Why use quotations in essays

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Research, reading, referencing and citation. Effective reading Helpful abbreviations for speedy note-taking Verbs for citations APA style Writing about others works using direct quotations. Revision and exams. Probably not. But why? Well, it's because these quotes are the most likely to be overused by students - absolutely every single person who has studied this text before you, and probably every single person who will study this text after you.

You want to be unique and original. So, how are you going to find those 'good quotes'? Recognise which quotes are constantly being used and blacklist them. Quotes are constantly used in study guides are generally the ones that will be overused by students. Once you eliminate these quotes, you can then go on to find potentially more subtle quotes that are just as good as the more popular or famous ones. Tip Two: Re-read the book. There is nothing wrong with you going ahead and finding your own quotes.

You don't need to find quotes that already exist online or in study guides. Go and find whatever gels with you and whatever you feel like has a lot of meaning to it. I had a friend back in high school who was studying a book by Charles Dickens. I haven't read the book myself, but there was a character who couldn't pronounce the letter S, or he had a lisp of some sort.

What my friend did was he found this one word where, throughout the entire book, the guy with the lisp only ever said the S one time and that was a massive thing. So, he used that. This is something that is really unique and original. So, go ahead and try to find your own quotes. Tip Three: Realise that good quotes do not necessarily have to come from the main character. Yes, the main character does often have good quotes associated with whatever they're saying, but just know that you do have minor characters who can say something really relevant and have a really good point too.

Their quote is going to be just as strong in your essay as a main character's quote, which will probably be overused and overdone by so many other students. Tip Four: Develop a new interpretation of a famous or popular quote.

Most of the time, the really popular quotes are analysed in very much the same way. But if you can offer a new insight into why it's being said or offer a different interpretation, then this is automatically going to create a really good quote that's going to offer a refreshing point of view. For example, if we look at The Great Gatsby , one of the most famous quotes that is constantly being used is, 'He found what a grotesque thing a rose is and how raw the sunlight was upon the scarcely created grass.

But what you could do instead, is focus on a section of that quote, for example the 'raw'. Why is the word raw being used? How does the word raw contribute extra meaning to this particular quote? This way you're honing in on a particular section of the quote and really trying to offer something new. This automatically allows you to investigate the quote in a new light. Tip Five: Just remember that the best quotes do not have to be one sentence long.

Some of the best quotes tend to be really short phrases or even just one particular word. Teachers actually love it when you can get rid of the excess words that are unnecessary in the sentence, and just hone in on a particular phrase or a particular word to offer an analysis. And also, that way, when you spend so much time analysing and offering insight into such a short phrase or one sentence, it shows how knowledgeable you are about the text and that you don't need to rely on lots and lots of evidence in order to prove your point.

Those are my five quick tips on how to find good quotes from your texts! Need more help with quotes? Comparing: Stasiland and Study Guide. A Killer Text Guide: Cosi ebook.

Cosi Study Guide. A Killer Text Guide: Ransom ebook. Ransom Study Guide. The Great Gatsby Study Guide. Now quite sure how to nail your text response essays? Then download our free mini-guide, where we break down the art of writing the perfect text-response essay into three comprehensive steps. Click below to get your own copy today! Then you're not alone! If you struggle to understand and stay on topic, learn how to answer the prompt every time with this quick free how-to guide.

Ahh William Shakespeare. That guy. More fancy language. Why does he keep popping up in our English curriculum? Shakespeare is actually a huge figure in the history of the English language, and really no high school English curriculum is complete without a mandatory dose of him. In fact, the current VCAA study design demands that one of his texts must be on the text list. What a legend. The Bard coined many words and phrases that we use today. So why do we still study his works today?

One could say the playwright is a master chef; he mixes tales of the human condition and experience and asks us to question people and ideas. Everyone, regardless of their time, will gobble up the story. Dire trials and tribulations are intertwined with humorous gags and jokesters. Critic W. W Lawrence defined a problem play as one in which "a perplexing and distressing complication in human life is presented in a spirit of high seriousness Ok, crazy, but he also said that "the 'problem' is not like one in mathematics, to which there is a single true solution, but is one of conduct, as to which there are no fixed and immutable laws.

Often it cannot be reduced to any formula, any one question, since human life is too complex to be so neatly simplified. In short, a problem play presents lots of complications and issues that are open to different ethical interpretations. So, what actually happens in this play that is problematic? What are our ingredients in this problem soup? The Duke of Vienna appoints his deputy, Angelo, as the temporary leader. This Duke then pretends to leave town but instead dresses up as a friar to observe what happens in his absence.

Angelo, strict and unwavering in his dedication to following the rules, decides to rid Vienna of all the unlawful sexual activity; including shutting down the brothels. Prostitutes like Mistress Overdone pun alert and her pimp Pompey are poised to lose their livelihoods. Angelo, a stickler for the rules, has Claudio arrested because young Claudio has gotten his engaged wife-to-be Juliet pregnant before they were officially married. Claudio is to be executed. She immediately refuses, being the religious and chaste woman that she is.

At first Claudio is upset because he wants to live, but then he calms down and accepts death. Luckily, the Duke secretly dressed as a friar helps in their sticky situation. The Friar Duke plans to have Isabella agree to sleep with Angelo, but then send Mariana in her place. In theory, Angelo would pardon Claudio and be forced to marry Mariana by law. The old switcheroo goes off without a hitch. But come morning, Angelo refuses to pardon Claudio, fearing he will seek revenge.

The Duke, in collaboration with the Provost, send Angelo the head of a dead pirate Ragozine who died of natural causes. Isabella is also told that her brother is dead and is encouraged by the Friar Duke to complain about Angelo to the Duke, who is returning home.

The Duke makes a grand return to Vienna, saying he will hear any complaints immediately. Isabella tells her story, and the Duke feigns disbelief, despite having orchestrated the plan himself. In an act filled with more twists and turns than a Marvel movie, everything comes out; the Duke reveals he was a friar all along, Angelo is forced to confess, and Claudio is pardoned amongst other things.

To top it all off, the Duke proposes to Isabella. This may help give insight into why the author has included or not included some aspect of their work.

This holy mandate states that a monarch derives his right to rule from the will of God and is not subject to earthly authority. Hence, alongside The Divine Right of Kings, this ideal gave monarchs huge power over their subjects.

In early s England, there was a defined social hierarchy and class system. Everyone had a place in the hierarchy, and there was little movement between the classes. Within each class, men were considered superior to women. Shakespeare encourages us to ask a few questions of our supposedly holy leader and his actions.

However, the Duke is pretty shady when he plots his bed-trick plan with Isabella and Mariana. Is this deceptive behavior still holy? Furthermore, is it not sacrilege to pretend to be a holy friar when one is not truly a holy man? Moreover, when the Duke assigns Angelo as his deputy, would this transform Angelo into a divine ruler too? Could he be divine, considering his cruel rule and despicable request to Isabella?

Women were considered subservient, lower class citizens then men. Alliances were forged between powerful families through arranged marriages of daughters. These girls may have received an education through tutors attending their homes there were no schools for girls , but their endgame would be marriage, children and maintaining the home.

Women and girls of a lower class did not receive any formal education but would have learned how to govern a household and become skilled in all housewifely duties. Impoverished and desperate women Mistress Overdone would turn to prostitution to stay alive.

Shakespeare perhaps highlights the struggle of women in his female characters; Isabella, Mistress Overdone, Juliet, and Kate Keepdown. A year earlier came the end of the 45 year long Elizabethan era and began the Jacobean era under the rule of King James.

Since the late Queen Elizabeth had no direct heirs, King James of Scotland a relative took to the throne. Little was known by the English people of this foreign king.

The playwright characterizes the Duke as loving his people, but not enjoying being before their eyes and in the spotlight; much like King James, a quiet ruler who relished studying privately in his great library. The rich gentry paid 2 pennies for seating in the galleries, often using cushions. The really rich nobles could watch the play from a chair set on the side of the stage itself. Playhouses in Shakespeare's time were often close to brothels, both in terms of their physical locations in the suburbs and the way they were viewed by some of polite society.

Talking about authorial intent in your analytical essay leads to a more in-depth analysis. Think of it as an opportunity to make your very own soup! Add some themes, stir in character analysis, sprinkle in some quotes and serve with historical context and authorial intent. Just try not to overcook it, like I have done with this soup metaphor. Grab a snack, a drink, and enjoy this tasty Shakespeare meme. Are you ready for part 2 of the Shakespeare train?

As you can see, the themes are interconnected. Do you like the diagram? Made it myself : Why does this matter? Keep in mind that depending which pieces of evidence you look at, the Bard could be saying something different. The beauty of Shakespeare is that much is open to interpretation.

You can interpret characters and ideas in so many different ways! The Duke is the leader of Vienna, ordained by God. He hands this power to his deputy Angelo, who misuses it in his request of Isabella. Now consider Isabella - she has power too, but a different kind… Also consider characters who have little to no power - Mistress Overdone, Pompey etc. Perhaps Shakespeare is suggesting that power is a dangerous weapon and that in the wrong hands, it could be deadly.

This is an interesting theme. What defines sin? Bit of a pickle that one. So many of the characters take part in questionable deeds. Was it immoral for the Duke to pretend to be a holy friar? Deep stuff man. Perhaps Shakespeare tries to tell us that there is a fine line between something moral and something sinful. Everyone from the almighty Duke to a lowly prostitute has committed potentially immoral acts.

Perhaps audiences are encouraged to be more understanding of others, and their reasons for these deeds. Mmm, this theme ties in nicely with just about all of the others. How does one define justice? The play explores this idea; does justice mean punishment? Or mercy? Characters that dispense justice include The Duke, Angelo although they have differing ideas of justice and Isabella.

Since Vienna is a religious place, consider the divine justice system ie. Laws exist in an attempt to ensure justice. But does it always work? Perhaps Shakespeare says that since we humans are inevitably flawed, that any justice system created by us will too be imperfect.

Who are we to decide the fates of our fellow man? Furthermore, the Bard may be encouraging us to be kind when dispensing justice, leaning more to mercy than punishment. Who run the world? The exploration of the female characters in this play are very interesting, and kind of sad. Of 20 named characters, only 5 are women. There is a lot to unpack here.

Their situations: a maiden poised to enter a nunnery, a prostitute, a pregnant girl about to lose her husband, a nun, and another prostitute. Quite gloomy, isn't it? Over the course of the play, our female characters are put into worse situations by men.

Their experiences are dictated by men. Perhaps Shakespeare suggests that women are treated unfairly in society. The Bard potentially says that such sexual and gender politics do not create a cohesive and just society. This theme, again, connects to many others. It can link to all groups of people The wealthy, the poor, women, criminals etc. Most of the mercy is dispensed at the end of the play when the Duke does his grand reveal. Characters who choose to mete out mercy over punishment include The Duke and Isabella.

We might think this is harsh, but it a legal and lawful decision. Perhaps Shakespeare encourages us to look at mercy and punishment from different perspectives. Angelo believes he is punishing Claudio for his own good, and cleaning up Vienna of lechery too.

Maybe we ought to be merciful in our opinion of the deputy. Nonetheless, the Bard shows that in the case of young Claudio, mercy and forgiveness is the right path to choose. Finally, consider why Shakespeare may have portrayed a merciful leader to his Jacobean audience.

Maybe if he were to portray a leader as fair and merciful, the Jacobean audience would trust that their new king a man similar in character to the Duke could be kind and merciful too.

Earning the favour of the king and writing a killer play? He wants to save his own ass, fearing Claudio will seek vengeance. The Duke is flawed too. Then he plans to swoop in and look like a hero. Kinda dodgy. Consider Claudio and Juliet too. They, like Angelo, succumbed to lust and slept together before they were officially married.

Are the poor frail in a different way? In that way she is virtuous. However, she sells her body to survive. Perhaps she is not prone to desire like Angelo, but serves another desire - a desire to survive?

Perhaps Shakespeare suggests that no one is truly perfect, not even a leader supposedly ordained by God, a law-abiding deputy, or a maiden who is poised to enter a nunnery.

Yet while Angelo is overcome by his lust and emotion, the Duke and Isabella attempt to better themselves by showing mercy and temperance. So, society in Vienna is very much religious.

Their beliefs dictate actions and laws within the city. Some very religious characters include Isabella and Angelo. However, our novice nun, who is obsessed with virtue and chastity, agrees to and takes part in the bed-trick, a deception that is not particularly Christian. Even The Duke, supposedly semi-divine, makes some dubious choices. He spends most of the play posed as a holy man, even though he is not. He plans the bed-trick to deceive Angelo and lets poor Isabella think her poor brother is dead, instead of saving her so much pain.

The question of how much we should let religion dictate us is another reason this piece is a problem play.

Perhaps Shakespeare criticises religious extremism in his portrayal of characters like Isabella and Angelo. Or maybe he just wants us to remain open-minded about ideas and our spirituality. Yikes, there are so many themes in this play! Each character can be viewed in different lights, even more so than themes can be.

Here are the characters, in order of how much they speak in the play. Who would you swipe right on? Hint: not Lucio. These are people, objects, words etc that represent a theme or idea. The idea of heavenly justice vs earthly justice is prominent throughout the text. Is he harsh and equalising? Is he just and sympathetic? These ideals teach that the person who committed a misdeed shall have the same misdeed done unto them.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. So, when sentencing Angelo the Duke employs the words of the Old Testament. Wait, who? Well, in Act 4, Scene 4 Line , Lucio says something very intriguing. We can think of Lucio as representing all the sins and misdeeds in Vienna - lechery, immorality, lack of justice, selfishness etc.

Hence, Lucio is saying that these shortcomings and flaws will always be present to people and in Vienna, sticking to the city like a nasty burr. The metre of the verse ie. This means that each line is divided into 5 feet. Within each foot, there is one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one.

Verse does not have to rhyme, as the above lines do. Shakespeare often employs a rhyming couplet to close a scene and add some drama. Verse is usually reserved for the higher class citizens, with those who are less fortunate speaking in prose. Certain characters, such as Lucio, switch between verse and prose depending on who they are speaking to. Escalus is the ever reasonable and loyal lord and close confidant of the Duke. His name gives connotations of scales and balance - characteristic of the rational man.

If we judge him only by his name, he should be a pure and heavenly being. We can see that appearance is very different from reality. There is so much to unpack about this douchebag. Let us briefly consider 2 ideas.

Maybe this obsession leads to his immorality and poor leadership. He weaves his way around the request, propositioning Isabella so indirectly that at first, she does not even seem to understand his request! Or maybe this scene is yet more evidence of a patriarchal society, with the men knowing very well the power they hold.

We never actually meet this fellow. Fascinatingly, Ragozine is the only person who dies in the entire play. ALSO, he dies of natural causes. It feels like the play is full of death, grief and many heads on the chopping block. But curiously, there is only one death, of a minor character, of natural causes.

Perhaps this says something about fate and justice or offers some commentary on life and hope. Elbow is a silly policeman who speaks in malapropisms using a similar but incorrect word for humorous effect. Pompey is a clever pimp who seems to have a deep understanding of justice and the Viennese people. The comparison of these characters, fortunate and dumb to unfortunate and clever, perhaps serves to show that the law is not always apt and that sometimes those who break the law are more clever than it.

Mistress Overdone is a pitiable prostitute. Furthermore, this happens in Act 3 of 5, around halfway through the play! The audience never hears from Mistress Overdone again, and her future is left uncertain. Even Barnadine, a convicted murderer, is given freedom and a happy ending.

What is Shakespeare saying by portraying Mistress Overdone and other women in such a way? This blog post is by no means an exhaustive list of all its quirks and complexities. You are very lucky to be studying a text with such universal themes and ideas that you can carry with you even after high school. Here are a few general tips for setting off your block quotations:. After reading several doctrinally rigid tracts, John Adams recalled the zealous ranting of his former teacher, Joseph Cleverly, and minister, Lemuel Bryant.

He expressed his ambivalence toward religion in an letter to Thomas Jefferson:. It can be confusing when you start combining quotation marks with other punctuation marks. You should consult a style manual for complicated situations, but the following two rules apply to most cases:.

In the above example, both the comma and period were enclosed in the quotation marks. The main exception to this rule involves the use of internal citations, which always precede the last period of the sentence. For example:. Note, however, that the period remains inside the quotation marks when your citation style involves superscript footnotes or endnotes. In the first example, the author placed the exclamation point outside the quotation mark because she added it herself to emphasize the outrageous nature of the parking price change.

The original note had not included an exclamation mark. In the second example, the exclamation mark remains within the quotation mark because it is indicating the excited tone in which the coach yelled the command. Thus, the exclamation mark is considered to be part of the original quotation.

If you are quoting a passage that contains a quotation, then you use single quotation marks for the internal quotation. Quite rarely, you quote a passage that has a quotation within a quotation. In that rare instance, you would use double quotation marks for the second internal quotation. Whenever you want to leave out material from within a quotation, you need to use an ellipsis, which is a series of three periods, each of which should be preceded and followed by a space.

So, an ellipsis in this sentence would look like. There are a few rules to follow when using ellipses:. For example, using the above example, you would NOT need an ellipsis in either of these situations:. Even though they were out of breath, they made it on time.

Sometimes it is necessary for clarity and flow to alter a word or words within a quotation. You should make such changes rarely. Here are a few examples of situations when you might need brackets:. However, you could avoid the need for this change by simply rephrasing:. Similarly, if a quotation referenced an event with which the reader might be unfamiliar, you could identify that event in brackets. In rare situations, you may quote from a text that has nonstandard grammar, spelling, or word choice.

Using [sic] alerts your reader to the fact that this nonstandard language is not the result of a typo on your part. There is no need to put a period at the end. For example, it is not necessary to bracket capitalization changes that you make at the beginning of sentences.

For example, suppose you were going to use part of this quotation:. If you wanted to begin a sentence with an excerpt from the middle of this quotation, there would be no need to bracket your capitalization changes. Grace Farley, remembering a defining moment on her journey to becoming an entomologist. We consulted these works while writing this handout. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using.

For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial. We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback. Barzun, Jacques, and Henry F. The Modern Researcher , 6th ed. Booth, Wayne C. Colomb, Joseph M.