An embedded quotation is woven into your sentence so that it reads naturally: Scrooge is “solitary as an oyster”, suggesting he shuts others out.
Avoid “dropped” quotations that stand alone with no introduction, and avoid long quotations that you cannot analyse. Choose a short phrase with a key word you can explore.
Follow every quotation with analysis: what does the key word suggest, and how does it help the writer's purpose? The quotation is evidence; your explanation is the argument.
Worked example
Improve: “Scrooge is lonely. ‘Solitary as an oyster.’ This is a quote.”
- Weave the quotation into one sentence.
- Add analysis of the key image.
Answer:Scrooge is “solitary as an oyster”, an image suggesting he is sealed off from other people.
Key words
- embed
- blend into a sentence
- key word
- the most important word in a quotation
- analysis
- explaining meaning and effect
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: W.8.9