1. They Say, I Say – Ch 3
‘AS HE HIMSELF PUTS IT’ OR
THE ART OF QUOTING

2. The Art of Quoting
 A quote is the use of an outside source’s exact
words in an essay, enclosed in quotation
marks, to support or clarify the writer’s ideas.
 The use of a quote can lend credibility to your
summaries and ensure that you are using the
source fairly and accurately.

3. Using Quotes
 A common error regarding quote occurs
when writers assume quotes speak for
themselves.
 There are two ways of avoiding this error:
 Choosing quotations which directly support your
ideas
 Framing your quotes by telling who said them,
what they mean, and explaining their connection
to your text.

4. Quoting Relevant Passages
 In order to pick effective quotes, you first
need to think about how a quote will support
a particular point you are making.
 You may also find that as your paper evolves
you might need to find new quotes to support
your ideas and delete old quotes which no
longer fit with your ideas.

5. Frame Every Quotation
 Because quotes do not speak for themselves,
you must speak for them by framing them.
 A quote which is missing a frame is
sometimes called a hit and run quote, a
dangling quote, or a dropped quote.
 To avoid a dropped quote you need to create
a “quote sandwich”:
 Top slice – Signal or introductory phrase
 Meat – The quote
 Bottom slice – explanation of the quote

6. Signal phrases and explanation
 When writing a signal phrase it is important
to identify who is “speaking” and where the
quote is form.
 Example: In his essay ‘W-O-R-K,” Braaskma
recounts…
 When explaining a quote it is important to
retell what the quote is saying and tell how it
supports your point.
 Example: Braaskma is saying that work is often
interpreted in different ways. Similarly, I argue
that…

7. Blending quotes into your words
 Advanced writers will often blend a quote
into a sentence of their own in order to
highlight the relationship between ideas.
 Example: Voting for this proposition will change
the way businesses share financial information,
and as Smith argues, “ will impact the
relationships between credit markets and
consumer credit services.”