The Signpost Principle

When traveling to the beach, the way is littered with signposts. With these signposts, I know where the beach is, and I understand the rules and conventions to follow when I’m there. These signs may include warnings such as “Stop”, “Lifeguard on Duty”, or other messages that I must understand and follow.

This same principle applies when introducing quotes into the body of an essay. It’s very easy to simply cut and paste a quote into your essay and simply leave it there. However, doing this creates many problems for the essay. Your reader will need signposts to navigate through your essay.

Many people know the classic line “Quoth the raven, ‘Nevermore’” (Poe 48). Now imagine there were no introduction. “Nevermore.” This is what is called a dumped quote.

We read the quote, but we don’t understand what it shows us. Who is saying this? What does it prove to your audience?

In the original uncut quote, we know the raven is saying “Nevermore”. We don’t know necessarily why the raven says this, but by introducing the quote, we understand there’s a context behind it. The writer’s task is to explain this context to the reader and show why this quote matters to the argument.

The best way to avoid a dumped quote is by introducing your quote with a short phrase or a statement. For instance, perhaps Wright Stone claims that “the seagulls were quiet on the beach today.” Alternately, a short phrase can also work. Therefore, according to Stone, “the seagulls were quiet on the beach today.”

While those are the simplest ways, you need not mention your author in the body of the sentence at all. Even though the waves were strong and steady, “the seagulls were quiet on the beach today” (Stone). By placing these signposts, the argument becomes clear; the reader understands what the quote proves, who is quoted, and how the quote’s context fits with your argument.

As a parting note, always remember to follow up any quote with thorough analysis. It isn’t enough simply to drop the quote into your paper. You must show how the quote backs up any claims that you’ve made with solid logical reasoning. A supporting paragraph should always introduce the quote, lead into the quote carefully, and then explain what the quote means to your argument.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!