can you start an essay with a quotation

To start an essay with a quote, introduce the quote by including the name of the author, such as, "John Keats once said…" When you include the quote, put quotation marks around it and make sure to put any punctuation inside the quotation marks. If the quote is long, you can use only part of it or remove sections as long as you insert an ...

Embed the Quote: Incorporate the quote naturally within your sentence structure. Avoid dropping quotes abruptly into your text; instead, weave them into your own words. Explain the Quote: After presenting the quote, analyze or interpret it. Explain how it supports your argument or relates to your thesis.

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." Aside from limiting range of expression, starting with a quote requires attribution (crediting the source of the quote) which may cause the reader to ...

Like starting a book with "a dark and stormy night" or a movie with the main character woken by an alarm clock, it draws attention to itself as a stale trope. But you don't have to abandon the quote. One solution is saving it for the meat of your essay where it can be better dissected, and using a fresher hook for your introduction.

Essay Quote Format. Introduction of a Quote: Use a signal phrase to introduce a specific statement. Direct Passage: Enclose a quoted text in quotation marks. In-Text Citation: Provide the author's name and page number in parentheses after a chosen statement (if applicable). Analysis or Interpretation: After a cited passage, write 1-2 sentences with your own analysis or interpretation ...

A quote in an essay can help you get your readers interested from the start. And if you ask yourself, "How to introduce a quote in an essay?" remember that the quote should help you share your own ideas, not replace them. What You Should Know When Choosing a Quote for Your Essay. When picking a quote to start your essay, consider the following:

You probably shouldn't use a funny quote to start a persuasive essay on a serious subject. Similarly, a statistic that can evoke strong emotions in the reader might not be the right choice for an expository essay because it could potentially be construed as your attempt to argue for a certain viewpoint, rather than state facts.

Note that the meta essay can sometimes work (you'll see a couple examples below), but has a higher degree of difficulty. The Quote: While quoting famous people who have said something cool in the past may seem like an appealing way to start your essay, remember that colleges want to hear YOUR thoughts. Don't use the words of another person ...

Useful Tips for Starting an Essay with Quotes. When considering how to begin an essay with a quote, the following tips can prove helpful: Choose quotes that align with your purpose. When searching for quotes, it is important to select ones that serve your intended purpose. Determine whether your aim is to inspire, prove a point, raise awareness ...

When using the word "that" before a quote, no comma is necessary. **Each action word has a slightly different meaning, so make sure that you use the appropriate word to really reflect the author's intention. Ways to Explain Quotes . Once you've introduced your quote and added the quote to your essay, you'll need to explain it.