There exist various ways to draw the attention of the readers, and one needs to work out the tactic in the hook of the essay. In this blog, we will see how to quote in an essay. In fact, it is a great way of commencing the essay as it adds to your argument right from the start. We will also check out how to begin an essay with a quote and examples.
How to Start an Essay with a Quote in the Hook?
When the teachers sit down to assess your essay, the first they look at is the title, followed by the introduction. In order to get them instantly hooked, you need to know how to put a quote at the beginning of an essay.
Usually, you have to wrap the quote within a sentence or two. So, you should:
State the Quotation
Since, you are inserting the quote in the introduction of the essay; you should get straight to the point. Insert a relevant quote from a book, poem, novel or any form of text and keep it within quotation marks ‘“”’.
Mention the Name of the Author
After you state the quotation, you should mention the name of the author. This is a way of acknowledging the work of the author in your academic essay. Refrain from using phrases like “He/She says". Instead, you can use verbs like state, declare, posit, opine, etc.
Summarize the Quotation
This step might not be necessary if the quotation is self-explanatory. However, it is imperative that the readers get the essence of the quote. So, if you feel that the teachers might miss the significance of the quote, you can summarize it within a sentence, stating how it supports your title.
In the next section, we will check out how to seamlessly put a quote at the beginning of the essay.
Starting an Essay with a Long or a Short Quote
Although the rules remain the same as mentioned before, there are differences when you try to insert a long quote or a short quote. So, let us delve right into rules of putting essay quotes in the introduction.
Short Quotes
When you want to include a short quote, you should
- Use a lead-in (context) to introduce the quote
- Write the quote as it is and keep it within quotation marks
- Specify the name of the author
- Elaborate on the quote (if required)
Long Quotes
On the other hand, if you are starting an essay with a long quote, you should
- Paraphrase the quote in your own words and reduce the sentences (if possible)
- Provide a commentary on how it supports your arguments
- Keep it within the quotation marks and acknowledge the work of the other authors
Now that you have some insight into the art of getting the ball rolling with quotations, it is time to take a look at the examples.
How to Begin an Essay with a Quote with Examples?
Unless you read a lot of examples, you won’t be able to implement what you wish to see in the opening line of the essay. In this section, we will go through a variety of instances, and you will have a detailed insight into how to quote in an essay.
Example 1: Direct Quotation
Let us assume that the theme of the essay is 'Motivation.'
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing”- Walt Disney (famous American entrepreneur, animator, writer, voice actor)
Example 2: Long Quotation
In this case, let us consider a topic on ‘Time Management and Success’
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma which is living with results of other people's thinking"- Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple, American business magnate)
As you can see, there is no need for explanation or further commentary as the statement itself is well elaborated.
Example 3: Quotes that Need Elaboration
For instance, let us assume that the theme is based on 'Communism.'
Karl Marx stated, “Communism abolishes all eternal truths…instead of constituting them on a new basis”.
In short, communism abolishes all the pre-existing notions and beliefs, not only the arguments that counter communism.
Henceforth, you should have any issues regarding how to start an essay with a quote format. Whenever you stumble upon a problem, you should refer to the instances.
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