What are quotes?

Quotations, or ‘quotes’ for short, are the exact replication of an author’s words, wrapped in quotation marks for clarity – [‘like this’] or [“like this”]. These bite-sized pieces of a text help your analysis and act as concrete evidence that reinforces your arguments.

Why should I embed my quotes?

Embedding quotes is more than padding your essay with fancy words; it’s a strategic action to demonstrate your knowledge of the text.

Each quote you choose should have a purpose, whether it’s to illustrate a character’s development, highlight a thematic element, or dissect a literary technique.

Thoughtlessly peppering your essay with irrelevant quotes only detracts from the quality of your analysis.

How many quotes should I use?

It’s a delicate balance.

While your essay should not be dominated by quotes, a well-placed word or phrase can help to showcase knowledge of the texts.

Quotes should be brief and impactful – aim for two quotes per paragraph as a general guide, but avoid overstuffing your text. Your essay is your voice, and quotes are merely there to back up the insightful commentary you provide.

How can I embed my quotes?

The aim of embedding quotes is to ensure they flow naturally within your writing. Clumsy quotation leads to disrupted reading, a diminished argument, and a lower mark.

Instead, you must stitch quotes together in your essay. That means, refraining from sentences that stand as disconnected islands of quoted text.

For example, you could use this sentence stem: “By depicting the author as [“insert quote here”], they suggest that…”.

How can I embed quotes cohesively?

Embedding quotes requires you to make them an organic part of your essay.

This can involve introducing quotes with your own words, modifying the quote to fit the grammatical structure of your sentence (using square brackets for clarity), and being meticulous about punctuation placement.

Which quotes should I embed?

To locate those golden nuggets – the quotes that will illuminate your essay – avoid the well-trodden path. Quotes overused by students across the years won’t help you stand out.

Often, a single word can carry more power than a lengthy passage, and your examiner will reward you for recognising this.

Conclusion:

Remember, quotes are the evidence upon which your entire response stands. Select the best ones and then ensure that you embed them seamlessly.