Direct Direct QuotationsQuotations

A guide to in-text and reference A guide to in-text and reference citation methods.citation methods.

Modern Language Association (MLA)Modern Language Association (MLA)

Direct QuotationsDirect Quotations Direct quotations involve incorporating another person's exact words into your Direct quotations involve incorporating another person's exact words into your

own writing.own writing.

Quotation marks always come in Quotation marks always come in pairs. Do not open a quotation and pairs. Do not open a quotation and fail to close it at the end of the fail to close it at the end of the quoted material.quoted material.

Quotations are most effective if you use them Quotations are most effective if you use them sparingly and keep them relatively shortsparingly and keep them relatively short

MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page. Works Cited

Anaya, Rudolfo A. Bless Me, Ultima. New York: Warner, 1994. Print.

In Text Citation

In this sentence I am referencing Bless Me, Ultima (Anaya 15).

QuotingQuoting Ideally, no more Ideally, no more

than 25 percent of than 25 percent of your paper should your paper should be direct be direct quotations.quotations.

Use author's words Use author's words if they capture a if they capture a point exactlypoint exactly..

Provide the author Provide the author and specific page and specific page citation in the text, citation in the text, and include a and include a complete reference complete reference on the Works Cited on the Works Cited page.page.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

Wordsworth stated Wordsworth stated that Romantic that Romantic poetry was poetry was marked by a marked by a "spontaneous "spontaneous overflow of overflow of powerful feelings" powerful feelings" (263). (263). 

Direct QuotationsDirect Quotations

Although Mr. Johnson has seen odd Although Mr. Johnson has seen odd happenings on the farm, he stated happenings on the farm, he stated that the spaceship "certainly takes that the spaceship "certainly takes the cake" when it comes to the cake" when it comes to unexplainable activity (Twain 26).unexplainable activity (Twain 26).

"I didn't see an actual alien "I didn't see an actual alien being," Mr. Johnson said, "but I being," Mr. Johnson said, "but I sure wish I had” (Twain 157).sure wish I had” (Twain 157).

The author's name The author's name may appear either may appear either in the sentence in the sentence itself or in itself or in parentheses parentheses following the following the quotation or quotation or paraphrase, but paraphrase, but the page number(s) the page number(s) should always should always appear in the appear in the parentheses, not in parentheses, not in the text of your the text of your sentence. sentence.

Wordsworth Wordsworth extensively explored extensively explored the role of emotion the role of emotion in the creative in the creative process (263).process (263).

Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263).Both citations in the examples

tell readers that the information in the sentence can be located on page 263 of a work by an author named Wordsworth.

Both citations in the examples tell readers that the information in the sentence can be located on page 263 of a work by an author named Wordsworth.Both citations in the examples tell readers that the information in the sentence can be located on page 263 of a work by an author named Wordsworth.

  

Punctuation marks such as periods, Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation. appear after the parenthetical citation. Question marks and exclamation points Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted marks if they are a part of the quoted passage, but after the parenthetical passage, but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text.citation if they are a part of your text.

PunctuationPunctuation

According to According to Foulke's study, Foulke's study, dreams may dreams may express "profound express "profound aspects of aspects of personality" personality" (184).(184).