Hey! I am in the middle of a compare/contrast essay using the declaration of independence and Washington's farewell adress. I got most of the paper down but when I look back they seem to not have much quotes, 1 or 2 of the paragraphs don't even have a single one! Is it important to use quotes alot, or am I just worrying too much....
Thx For Any Input,
GN
I don't think it is the quantity of quotes that really matters, as long as you have a couple of quotes that are used and described well, you will be fine.
I agree with alvinng32. I would rather read an essay with a few appropriate, well described quotes that accurately explain your point than an essay with a jumble of quotes that are largely unrelated to the topic.
Great question! Some profs get angry when students write a 10 page paper that is just one quote after another. They prefer if you paraphrase.
However, do not just rant about it without referring to the documents. That is a mistake, too. This is not a blog; you have to have your discussion rooted in the readings.
Look at your paragraphs, and decide what the main idea is for one of them. Then, skim one of the documents to find a phrase or sentence that supports your idea. Then, paste that quote into the paragraph! It only takes a minute to add a quote to a paragraph.
Start getting good at this stuff, and you will be a superstar in college.
For an essay of this nature, you will *have* to use a lot of quotes to make it work.
There is way to weave the quotes into your own sentences that so that you are doing the talking and analyzing instead of just plunking down quotes. If you were to address Jefferson's supposition that men are "endowed by their creator" with right and it is the "Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them" to those rights, you could weave in quotes like I just did.
Here's another example:
Washington extolled the public in "the name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity," to "always exalt the just pride of Patriotism."
Hi,
your essay should follow a basic pattern that is, thesis , body paras, following reasons and conclusion.
Quotes you can include with proper explanations.
If this is an argumentative essay (i.e. you are arguing a debatable thesis) you should be using textual support to prove that there is a basis for your thesis and that you're not just making it up or misreading the text. Textual support can come in the form of quotes or can be paraphrased. Either is equally valid as long as you cite correctly and do not misinterpret the meaning of the text.
In high school (especially in the younger grades), teachers generally ask for quotes to see that you know how to properly use textual support. In University, profs generally prefer quotation only when necessary and paraphrasing in most cases. This shows that you can not only pick out important points from the text, but understand those points and put them in your own words.
Go through your essay and look at your major points. When you get to each point ask yourself if you have supported it using the text. If you haven't, go look for support and put it in there.
Hope this helps you!
No too many quotes will make your essay without well supportin commentary