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Using Quotes Properly

Using Quotes Properly. Dos and Don’ts. A research paper blends your own ideas and information from expert sources. It is NOT a series of direct quotations strung together.

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Using Quotes Properly

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  1. Using Quotes Properly

  2. Dos and Don’ts • A research paper blends your own ideas and information from expert sources. It is NOT a series of direct quotations strung together. • A common complaint of faculty is students use too many direct quotes in their papers instead of formulating their own ideas about the paper topic and using quotes rather sparingly. • Use summaries and paraphrases most often to support your own ideas. • Use direct quotations only when the information is so well presented that you think the exact language of the source should be used. • Remember that when you do choose to use direct quotations, you need to retain the exact wording, spelling, and punctuation of the original source. And remember, too, that just like when using a direct quotation, you must cite your source when summarizing or paraphrasing.

  3. Using a Quote Within a Quote • If you need to quote something that already includes a quotation in it, then place the regular "double" quotation marks at the beginning and the end of the complete quotation, and use special "single" quotation marks for the quote within the quote. • Example: "Blake disposes of Menroy's definition of realism, which he calls 'naturalism in disguise'" (Zwerbe 13).

  4. Long Quotations • If you decide to use a quotation that is longer than four lines, it is not put in quotation marks but rather indented from the left. • Once again remember that you will need to document or show the source of the quotations you use, so make sure that you have recorded all necessary information about the source.

  5. Long Quotations Cont’d • Long Quotations are sometimes called “Block Quotations.” • A block quote is similar to a direct quote except that it is four or more lines in length. When a quote becomes four or more lines in length in your essay, the quote should be set off from your text. • The block quote should be double-spaced and indented ten spaces from the margin. • Also, the period goes at the end of the quote and the citation is located beside it. • It is important to understand that block quotes should not be used to pad papers for length. Misusing block quotes will detract from your credibility as a writer. • Note that block quotes do not use quotation marks to set them off from your text.

  6. Example:

  7. How Many Should I use? • For lengthy papers (15-20 pages) you should use no more than two or three blocked quotes. • Since your GP paper will be less than this, so you should only use one.

  8. Explain, Explain, Explain • Most professors will tell you not to place a quotation at the beginning or end of a paragraph. • You should NEVER end with a quote. You always want to make sure you explain the quote, and its importance and relevance to your argument.

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