Operating Definitions

Elements of a Complete Quotation

A direct quotation carries several elements when done correctly in current MLA style. The complete paragraph is copied below the breakdown showing the quotation and its parts. Handle electronic sources in the same way except for number three below.

1. Signal Phrase/Credit Tag A phrase in the writer's own words introduces every quotation.

  • Every sentence with quotation marks in it should also have some of the writer's words in it introducing the quotation.
  • Every sentence should have some of the writer's words in it, even if and especially when it includes a direct quotation.
  • Most of the time, a colon ends the introductory phrase. Sometimes it is a comma. It is never a period.

Example: Jackie is as whole, secure, and happy as true and sincere forgiveness can make a person:

2. Emphasis A quotation that types up fewer than four lines in an essay with one-inch margins is set off in quotation marks.

  • Note there is no punctuation mark inside the last set of quotation marks.
  • The only exceptions are exclamation points and question marks. When the original author ends the sentence with an exclamation point or question mark, place it inside the closing quotation mark, and still place a period after the last parenthesis.
  • For a quotation that types up more than four lines, remove the quotation marks and indent each line five more spaces.

Example: Short quotation

Jackie is as whole, secure, and happy as true and sincere forgiveness can make a person: "Outside, after the shadow of the church, the sunlight was like the roaring of waves on a beach; it dazzled me; and when the frozen silence melted and I heard the screech of trams on the road, my heart soared" (O'Connor 319).

Example: Quotation that types up four lines or more

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxx:

Xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx. Xxxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx. Xxxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx. Xxxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxxxx. (Jones 98)

Xxxxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx. Xxxxxxxxxx xxxxx. xxx xxxxx

3. Parenthetical Reference

For a Source Printed by a Publisher or a numbered web page
(NOT a computer printout)

The parenthetical reference includes the author's last name when it is available, but not included in the sentence, plus a space and the page number.

  • Note that there is no comma, no hyphen, no dash, no p. after the author's last name - just a space.
  • Note also that the period ends the sentence after the last parenthesis.
  • For a quotation that types up more than four lines, place the period before the first parenthesis.

Example: Period placement after a short quotation
(O'Connor 319).

Example: Period placement in a long, blocked quotation

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxx:

Xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx. Xxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx. (Jones 98)

Xxxxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx. Xxxxxxxxxx xxxxx. xxx ...

For an Electronic Source
(Web page or web page printout, radio show, television program, motion picture, cd or other audio, and dvd)

The parenthetical reference includes the author's last name when it is available, but not included in the sentence.

  • Note that there is nothing but the author's last name - no page number or anything else.
  • Note also that the period ends the sentence after the last parenthesis.
  • For a quotation that types up more than four lines, place the period before the first parenthesis.

Example: Period placement after a short quotation
(Plato).

Example: Period placement in a long, blocked quotation

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxx:

Xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx. Xxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx. (Plato)

Xxxxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx. Xxxxxxxxxx xxxxx. xxx ...

Most web pages do not carry numbers on them. One exception is a pdf file. Pdf files that carry text are often numbered. Follow the instructions for a print page in the first column for them or any other web page for which the designer has placed numbers.

4. Analysis/Interpretation The analysis/interpretation sentences that immediately follow the quotation explain what it means.

  • They explicitly state how the quotation furthers the writer's point.
  • They also tie the quotation back to an idea in the thesis.

Example

O'Connor makes special use of darkness and light in this last scene. As Jackie and the priest leave the shadow of the building, the blazing sun melts the cold that has frozen the tongue of the child's heart, icing down his confession. As he leaves the shadow for the nurturing, warm sunlight, Jackie begins to grow spiritually, blooming out of the confines of any earthly setting, stepping on toward eternity.

The Quotation in the Context of a Paragraph

When the priest accompanies Jackie out of the church building, the boy takes his first steps toward true security. Leaving the chapel, the priest cheers Jackie up, at one point telling him that someone with a knife and good aim may come after Nora someday, "and he won't miss" (O'Connor 335). Jackie takes heart when the priest shows that he sees Nora for what she is. He also takes care of Jackie’s biggest fear, that the boy will die and damage the furniture. Armed with these and other encouragements, the previously-terrified seven-year old emerges from the experience of his first confession. Jackie is as whole, secure, and happy as true and sincere forgiveness can make a person: "Outside, after the shadow of the church, the sunlight was like the roaring of waves on a beach; it dazzled me; and when the frozen silence melted and I heard the screech of trams on the road, my heart soared" (O'Connor 319). O'Connor makes special use of darkness and light in this last scene. As Jackie and the priest leave the shadow of the building, the blazing sun melts the cold that has frozen the tongue of the child's heart, icing down his confession. As he leaves the shadow for the nurturing, warm sunlight, Jackie begins to grow spiritually, blooming out of the confines of any earthly setting, stepping on toward eternity.

 

Updated 2/28/08 by Maria Garcia - HyperClass[at]Hotmail.com | Top
Instructor Schedule | English Department | SAC Home Page