Introducing Quotes in Literary Analysis

• ​When people do important work, we show the VALUE they bring by acknowledging their contribution.

• Also, when we cite the author of a piece of literature, we help CLARIFY where the idea is coming from (me, the writer, vs. the author of the book/text)

1. Set up the quote with context and credit to the author

2. Add the quote (author's words), punctuating properly.

3. EXPLAIN THE MEANING (your words) of the quote within the context of your essay

4. ​Let the reader know where they can find the quote using a parenthetical citation.

• Don't just drop a quote in the essay, lead into it.

• ​When developing your "lead-in," provide context

• ​Attribute the quote to the author (last name)

• ​Use an academic verb to describe what the quote is doing

• Comma after the lead-in (before the first quotation mark)

• ​Quotation mark

• ​First word of quote must be capitalized

• ​Close quotation mark after the quote

• Your reader doesn't know why you selected this quote as evidence.

• ​Your explanation puts the quote in the context of the essay.

STEP 4: Let the reader know where they can find the quote using a parenthetical citation.

• ​In parentheses, use the author's last name & the page # of the quote

• ​DO NOT use a comma, DO NOT write "page" or "pg."

• ​An ending punctuation mark goes after the second parenthesis.