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Consider the following sentences from a student's rough draft.
Voltaire is trying to prove that man does terrible things and does not have this innate
goodness in him. “Just cut off a single rump steak from each of these ladies,’ he
said, ‘and you’ll have a fine meal. Then if you should need another, you can com back in
a few days and have as much again; heaven will bless your charitable action and you will
be saved.’ From this we see an extreme example of Voltaire’s sarcastic wit and at the
same time a stinging rebuke of the prevailing wisdom of the day. Candide
is a modern work. “the vision of Candide is particularly modern [. . .
it] it depicts the state of modern, secular humanity in ways clearly
analogous to those of contemporary absurdist philosophies” (Henry 33). | How do the quotes work? Do they seem integrated into the writer's own thoughts/prose? Do they seem dropped in?
While it's great when friends drop in unannounced, it's considered rude
if quotes don't give you a call before they knock on your door.
Since they can't dial a number, you'll have to help the quotes by
supplying a context for them. This serves two purposes: 1) it sets up
your point/argument by telling the reader why you're bringing up a
particular source or quote, and 2) it gives the reader information to
help identify the speaker or place the speaker or example in the given
work.
Let's take another look at the quotes above:
This
exaggeration enables Voltaire to turn one of the most repellent
taboos, cannibalism, into a joke. When Abigail's captors are
starving under seige, an Iman suggests that they should “'Just cut
off a single rump steak from each of these ladies,’ he said, ‘and
you’ll have a fine meal. Then if you should need another, you can
come back in a few days and have as much again; heaven will bless your
charitable action and you will be saved’" (24). Literary critic Patrick Henry argues that Candide and Modern works such as The Metamorphosis
are connected by their recognition that the world is not rational: “the
vision of Candide is particularly modern [. . . it] it depicts the
state of modern, secular humanity in ways clearly analogous to those of
contemporary absurdist philosophies” (33). |
This context helps readers by letting readers better understand (and
thus agree with) your argument by framing it in a manner so they can
understand it. By setting up your example so clearly, your argument
flows logically from your example and explanation leaving the reader
with a satisfied "Ahhh" as opposed to a befuddled "huh?" Remember:
set up quotes so readers do not get whiplash by jerking their heads and
asking "Huh? What's this doing here?" as they read your essay. . . .
Lawsuits are expensive.
How To
Try the following three steps to ease readers into the quote.
- Introduce Quote/set up
- Let reader know who is speaking (even if it's just the narrator) and where we are at in the literary work.
- Give reader an idea of what you want them to focus on in the quote -- foreshadow your argument
- If a secondary source, establish the credentials of the writer "Professor of psychology" etc.
- Try using a verb from list below to set up a quote.
- Insert Quote
Use quotation marks and include page number if a print source: no page number if source does not include them.
- Comment on Quote
Avoid “this quote is saying . . .;” instead, connect with another idea
or explain its relevance to your paragraph. In particular, work
on linking it to your topic sentence and thus thesis and division.
add
agree
analyze
answer
argue |
believe charge
claim comment conclude consider |
criticize declare describe define discover emphasize |
explain
feels illustrate imply indicate
list |
maintain mention |note observe object
offer |
point out reinforce report
reply respond reveal |
show
stress suggest support think
write |
Examples
When Voltaire rediscovers Cunegonde, he is shocked by her appearance "_______" (56). Rousseau's essential self absorption is emphasized by description of his disappointment as "___________" (250).Early in the novel, Illyich is infatuated with things: "______" (23).
The freedom Meursault experiences when imprisoned is illustrated when he thinks "______" (68).
At the end of the story, Harun becomes a full-blown existentialist, welcoming the indifference of the world: "_____" (136).
© 2010 David Bordelon
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