You’ve researched your topic thoroughly, and you’ve found some great quotations you want to use. But how? There are two main elements involved in using quotations. First, you need to identify the author and cite the source correctly. Attributing and citing the source gives credit to the author and shows that you are building on the research of other knowledgeable individuals or experts, not plagiarizing. Second, you need to integrate the quotation smoothly into your essay by giving it context, rather than just inserting it abruptly or randomly. Think about where the quotation makes the most sense, or where it will do the most good for your argument. Be sure to interpret and analyze quotations, rather than just letting them “speak for themselves.”