INTEGRATING QUOTATIONS

Write better analysis papers!

THREE STEP MODEL

It’s as easy as 1…2…3…

Always follow this three step

model when including a direct

quotation in your papers…

STEP 1: INTRODUCE THE QUOTE

Provide the reader with context for

the quotation. • Introduce the character, the setting or

plot situation, and any other hints that will help the reader understand the excerpt as he reads.

• State the purpose of including this quote….What is it showing?

• Give credit to the author or character when appropriate

STEP TWO: STATE THE QUOTE

Select the quotation that you want to use

as evidence. • Be sure to only use as much of the excerpt

as is necessary to make your point. • Avoid the excessive use of long quotations. • Remember to cite your quotation with

correct MLA parenthetical format.

STEP THREE: INTERPRET THE QUOTE

This is the most important step in integrating a

quotation into your argument.

Specifically comment on how the quote supports

your claim/point. • Don’t just leave it up to the reader to figure it out!

Your interpretation/analysis of the text should be

greater than or equal in length to the direct quote.

EXAMPLES:

No context and no credit to the author

Columbus should be honored.

“Columbus brought the ideas and

achievements of Aristotle, Galileo,

Newton.”

EXAMPLES

Context, credit, and analysis:

According to Berliner, Columbus should be honored

because he “brought the ideas and achievements of

Aristotle, Galileo, [and] Newton” (63) to America. This

would have helped the Native Americans by bringing new

medicines and science to their community which would

make them more experienced with the culture of the

Europeans who were coming to America. Bringing these

ideas also helped create America as it is today.

EXAMPLES

No analysis, no page number:

Harjo says Columbus Day is becoming

more acceptable. “Columbus day has become

somewhat tolerable as its significance

diminished to somewhat more than a good

shopping day.”

EXAMPLES

Analysis and credit:

According to Harjo, Columbus Day has become more

“tolerable” since its significance has diminished to “somewhat

more than a good shopping day” (51). I would agree that most

people don’t recognize Columbus Day as anything more than

that, and rarely do they give any thought about what it really

means to celebrate Columbus. However, I still believe that

Columbus Day should no longer be recognized as a holiday, good

deals or not.

EXAMPLES

No analysis, no page number:

Columbus’ journal says he was not mean

to the Native Americans. “I ordered that

nothing which they had left should be taken,

not even the value of a pin.”

EXAMPLES

Introduced, analysis, proper credit:

In his own journal, Columbus stated that he committed

no wrongs against the Indians, even stating that he “ordered

nothing which they had left should be taken, not even the value of

a pin” (22). Though it cannot be argued that terrible things

happened to the Natives, it can be argued that Columbus was the

mastermind of it all or that he even condoned it. According to

him, he treated the Indians with respect and ordered his men to

do the same. If they did not, then it was there choice to break

orders, and Columbus cannot be held responsible.