When you use a direct quote, you must integrate it smoothly
into the flow of your ideas. To do this, use signal phrases
that introduce the quote and then comment on the quote with
your own ideas. To avoid downplaying your ideas, make sure you
don't use too many long quotes. To avoid plagiarism, use quotation
marks to indicate direct quotes. The following are examples
of poor and good use of direct quotes.
Poor Use of Direct Quotes
In order to “overcome deep seated guilt about authorship,
many female English writers had to justify their writing and
in their novels, the heroines’ aspirations for a full, independent
life are undermined, punished, and replaced by marriage.” In
the novels Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre,
both of the main characters overcome their own desires for independence
and get married. While this is a central theme that draws Jane
Austen and Charlotte Bronte together, the ways in which these
characters sacrifice their independence are quite different.
Elizabeth Bennet, from Austen’s novel, prides herself on her
autonomy and quick mind, until she realizes that she needs to
be dependent on someone else in order to be complete. On the
other hand, Bronte’s Jane Eyre has to prove to herself that
she is capable of being self-sufficient before she can allow
herself to marry.
Note: The above paragraph illustrates unacceptable
use of direct quotes. The quote is not introduced with the author’s
name or the title of her work, and no parenthetical references
are given, so the reader will know where to find the citation
on the works cited page. Also, the student does not use any
language to directly relate the quote to the main ideas presented
in the essay.
Good Use of Direct Quotes
In her essay “The Female Tradition,” Elaine Showalter points
about that in order to “overcome deep seated guilt about authorship,
many female English writers had to justify their writing.” They
did this by referring to external ideology, and as a result,
“in their novels, the heroine’s aspirations for a full, independent
life are undermined, punished, and replaced by marriage” (278).
In the novels Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre,
both of the main characters overcome their own desires for independence
and get married. While this is a central theme that draws Jane
Austen and Charlotte Bronte together, the ways in which these
characters sacrifice their independence are quite different.
Elizabeth Bennet, from Austen’s novel, prides herself on her
autonomy and quick mind until she realizes that she needs to
be dependent on someone else in order to be complete. On the
other hand, Bronte’s Jane Eyre has to prove to herself that
she is capable of being self-sufficient before she can allow
herself to marry.
Note: The above paragraph illustrates the acceptable
use of direct quotes. The quote is introduced with the author’s
name and the title of her work. The quote is followed by an
explanation of how the ideas presented in the quote relate to
the topic of the student’s essay. The student also includes
a parenthetical reference so the reader will be able to locate
the full citation on the works cited page.
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