Can I use a quote as a thesis statement?
Quotes are also important as they usually support the arguments in the essay and hence can be used to develop the thesis statement.
Whenever you quote the exact words of another author or speaker in your thesis or dissertation, it is essential that you quote those words with accuracy and observe with precision and consistency all appropriate scholarly techniques and editorial styles.
Avoids vague words such as "good," "interesting," "a serious problem," "in many ways," etc. NOTE: A thesis statement should not be a well-known fact (Ex. Bats are nocturnal mammals.). *A Helpful Tip?
The parenthetical cite should always contain the author's surname, the publication year of the work, and the page citation or paragraph number (for nonpaginated material). Direct quotations can vary in length. Quotes fewer than 40 words should be incorporated into the text of the paragraph.
A direct quotation is when you quote an academic source or reference word for word in your essay, using quotation marks and a reference (an in-text reference or footnote) to indicate that the words belong to another author and where you found them.
3. Use an introductory phrase naming the source, followed by a comma to quote a critic or researcher. Note that the first letter after the quotation marks should be upper case.
It is usually best not to begin or end your introductory paragraph with a quotation. You weaken your argument by relying on someone else's words so early on in the paper. If you do quote in the first paragraph, make sure it is short and to the point.
Sometimes a thesis ultimately says, "we should be good," or "bad things are bad." Such thesis statements are tautological or so universally accepted that there is no need to prove the point. Bad Thesis 1: Although we have the right to say what we want, we should avoid hurting other people's feelings.
Example: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are the best type of sandwich because they are versatile, easy to make, and taste good. In this persuasive thesis statement, you see that I state my opinion (the best type of sandwich), which means I have chosen a stance.
Take a stand and be firm. Don't write your statement as a question or use a quote. Don't over complicate your thesis by squishing in too many ideas. Don't state your opinion as to the first person, such as, “I think”, “I state”, or “I believe.”
How do you reference a quote in an essay?
In-text citations include the last name of the author followed by a page number enclosed in parentheses. "Here's a direct quote" (Smith 8). If the author's name is not given, then use the first word or words of the title. Follow the same formatting that was used in the works cited list, such as quotation marks.
Quoting is an important technique used to include information from outside sources in academic writing. When using quotations, it is important that you also cite the original reference that you have taken the quotation from, as your citations provide your reader with a map of the research that you have done.
- Step 1: Introduce the Author of the Quotation. ...
- Step 2: State the Quotation. ...
- Step 3: Summarize the Quotation. ...
- Step 4: Analyze the Quotation. ...
- Step 5: State the Quotation's Relevance to Your Argument.
If you cannot state an idea in your own words, you should use the direct quotation. Ideally, papers will contain a good balance of direct quotations, paraphrasing and your own thoughts.
Use direct quotations rather than paraphrasing: when reproducing an exact definition (see Section 6.22 of the Publication Manual), when an author has said something memorably or succinctly, or. when you want to respond to exact wording (e.g., something someone said).
Use quotation marks anytime you include someone else's words in your own paper. This lets the reader know that you have borrowed from another writer. As long as you use quotation marks and cite the source where you got the material, you can use someone else's ideas without plagiarizing.
Beginning a Sentence With a Quote
When the quote ends, use a comma inside the quotation marks, and then continue the sentence outside.
In APA format, follow the author, date method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the year of publication for the source should appear in the text, e.g., (Jones, 1998), and a complete reference should appear in the reference list at the end of the paper.
A direct quote is a word- for-word report of what someone else said or wrote. You use the exact words and punctuation of the original. Harriet Jacobs writes, “She sat down, quivering in every limb” (61). This example is a direct quotation from Jacobs' book Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.
Do you wonder “ Can I start an essay with a quote?” Definitely, yes! It's a rather popular way to begin an essay. You should find the right quote that fits your purpose and use it within the framework of your own words.
Is starting an essay with a quote bad?
To start with a quote is not wrong, but you may do better, as onomatomaniak suggested, to "think of an engaging first sentence that makes the reader think you have something interesting to say."
Just as beginning your essay with a quote is a great way to grab the reader's attention, ending your essay in a manner that refers back to the quote will make the piece consistent and provide a satisfactory ending for the reader. The concluding paragraph of an essay should be the opposite of the introduction.
A strong thesis is specific, precise, forceful, confident, and is able to be demonstrated. A strong thesis challenges readers with a point of view that can be debated and can be supported with evidence. A weak thesis is simply a declaration of your topic or contains an obvious fact that cannot be argued.
Thesis statements are often one sentence, however, in some cases (e.g. a very in-depth or detailed paper) it may be appropriate to include a longer thesis statement. You should ask your professor for their advice if you think you need to use a thesis statement that is longer than one sentence.
- take on a subject upon which reasonable people could disagree.
- deal with a subject that can be adequately treated given the nature of the assignment.
- express one main idea.
- assert your conclusions about a subject.
Drop the question words (like who, what, when, where, and why). Then, use the keywords in the question or prompt to start your thesis statement. Be sure to include because if the question asks “why?”
A thesis statement is typically one sentence that appears in the first paragraph of an essay that captures the essay's purpose. Think of the thesis statement as a one-sentence summary that tells the reader exactly what an essay says.
Parts of a Thesis Statement
The thesis statement has 3 main parts: the limited subject, the precise opinion, and the blueprint of reasons.
You may use quotes when you need to cite a key piece of primary source material, strengthen your argument through another writer's work, or highlight a term of art. It is important to both use quotations effectively and cite them properly to write an effective paper and avoid plagiarizing.
Quoting is an important technique used to include information from outside sources in academic writing. When using quotations, it is important that you also cite the original reference that you have taken the quotation from, as your citations provide your reader with a map of the research that you have done.
Can you quote from a PhD thesis?
Thus, there is no harm in citing a PhD thesis, provided you mention that it is what it is. "not mandatory to have the stuff written in the thesis published" - in particular, all the stuff.
A thesis statement should show exactly what your paper will be about, and will help you keep your paper to a manageable topic. For example, if you're writing a seven-to-ten page paper on hunger, you might say: World hunger has many causes and effects. This is a weak thesis statement for two major reasons.
