Quotations can strengthen your writing—but only if you integrate them smoothly. Dropped quotes (also called “quote dumps”) confuse readers and interrupt your flow. Instead, use the Quote Burger method to sandwich your quotes between your own words, maintaining your voice and guiding your reader.
The Quote Burger: A Three-Part Recipe
Top Bun: Introduce the Quote
Provide context with a signal phrase or narrative lead-in. This introduction prepares the reader for the quote and connects it to your point.
Meat: The Quote Itself
Insert the exact words from your source, enclosed in quotation marks, and include an in-text citation or footnote.
Bottom Bun: Explain the Quote
Follow up with your analysis or commentary, explaining how the quote supports your argument.
Example:
As historian Jane Smith notes, “The revolution began not with a bang, but with a whisper” (Smith 45). This statement suggests that subtle, gradual changes often precede significant societal shifts.
Avoiding Dropped Quotes
A dropped quote lacks introduction and explanation, leaving readers puzzled.
“The revolution began not with a bang, but with a whisper” (Smith 45).
Without context or analysis, this quote stands alone, disconnected from your argument. You leave it to your reader to figure out the relevance of the quotation—and the reader can guess wrong.
Tips for Effective Quoting
- Use signal phrases like “According to” or “Smith argues” to introduce quotes.
- Blend quotes into your sentences to maintain flow and coherence.
- Explain the quote’s relevance to your argument immediately after presenting it.
- Keep quotes concise—use only the most pertinent parts to support your point.
Find more examples and help on the Integrating Sources: Quote Burgers page.