English 1121 -- FAQs from Essay #2 Conferences
1.) How do I put a quote into a paragraph?
INTRODUCE ALL QUOTES! This involves using signal phrases. This way, you provide “context” for your quotation, and your reader knows who is “saying” the words. This is especially important if one quote follows another; the reader needs to know FROM YOU how the quotes are connected. Does the second support the first? Does the second contradict the first? Does the second go in a slightly different direction than the first? It's clear to you because you wrote the paper, but DO NOT ASSUME the reader can figure out why the quotes are in your paper.
2.) What should I put in my parenthetical citation?
Every signal phrase and/or parenthetical citation should lead your reader directly to the correct citation on your works cited page.
If you've put the writer's name in the sentence, it's best NOT to put it again in the parenthetical citation. If there's a page number, use it. If not, use a short version of the title.
If you've put the title of the piece in the sentence, use the author's last name. If there's no last name, use n.pag.
3.) When should I use the parenthetical citation? Do I need it after every sentence when something's been taken from a source, or just at the end of the information? Do I need one after putting in one summarized fact from a source?
You should definitely use a parenthetical citation after every quotation.
You should definitely use a parenthetical citation after a paraphrase.
You should definitely use a parenthetical citation after a sentence or more of summarized information.
If you are only summarizing one fact from a source, especially in combination with other sources, as long as you clearly identify the source in the sentence, a parenthetical citation is not necessary, especially since there would have to be information for every source in that citation.
4.) Can we use the writers’ first names? If so, can I then use the last name in the parenthetical citation?
Normally, the academic writing convention is to refer to sources using either the full name or the last name only, never by the first name only. This paper is an exception, mainly because (1) several sources only have first names, and (2) we are writing about these sources both as people and as writers.
5.) Do you need to capitalize at the beginning of a quotation?
It depends on how you are integrating the quotation into your sentence.
6.) When and why do you need to use . . . ellipses?
7.) How do I distinguish between . . . already in the source and the ones that I put in?
8.) When and why do you need to use [ ] square brackets?
9.) How do you format a long quotation?
10.) What did you mean by (qtd. in)?
11.) Can I use endnotes and/or footnotes for comments I want to include?
12.) Can I use the pronoun “I”?
13.) What is common knowledge and how/when can I apply it?
14.) Should I use past or present tense when presenting quotations?
15.) What is my thesis for this paper?
16.) Do I need to revise my Annotated Bibliography?
17.) What do we need to include in our portfolio when we hand in our final draft?
18.) Do I have to have an equal number of similarities and differences?
No. Take what your sources give you.
19.) How long can this paper be?
The assignment calls for an essay of 3 to 5 pages, not including the Works Cited page.
20.) How can I put in my own thoughts into this paper?
Your commentary can occur anywhere it feels natural: don’t force it! Often, your commentary might fit in well at the end of paragraphs, to wrap things up, to point out or emphasize what’s important, to provide your own interpretation of how/why the sources are similar or different.