Okay, real talk: you can’t just say something happens in a text and expect the examiner to be like “Cool, I believe you.” This isn’t casual gossip. It’s IB English. You need receipts.
And in literature, your receipts = quotes.
Quotes prove that you’re not just making things up. They show:
That you actually read the text (yes, examiners can tell)
That you can select meaningful moments, not just drop random lines
That you understand how language creates meaning, not just what happened
If your point is the claim, then a quote is the proof. Without it, your paragraph is just an opinion in a suit. With it, it’s persuasive and analytical.
Quotes are like receipts. You need it to prove your point, otherwise anything you say has no substance.
1. Integrate the Quote Smoothly
Embed the quote naturally into your sentence so it reads as part of your own writing.
Avoid simply "dropping" the quote.
Example
Ineffective:
In line 18, the author writes, “The city streets were littered with broken glass, echoing the chaos that had unfolded hours earlier.”
Improved:
In line 18, the phrase “littered with broken glass” symbolises the aftermath of destruction and reinforces the theme of urban decay.
Why this works:
Short, integrated quotes preserve sentence flow and allow you to focus your analysis directly.
2. Modify the Quote for Clarity
You may:
Use square brackets to add or change words (e.g. tense, pronouns).
Use ellipses to omit irrelevant parts.
Example
Original quote:
“The lanterns flickered like distant stars, casting golden halos over the snow-covered road, quiet and empty.”
Modified example:
The simile “flickered like distant stars” and the image of “golden halos” (line 12) transform the winter scene into a dreamlike memory.
Why this works:
Only the relevant words are quoted, keeping the sentence focused and concise.
3. Provide Brief Context
Before or around your quote, include minimal context so the quote makes sense to the reader.
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Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident
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Tip
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.
Questions
Recap questions
1 of 5
Question 1
Recap question
What is the primary function of using ellipses and square brackets when embedding a quotation?
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