SIGNAL PHRASES INTRODUCING QUOTES WHATS A SIGNAL PHRASE

SIGNAL PHRASES INTRODUCING QUOTES

WHAT’S A SIGNAL PHRASE? • A phrase that leads into a quote or paraphrase • Requires: – Speaker/author’s name and title of the piece – Indication as to why they are considered reliable – Power verb – *Possibly* Context of the quote/paraphrase • Example: Sarah Smith, New York Times columnist and author of “Using Signal Phrases, ” explains, “The best way to introduce a quote is to use a signal phrase. ”

WHY DO I NEED A SIGNAL PHRASE? • Shows your audience you are introducing an outside source • Prevents “drop quotes” – A sentence can never be just a quote • Proves you found your evidence from a reliable source • Ensures you no longer need parenthetical citations

A SIGNAL PHRASE IS NOT • An entire sentence • The quote itself • Anything in parentheses

REQUIREMENTS: SPEAKER/AUTHOR’S NAME AND TITLE OF THE PIECE • Full name (first time you mention them) • Indicate any important title they hold: – Dr. Johnson – Johnson, Ph. D – Senator Johnson – President Johnson • Title of the article, book etc. – “Articles are in quotation marks” – Long works like books or newspapers are in italics

REQUIREMENT: INDICATION AS TO WHY THEY ARE CONSIDERED RELIABLE • Any important job title – Dr. Robert Campbell… • What source they write for – Robert Campbell, author for the New York Times • Life experience – Robert Campbell, a lawyer with 20 years of experience…

REQUIREMENTS: POWER VERB • List

EXAMPLE: • Speaker/author’s name and title of the piece • Indication as to why they are considered reliable • Power verb • Sarah Smith, New York Times columnist and author of “Using Signal Phrases, ” asserts that, “The best way to introduce a quote is to use a signal phrase. ”

FORMULAS FOR DIFFERENT SIGNAL PHRASES • Author, author of “Title, ” power verb, “Quote. ” (A+”T”+V+Q) • “Title, ” an article/book/etc by Author, power verb, “Quote. ” (“T”+A+V+Q) • 3 rd option: Quote first, then lead out. “Quote, ” power verb author in

POSSIBLE REQUIREMENT: • Necessary when explaining a quote from the middle of a story (the audience needs to know what action is going on in the story) OR • A statement made under specific circumstances

EXAMPLE WITH CONTEXT FOR A STORY: • Speaker/author’s name and title of the piece • Indication as to why they are considered reliable • Power verb • Context In To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus gives his closing argument to the jury responsible for the verdict of Tom Robinson’s trial, and he pleads, “In the name of God, do your duty. ”

EXAMPLE WITH CONTEXT FOR SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES : • Speaker/author’s name and title of the piece • Indication as to why they are considered reliable • Power verb • Context When speaking at the 2017 Convention for Gardeners, Charlie Beach, renowned butterfly expert, explains, “Gardens with milkweed and at least six colors of flowers will attract a plethora of species. ”

EXAMPLE • Speaker/author’s name and title of the piece • Indication as to why they are considered reliable • Power verb • Context Kanye West, Grammy awardwinning songwriter and rapper, shares his opinion about the results of the Video Music Awards by insisting, “Beyoncé has one of the best

ARTICLES • Articles may have interviews • If you are using a quote from something someone other than the author said, you must include the person who said the quote AND who the author of the article is

STORIES • Quotes said by a character must give the character credit

WRITE YOUR OWN! • Use info from one of your hero articles