A Tutorial for Incorporating Quotations in Narratives

“The one thing about quotes on the internet is you cannot confirm their validity.” — Published in the Washington Post by Abraham Lincoln

This quote by Abraham Lincoln reinforces why citing sources is imperative. It doesn’t take a genius to recognize that both the internet and The Washington Post were nonexistent when Lincoln lived. In an age when multiple answers are available to any question via the internet, identifying where the information originated, who provided it, and the method they acquired it becomes crucial to determining the validity.

Reasons to integrate quotes into writing

• Increases credibility on the topic
• Inserts insight from a relevant or respected source
• Improves persuasiveness and interest
• Includes evidence to support key ideas
• Intensifies the power of an argument by adding facts

“I love quotations because it is a joy to find thoughts one might have, beautifully expressed with much authority by someone recognized wiser than oneself.” — Marlene Dietrich

Introduce the expert or source

Cite the source at the beginning or end of the quotation — mix it up to create variety in the writing. An introduction phrase benefits a reader by validating material and making the information more palatable. Readers open themselves up to receive the message when assured of its creditable.

These examples create smooth transitions into the material

1. CNN quoted Dr. Fauci, “We’re going to need vaccines for the entire world — billions and billions of doses.” (Jen Christensen and Gisela Crespo, Wed June 10, 2020.)

Notice this example provides information prior to the quote but also adds information after the quote allowing easy access by the reader.

2. In the novel A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens writes, “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest I go to than I have ever known.”

Because the novel quoted is a classic, only the text title and the author’s name are necessary.

3. The New York Times shared the sad news about Maya Angelou’s death on May 28, 2014, “Maya Angelou, whose landmark book of 1969, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” — a lyrical, unsparing account of her childhood in the Jim Crow South — was among the first autobiographies by a 20th-century black woman to reach a wide general readership, died on Wednesday at her home in Winston-Salem, N.C. She was 86.”

Before sharing the quotation, the source and some background material enhances understanding.

How to cite

Depending upon the genre of writing, an author may choose the method when providing references as long as the original author(s) is credited.

When using a well-known quote from a famous person, it is acceptable to only provide the author/speaker’s name.

However, when writing research or citing longer material, formal citations, such as APA or MLA, are required. Research these formats as needed.

In most cases, providing the author’s name, article title, and printed source or website will suffice.

In short, it is the writer’s responsibility to provide enough information that a reader can conduct a simple search to locate the original material. This is essential to validate that the source is legitimate.

What to cite

• Cite everything quoted verbatim, word for word.
• Cite anything paraphrased.
• Cite tables, figures, maps, images, etc.
• Cite interviews

When to cite

Did you think of it?

NO — Cite it

Yes — Do not cite.

Is it common knowledge?

No — cite it

Yes — Do not cite.

Is it a paraphrase or a direct quotation (copied word for word)?

No — Do not cite

Yes — Cite it.

Is it another’s idea or theory?

No — Do not cite

Yes — Cite it.

Did it come from another person? (movie, interview, audio, etc.)

No — Do not cite

Yes — Cite it.

“Quotes help us understand, inspire, motivate, clarify and show our approach to things around, this is why people and I love quotes.” — Takyou Allah Cheikh Malaynine

Explain the quotation

Provide the reader the connection between the quotation and the content of the article. Relate it back to the topic by directly explaining how the quote supports the claim. Too often quotes hang in a document without enriching the text or attaching to the key ideas. As the writer ask yourself why the quote is important and then tell the reader; you do the work for the reader so they can enjoy the read. This allows the writer to reinforce the intended interpretation.

• ______________ proves that . . .
• The author says, “_______________” (p. 45). This is important because . . .
• According to the text . . .
• Through this quotation, the author explains . . .
• It becomes clear to the reader through this evidence . . .
• This example from the text is . . .
• The reason I think ____________ is because . . .

“Good quotes help to tell a story and enhance the credibility of a press release, news story, or speech. Words that are crafted well can leave a lasting impact on the world.” — Holly Zuluaga