incorporating Quotes into Sentences
A TLQ is a complete sentence that is made up of three parts:
Transition + lead-in + quote
A transition begins your sentence and helps you move from an idea in your paragraph to a specific example.
Transition words | For example, for instance, in addition, also, however, furthermore, finally |
A lead-in comes next and explains the context, or what’s going on around the quote you chose. You can answer, “Who? What? Where? When?” in your lead-in.
Words to begin your lead-in | while, after, before, despite, instead, even though, since, although, as, because |
Finally, your quote will end your TLQ sentence. A quote does NOT have to be dialogue. It can be any part of the text that you are analyzing. A quote, even if it’s a complete sentence, cannot exist as its own sentence in an essay. That is called a FLOATING QUOTE - avoid these! A quote should be copied word-for-word. Your quote must be in quotation marks and followed with the page number and a period.
For example, after Scout pummels Walter Cunningham in the schoolyard, she says, “He made me start off on the wrong foot” (27).
In addition, while spending Christmas at Finches Landing, Francis tells Scout that Atticus is “runnin’ the family” (87).
Furthermore, when Scout and Jem are walking home from the pageant, they hear a man “running towards them with no child’s steps” (264).