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Used effectively, quotations can provide important pieces of evidence and lend fresh voices and perspectives to your narrative. Used ineffectively, however, quotations can clutter your text and interrupt the flow of your argument. This handout will help you decide when and how to quote like a pro.
When you quote, you include the words and ideas of others in your text exactly as they have expressed them. You signal this inclusion by placing quotation marks (“ ”) around the source author’s words and providing an in-text citation after the quotation.
You can use quotes in a personal statement to evidence your wider reading and subject knowledge or to put your personal experiences into context for the reader. Quotes can also help you compare opinions, define positions and engage the reader when used appropriately.
- Telling a story. Many personal statements can take on the appearance of the applicant's life story. While some background information won't hurt, the best statements will only include experiences directly related to their chosen course.
- Repeating information already contained in your application. It can be hard to fit everything you want to say into just 4,000 characters. So don't waste space on things that are already included elsewhere in your application, such as your A-level subjects or previous grades.
- Spending too long discussing personal issues. Many applicants mention personal issues in their statement, like health and bereavement. This is relevant as it affects studying, but it might be better covered in your reference instead.
- Making simple grammatical errors. Students are often so focused on the experiences they're writing about that they forget to check their grammar. Have a go at reading your statement aloud to make sure it flows well.
Read the entire text, noting the key points and main ideas. Summarize in your own words what the single main idea of the essay is. Paraphrase important supporting points that come up in the essay. Consider any words, phrases, or brief passages that you believe should be quoted directly.
The personal statement is your opportunity to talk about you, and why you want to enrol on a particular course. Use these easy-to-digest bullet points to help you decide what you should and shouldn’t include in your personal statement.
People also ask
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When should you quote? When the author’s exact language will support your ideas better than a paraphrase or summary of the information. When the language is striking or highly nuanced, allowing for multiple interpretations that you need to demonstrate for your readers.
