Integrating Quotations / LYRICS: Strategies and Tips
1. Begin the set-up with the writer's
(or
singer's) name followed by
a strong verb.
Smith claims that
“the fossil record proves the idea of
cohabitation,” but no other scientist accepts his research (56).
THAT: With a rapid-fire delivery, J-K raps that "people don't know what to make
of me, but open your eyes and you just might see."
COMMA: With a rapid-fire delivery, J-K raps, "people don't know what to make of
me, but open your eyes and you just might see."
NO THAT OR COMMA: Roger's screams that he and his band "are going make the the
stadium rock until it turns to 12 o'clock."
2.
Introduce the quotation with a clause that names/describes the writer.
According to Smith, “the fossil record proves the idea
of cohabitation” (56).
According to a controversial writer, “the fossil record proves the idea of
cohabitation” (Smith 56).
3. Introduce the quotation with a complete sentence
followed by a colon (not
a semicolon ;
).
Smith makes a controversial claim about humans and dinosaurs: “the fossil record
proves the idea of cohabitation” (56).
Rodgers promises that the band will always satisfy
the fans: "every time we play, we blow the people away!"
Unlike most writers, Smith claims humans lived with
dinosaurs: “the fossil record proves the idea of cohabitation” (56).
4 Avoid using a quotation (or
“quotation”) as a sentence’s subject.
Not
good: “The fossil record proves the idea of cohabitation” is what Smith
says (56).
Not good: His quotation says that “The fossil record proves the idea of
cohabitation” (Smith 56).
Not
so good: He tells the story of his love with the
lyrics that say "I began as a boy and ended as a man."
Not so good: He tells the story of his love with the
verse that say "I began as a boy and ended as a man."
Not so good: He tells the story of his love with the
line that says "I began as a boy and ended as a man."
Not so good: He tells the story of his love with the
words that says "I began as a boy and ended as a man."
5. Consider
using two related quotations in a single sentence.
Smith argues that
“the fossil record proves the idea of cohabitation”
(56), but Jones says “zero evidence supports Smith’s ideas” (112).
While Smith believes “the fossil record
proves . . . cohabitation” (56), Jones insists that “zero evidence supports
Smith’s ideas” (112).
6. Consider using short quotations and/or editing your
quotations. (Don’t
pad your essay with long quotations.)
Jones laments that people readily accept “shams and delusions” while ignoring
“stone-cold facts” (113).
7.
Vary set-up verbs:
DO NOT use "sings" too often as a sentence's main verb.
He raps . . . he rhymes. . . she softy delivers . . . he celebrates . . . she
regrets that
7.
Vary set-up verbs:
says, notes,
claims, praises, attacks, observes, believes, argues, writes, regrets . . .
(Note: use present-tense verbs.) (Avoid
the world’s blandest set-up verb: states.)
8. Do not use an ellipsis at the beginning or ending of your quotation.
Not good: He believes that “. . . no one really knows . . . ” (Smith 77).
Good: He believes that “no one really knows” (Smith 77).
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FAULTY SENTENCES
A.
In this section, Thoreau explains why he abandoned civilization "I went to the
woods because I wished to live deliberately" (35).
B. Thoreau's
central philosophy appears in his repeated request for people to focus on "Our
life is frittered away by detail”
(35).
C. When he
concludes, Thoreau has a quotation, "Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in .
. . "(35).
D. The
consequences of making ourselves slaves to progress when he says, "We do not
ride on the railroad. It rides upon us. (Thoreau 35)”
E. Thoreau asks:
"Why should we live with such hurry and waste of life?" (35).
F. According to
Thoreau; "We do not ride on the railroad. It rides upon us" (35).
G. "We do not
ride on the railroad. It rides upon us" is his way of stating that we make
ourselves slaves to progress (35).
H. Thoreau argues
that " . . . delusions are esteemed for soundest truths, while reality is
fabulous." (3).
I. When a man
"drinks the stream of Time, he detects how shallow it is" says this idea.
J. In his book “Walden”,
Thoreau argues that " . . . delusions are esteemed for soundest truths, while
reality is fabulous" (3)