Quote Integration (M.L.A. Style)
Providing quote support - direct references from a body of work to support one’s position, strengthens that position. Therefore, knowing how to integrate quotes into one’s written responses is an essential skill - and not just in English! Take note of the following guidelines and techniques.
1. The source of each quotation must be acknowledged. The page number in the text from which the quotation is taken is placed in parentheses ( ) AFTER the period or other punctuation mark following the sentence (unless the quotation is inside a sentence). No “p” or “pp” is used with M.L.A. style.
“I’m standing there with Freak high above me and it feels right, it makes me feel strong and smart.” (78)
Note the location of the end punctuation.
Max originally thinks that Loretta is “. . . a damsel who causes distress” (62).
Note the location of the end punctuation .
It is never necessary to introduce a quotation with:
John says, “….”
The author says “….”
The book says “….”
On page 18 it says “….”
Simply quote the passage desired and place it in quotation marks after a colon or a period in one of your sentences.
The story ends with optimism: “And now that I’ve written a book who knows, I might even read a few” (160).
Treves questions his own qualities. “Am I a good man or a bad man?” (82)
OR
“Am I a good man or a bad man?” (82) Treves questions his own qualities.
3. It is also desirable to fit quotations into your own sentences. However, when combining quotations with your own words in a sentence, make sure the sentence is complete:
The story is laced with movie allusions. When Freak and Max are on a quest, Freak wears a “ . . . Darth Vader costume . . . ” (68).
Block Quotations: Quotations longer than FOUR lines must be set apart from your own writing by indenting the quotation from the left margin only, and double spacing the quotation. No quotation marks are needed. If there is more than one paragraph in the quotation then indent each paragraph.
Thanks to Kevin, Max is much more confident and willing to take risks.
So I wrote the unvanquished truth stuff down and then kept on going, for months and months
until it was spring again, and the world was really and truly green all over. By the time we got here, which I guess should be the end, I’m, feeling okay about remembering things. And now that I’ve written a book who knows, I might even read a few. No big deal. (160)
For this reason, Max is considered a dynamic character.
5. Parts of a quotation which are unnecessary may be eliminated by using ellipsis. Always maintain a complete sentence. Use three periods with a space before each and a space after the last.
Within one sentence:
“Freak and the Fair Gwen have supper with us . . . and nobody says a word about Killer Kane getting out of prison.” (93)
Within a paragraph:
“Then what he does, he throws down the crutch . . . . Before you know it, he’s dragging the wagon . . . .” (11)
Note the additional end punctuation (i.e. a period) and the capital letter on “Before”.
6. When recording a passage that contains an existing quote or dialogue, place single quotations around the existing quote or dialogue, and double quotations around the entire passage.
Max’s father is critical of the police: “ ‘They’re like bugs,’ his father says” (122).
7. When recording a passage, it is often required to insert information for clarification or to alter the diction to provide consistency. These alterations require the use of brackets [ ].
. . . Marlena mentions to Jacob that “He [August] likes [her]” (92).