SIGNAL PHRASES What are they? Why should I use them? When and how should I use them?

1. SIGNAL PHRASES What are they? Why should I use them? When and how should I use them?

2. Signal Phrases • Purpose: introduce quotations • Signal phrases help readers move from your words to the words of a source without feeling a jolt. • What you must do: • provide clear signal phrases, usually including the speaker or author's name, to prepare readers for a quotation

3. Varying Signal Phrases • To avoid monotony, try to vary both the language and the placement of your signal phrases. • When your signal phrase includes a verb, choose one that is appropriate in the context. • Is your source • arguing a point • making an observation • reporting a fact • drawing a conclusion • refuting an argument • stating a belief? • By choosing the appropriate verb, you can make your source's stance clear.

4. Practice Scenario #1: Comma Splice Stinky example: • His peers and colleagues hold him in high regard,"They speak highly of his ability" (502). A comma splice occurs when you link two independent clauses [complete sentences] with a mere comma. You will need to connect to the two sentences with a conjunction instead: _________________, FANBOYS _________________.

5. A possible revision: • It is clear that the protagonist's colleagues hold him in high regard when all "'speak highly of his ability'" (502). • The new signal phrase gives the reader an idea of the importance of the quotation. • Quoting quoted material!

6. Practice Scenario #2: Dropped Quotation Jack Potter's bride broke the mold. "The bride was not pretty, nor was she very young" (211). This is a dropped quotation. (A  "dropped quotation” refers to any rough patch in your prose where your words fail to smoothly and coherently introduce the quoted words.)

7. A possible revision • Jack Potter's bride broke the mold because she "was not pretty, nor was she very young" (211). • Notice how the writer choose only as much of the quotation as needed to make her point.

8. Practice Scenario #3: Incorrect main subject • Paragraph 15 says, "Chances to marry had come time after time, but she had turned her back on them all" (503). • A paragraph doesn’t talk. 

9. A possible revision • The narrator of the story reveals that although “chances to marry had come time after time…she had turned her back on them all" (503). • The revision offers a much clearer idea to the reader what the importance of the quotation will be. Note how the ellipsis is used to indicate word(s) deleted from the original quotation. This makes for a smoother sentence grammatically.

10. Practice Scenario #4: Using the colon • Ms. Mo told us an interesting fact: “One person in Africa dies of AIDS/HIV every eight seconds.” • Notice the COLON is used when you use a complete sentence prior to introducing a quote.

11. Verbs for Signal Phrases • Author is neutral adds records comments relates describes reports explains says illustrates sees notes thinks observes writes points out

12. Verbs for Signal Phrases • Author infers or suggests analyzes proposes asks reveals assesses shows concludes speculates considers suggests finds supposes predicts

13. Verbs for Signal Phrases • Author argues alleges defends asserts disagrees believes holds claims insists contends maintains declares

14. Verbs for Signal Phrases • Author agrees acknowledges concedes admits confirms agrees grants concurs • Author is uneasy or disparaging   belittles deprecates bemoans derides complains disputes condemns laments deplores warns