Direct QuotationBy: Geraldin Garcia

Direct Quotation

A direct quotation is one in which you copy an author's words directly from the text

and use that exact wording in your essay.

How to do “Direct Quoting”?

REMINDERS:

You should use direct quotations sparingly, choosing them carefully to make an impression. A paper composed mostly of quotations from other author’s runs in to the plagiarism risk called 'patchworking'.

A quotation can be very short – one or two words, such as a reference to another author's special way of naming a phenomenon – or an entire paragraph or passage, which you then proceed to discuss at length.

If you are quoting a long passage, most style guides will suggest that you indent the quotation, setting it apart from the paragraph in which you analyze the quotation.

When you use a quotation from a passage, you have some options. You can direct quote or put the quotation (if it’s more than 4 lines) in a block quote. You can quote from the beginning of a sentence, from the middle, or from the end. You can use ellipses to take out or omit information (as long as you don’t misconstrue the message of the passage) to use the beginning and the end of the sentence but not the middle.

Point 1:

For a short quotation, use quotation marks " " to indicate that these are

someone else's words.

For example:In fact, Rumelhart suggests that schemata "truly are the building blocks of cognition" (1981: 33).

Point 2:-For quotations longer than three lines, take a new line and indent

the quote to separate it from the main text (in this case you do not require quotation marks)

 For example:

In fact, Rumelhart suggests that schemata truly are the building blocks of cognition. They are the fundamental elements upon which all information processing depends. Schemata are employed in the process of interpreting sensory data (both linguistic and non linguistic), in retrieving information from memory, in organising actions, in determining goals and subgoals, in allocating resources, and generally, in guiding the flow of processing in the system (1981: 33-34).

 Rumelhart (1981) attempts to unravel the functions of schemas, explaining them through a series of analogies.

Point 3:

-When referencing the quote include the page number and date from which it was taken.

 For example:

In fact, Rumelhart (1981: 33) suggests that schemata "truly are the building blocks of cognition".

Point 4:-Ensure that the grammar of the quote is consistent with

the grammar of your sentence. For example:Incorrect:

Past attempts to deal with organizational conflict problems "lead to the development of integrative and mixed structures such as committees, task forces and matrix structures" (Dawson, 1986:97).

Correct:Past attempts to deal with organizational conflict problems have led "to the development of integrative and mixed structures such as committees, task forces and matrix structures" (Dawson, 1986:97).

Point 5:-To omit words from the original quote use

three period marks ... to indicate that you have removed certain phrases or words.

For example:In fact, Rumelhart asserts that schemata "are the fundamental elements upon which all information processing depends. Schemata are employed ... in allocating resources, and generally, in guiding the flow of processing in the system" (1981: 33-34).

Point 6:

-To add words to the original quote use square brackets [ ].

 For example:

In fact, Rumelhart asserts that since schemata "are the fundamental elements upon which all information processing ... [and play a large role] in guiding the flow of processing in the system" (1981: 33-34).

Point 7:-To indicate a grammatical or spelling error in

the original quote place (sic) after the error.

For example:In 1845, the explorer, Eyre stated:Whenever European colonies have been established in Australia, the native races in that neighbourhood rapidly decreasing(sic), and already in some of the older settlements, have totally disappeared (cited in Coupe, 1991).

Point 7:-To indicate a grammatical or spelling error in

the original quote place (sic) after the error.

For example:In 1845, the explorer, Eyre stated:Whenever European colonies have been established in Australia, the native races in that neighbourhood (were) rapidly decreasing(sic), and already in some of the older settlements, have totally disappeared (cited in Coupe, 1991).

The Do’s and Dont’s:• Don't overuse quotations; use them to emphasize a

point or support your argument.• Avoid long quotations when a short one will suffice.• Don't take quotations out of context to

misrepresent the original author's opinion. Read the entire source carefully if possible.

• Be certain you understand any technical terms the author uses.

• Always introduce your quotations.• Avoid boring introductions.• Use a variety of sources. All of the sources used

here came from one magazine; that magazine might have an editorial policy that limits its range of opinions on an issue!

Thank you! References:•http://unilearning.uow.edu.au/notetake/note18_directq.html•http://library.duke.edu/research/plagiarism/cite/directquote.html•http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/dq.html