WRITING TIPS LESSON
EFFECTIVE QUOTATIONS
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Tip #1--Support your point
Remember the purpose of quoting is to support **your** point. Therefore, do not use a quotation to convey a point to your reader. You make the point and use the author you are quoting to support **your** point. Go back and look at the two examples. Which one uses the quotation to make a point, and which one uses the quotation to support the writer's point?
Tip #2--Sandwich quotations
Remember to sandwich your quotation. Because of Tip #1, you must lead into your quotation and provide follow-up. Therefore, do not begin or end a paragraph with a quotation. And most certainly do not make the quotation the whole paragraph. See MLA or APA guidelines for block quotations when you have a quotation of more than four lines. But even if you use a block quotation you need to sandwich it. Which example from the first page sandwiches the quotation?
Remember the purpose of quoting is to support **your** point. Therefore, do not use a quotation to convey a point to your reader. You make the point and use the author you are quoting to support **your** point. Go back and look at the two examples. Which one uses the quotation to make a point, and which one uses the quotation to support the writer's point?
Tip #2--Sandwich quotations
Remember to sandwich your quotation. Because of Tip #1, you must lead into your quotation and provide follow-up. Therefore, do not begin or end a paragraph with a quotation. And most certainly do not make the quotation the whole paragraph. See MLA or APA guidelines for block quotations when you have a quotation of more than four lines. But even if you use a block quotation you need to sandwich it. Which example from the first page sandwiches the quotation?
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Copyright Ida L. Rodgers, 2004
Updated February 3, 2012
Updated February 3, 2012