Embedding Quotations and Facts in an

Essay
Abbe/Dovholuk/Prabhu/Schotthoefer

There are 3 ways that a direct quotation is introduced in a paper:

1. The Slap
2. The Subtle
3. The Seamless
This is when a writer inserts a fact into his/her paper without a signal phrase.
Your whole CD sentence should not be quoted material. You should include
some of your own words/voice in the sentence so that your reader is aware of what is to come. If you
fail to do so, it is like slapping your reader in the face with a fact, without any forewarning or set up.
The SLAP: Avoid

Example:
One reason why the American public school year must be extended is so American students can
better compete against students from other countries. There is little doubt that the extra time
students in other countries devote to education contributes to the differences in
academic achievement (Getting Smarter). These differences will only continue to grow,
unless something is done to close the gap. American students deserve a better chance at competing in
a global age that an extended school year can help deliver.
This is when a writer subtly sets up the fact which is about to be
presented. This can be done by simply adding in a signal phrase before the
quotation. The purpose of a signal phrase is to transition smoothly from one fact to the next, and
ensure that the flow of writing is not interrupted.
The SUBTLE: Master

Example:
One reason why the American public school year must be extended is so American students can
better compete against students from other countries. According to the report Getting Smarter,
Becoming Fairer, There is little doubt that the extra time students in other countries
devote to education contributes to the differences in academic achievement. These
differences will only continue to grow, unless something is done to close the gap. American students
deserve a better chance at competing in a global age that an extended school year can help deliver.
This is when a writers own words seem to flow directly into that of the
source. Not only does it set the reader up for the fact that is about to be
presented, but it is thoughtful in its phrasing and structure. Without the sign of it would be hard to
tell what words were the writers and which were from the source. This is the most sophisticated way
of incorporating direct quotations into your writing.
The SEAMLESS: Aspire

Example:
One reason why the American public school year must be extended is so American students can
better compete against students from other countries. After careful consideration of the number of
days American students spend in school compared to the school calendars of other industrialized
nations, There is little doubt that the extra time students in other countries devote to
education contributes to the differences in academic achievement (Getting
Smarter). These differences will only continue to grow, unless something is done to close the gap.
American students deserve a better chance at competing in a global age that an extended school year
can help deliver.

Signal Phrases and Parenthetical Citations

Sample #1:
When Signal Phrase DOES NOT Match the Source
Last spring, the National Commission on Time and Learning stated that, We have been asking the
impossible of our students, as they are expected to learn as much as students in other nations while
spending much less time in school (Needed).
Procedure for sample #1:
1. Lead into the quote with your own words.
2. Put quotation marks around all of the words which have been copied exactly from the source.
3. Write the last name of the author/key word to article title and the page number of the quote (if
you are using a book) in parentheses immediately following the quote.
*Notice: The period always goes after the parentheses because the parenthetical
reference is considered to be part of the sentence.
Sample #2:
When Signal Phrase MATCHES the Source
AUTHORS NAME:
According to Karl Alexander, a sociologist from Johns Hopkins University, providing more
days of instruction is especially helpful to low-income students who are less likely to
receive academic enrichment at home.
Alexander also states, Although middle-income students experience slight gains in
reading performance over the summer, low-income students lose nearly two months
of reading skills.
ARTICLE TITLE:
According to the report Getting Smarter, Becoming Fairer, There is little doubt that the
extra time students in other countries devote to education contributes to the
differences in academic achievement.
Procedure for sample #2:
1. In your signal phrase, use the full name of the author or article title when you first use each
source to give a quote.
2. After the authors name has been fully stated, you may use just the last name of the author
when mentioning him/her again.
3. If you state the authors name in your signal phrase, you DO NOT need to include in the
parenthetical citation. You only need to include the page number (if you are using a book).
4. If you name the author in a signal phrase for a source with no page numbers, you DO NOT
need any parenthetical citation.
Information and examples taken from:

Hacker, Diana. A Pocket Style Manual: Fourth Edition. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2004.
Carolyn Stahl & Jodie Dovholuk