How and When to use a Quote
By John Dunham, Antioch Virtual Writing Center
An Overview
1: Standards & Things to Avoid
2: Why use a Quote?
3: Key Tools for Integrating Quotes
4: Considering Some Examples
1. Standards for Using Quotes
Use quotes “ ” every time you use someone else’s words.
Only key terms are exempt
Example: antisocial personality disorder does not require quotes
Always include context and a citation.
Use quotes sparingly – paraphrase or summarize when possible.
1. Some Things to Avoid
2. Why Use a Quote?
2. Why Use a Quote -Evidence
The source is providing evidence for your argument, and that source does so clearly and succinctly.
Examples:
2. Why Use a Quote -Analysis
Showing the reader what someone else said so that you can effectively respond.
Examples:
3. Key Tools for Integrating Quotes
When you use a quote, you should nearly always include:
If possible, also include:
3. Key Tools: Source Type
Use a few words to make the kind of source, and thus the value of the evidence, clear to the reader:
A systematic review…
3. Key Tools: Author Context
Use a few words to introduce the critical context for these authors:
A systematic review by epidemiologists at Johns Hopkins University …
3. Key Tools: Quoted Text “ ”
Use the shortest clear and relevant part of the quote to make your point:
A systematic review by epidemiologists at Johns Hopkins University concluded that “the SARS-COV2 virus has a wide variety of traits indicating it evolved in the wild, and there is no indication whatsoever of human intervention in its genome” …
3. Key Tools: Citation
Always include a citation, with a page number in most styles, and to the original publication whenever possible:
A systematic review by epidemiologists at Johns Hopkins University concluded that “the SARS-COV2 virus has a wide variety of traits indicating it evolved in the wild, and there is no indication whatsoever of human intervention in its genome” (Carrera et al., 2020, p. 36).
3. Key Tools: Connection to Your Argument
Wrap up the quote with a sentence explaining what it means for your overall argument:
A systematic review by epidemiologists at Johns Hopkins University concluded that “the SARS-COV2 virus has a wide variety of traits indicating it evolved in the wild, and there is no indication whatsoever of human intervention in its genome” (Carrera et al., 2020, p. 36). In so far as any research can be conclusive, this shows that SARS-COV2 is a wild virus, and that speculation that it escaped from a lab is scientifically unsupportable.
3. Key Tools: Connection to Other Evidence
When possible, also put this in context with other evidence:
A systematic review by epidemiologists at Johns Hopkins University concluded that “the SARS-COV2 virus has a wide variety of traits indicating it evolved in the wild, and there is no indication whatsoever of human intervention in its genome” (Carrera et al., 2020, p. 36). In so far as any research can be conclusive, this shows that SARS-COV2 is a wild virus, and that speculation that it escaped from a lab is scientifically unsupportable. As discussed earlier, however, humans rarely consider the weight of the evidence for a claim when deciding whether they find it plausible. Instead, more often, we consider the emotional salience of the claim (Kahneman, 2011).
3. Key Tools: Synthesize a take-away
When possible, also give the reader a clear take-away:
A systematic review by epidemiologists at Johns Hopkins University concluded that “the SARS-COV2 virus has a wide variety of traits indicating it evolved in the wild, and there is no indication whatsoever of human intervention in its genome” (Carrera et al., 2020, p. 36). In so far as any research can be conclusive, this shows that SARS-COV2 is a wild virus, and that speculation that it escaped from a lab is scientifically unsupportable. As discussed earlier, however, humans rarely consider the weight of the evidence for a claim when deciding whether they find it plausible; instead, more often, we consider the emotional salience of the claim (Kahneman, 2011). The idea that COVID-19 is caused by a lab escapee makes no sense scientifically, but it aligns our strong emotional response to COVID-19 with an equally-emotionally-salient cause. The true cause, random evolution of a natural virus followed by a random spillover event, has little emotional salience. Thus, when humans superficially compare the truth to the conspiracy theory, the truth feels fundamentally unsatisfying, and the conspiracy feels fundamentally attractive.
3. Key Tools for Integrating Quotes Recap
When you use a quote, you should nearly always include:
If possible, also include:
4. Considering Some Examples
Are all of these present?
Teenagers will not be changing the world if they are constantly thinking about mediocre things such as racial issues that really do not apply as much today as it did back then. There is a quote by King I memorized, it says “Non-violence brings the ugliness of racism.” Martin Luther King knew the future of America is in the potential of young adults today.
4. Considering Some Examples
Are all of these present?
Teenagers will not be changing the world if they are constantly thinking about mediocre things such as racial issues that really do not apply as much today as it did back then. There is a quote by King I memorized, it says “Non-violence brings the ugliness of racism.” Martin Luther King knew the future of America is in the potential of young adults today.
4. Considering Some Examples
Are all of these present?
Alcohol is a powerful substance. According to an anonymous source (as cited in Patterson, Albala, McCahill, & Edwards, 2010), “alcohol has been called the 'universal solvent': It dissolves stomachs, livers, brains, jobs, families, bank accounts, credit ratings, drivers' licenses, and the future hopes and dreams of those who suffer from alcoholism” (p.144). The battle to stay clean and sober is a prevalent issue in the United States.
4. Considering Some Examples
Are all of these present?
Alcohol is a powerful substance. According to an anonymous source (as cited in Patterson, Albala, McCahill, & Edwards, 2010), “alcohol has been called the 'universal solvent': It dissolves stomachs, livers, brains, jobs, families, bank accounts, credit ratings, drivers' licenses, and the future hopes and dreams of those who suffer from alcoholism” (p.144). The battle to stay clean and sober is a prevalent issue in the United States.
4. Considering Some Examples
Are all of these present?
According to Barry J. Zimmerman, “Low-achieving children who observe an adult model arithmetic operations while verbalizing the underlying cognitive strategies display greater acquisition of perceived efficacy and academic skills than youngsters who receive didactic instruction involving step-by-step descriptions of the operations” (Schunk, 1981, p. 208). In other words, self-assessment of one’s ability to construct self-efficacy depends largely on the persistent academic progress within a social context of traditional teaching.
4. Considering Some Examples
Are all of these present?
According to Barry J. Zimmerman, “Low-achieving children who observe an adult model arithmetic operations while verbalizing the underlying cognitive strategies display greater acquisition of perceived efficacy and academic skills than youngsters who receive didactic instruction involving step-by-step descriptions of the operations” (Schunk, 1981, p. 208). In other words, self-assessment of one’s ability to construct self-efficacy depends largely on the persistent academic progress within a social context of traditional teaching.
4. Considering Some Examples
Are all of these present?
Metacognitive research can help to answer questions about the selection and continuation of thought suppression and mindfulness strategies. Metacognition is defined as “cognition applied to cognition. It monitors, controls, and appraises the products and process of awareness” (Wells, 2009, p.1). A key assumption of metacognitive science is that people take an active role in influencing their attentional, affective, and cognitive states.
4. Considering Some Examples
Are all of these present?
Metacognitive research can help to answer questions about the selection and continuation of thought suppression and mindfulness strategies. Metacognition is defined as “cognition applied to cognition. It monitors, controls, and appraises the products and process of awareness” (Wells, 2009, p.1). A key assumption of metacognitive science is that people take an active role in influencing their attentional, affective, and cognitive states.
4. Considering Some Examples
Are all of these present?
More recent literature on teaching for transfer has begun to unpack the fundamental ways writers engage with new tasks (Yancy, Robertson, and Taczak). Yancy et al. show in their study how writers may combine prior knowledge imperfectly with new information in a “remix” approach as they endeavor to “transfer approaches from one writing task to another” (104). Since Writing Centers provide opportunities for a writer to discover and integrate new approaches, it follows that an imperfect application of feedback might actually indicate successful growth.
4. Considering Some Examples
Are all of these present?
More recent literature on teaching for transfer has begun to unpack the fundamental ways writers engage with new tasks (Yancy, Robertson, and Taczak). Yancy et al. show in their study how writers may combine prior knowledge imperfectly with new information in a “remix” approach as they endeavor to “transfer approaches from one writing task to another” (104). Since Writing Centers provide opportunities for a writer to discover and integrate new approaches, it follows that an imperfect application of feedback might actually indicate successful growth.
Questions?
Remember to include in your own writing:
Image Credits Quotes