Our class focused a lot on ensuring all quotes are thoroughly explained and analyzed, and that we could put the authors in conversation with each other using quotes in a Barclay paragraph. In my third paragraph I used one of my classmates’ quotes from his essay and put in in conversation with Kevin Kelly. I selected a quote that related to how technology has the ability to dictate our lives and how much power it holds over us.

“However, he sees that technology also has the ability to destroy, “The world’s greatest tool to mankind is technology this tool can be used for immense greatness, or it can be used to destroy the world” (Leehive). What Leehive is trying to get across is that technology has the ability to save lives like the minuscule nanobots that researchers have developed to unclog arteries. On the other hand, there are also technologies like guns and bombs that kill and destroy life.” (Buchanan). 

I was able to connect this quote with the author I used as my base in my essay. First, I set up the quote, introducing it, and after, I explained what the quote was stating. I explained this quote by using a real life example, which I felt would help the reader understand what the quote was about better. In my explanation of the quote I wanted to highlight the great positives that technology could do and the big negatives that are a part of the cost of technology. Once I integrated the quote into the paragraph I gave my analysis and then added Kelly to the conversation with a quote that related. I found Barclay paragraphs to be extremely useful in my writing because being able to put two authors in conversation together really aided in explaining the point I am trying to make. When putting authors in conversation I decide whether or not they will be in agreement or disagreement. In this specific example the authors are in agreement, when transitioning from Leehive to Kelly I state that, Kelly’s point is an extension of what Leehive’s quote was. Overall, when integrating quotes in my paragraph to use in my essay I really thought deep on how it aids my thesis and analyzed it thoroughly.

Looking back on past essays I noticed that sometimes I didn’t fully explain a quote and instead jumped straight into my analysis. In my chosen work I noticed that I did this less and most of my quotes are explained and not left hanging out to dry. Explaining a quote is important because no matter how good the quote you picked from your source is if there is no explanation for the reader, the quote is more likely to confuse them instead of helping your thesis. In my writing I tend to go on tangents at times and forget to integrate the quote I chose in past essays but in my chosen work I feel as though I did a much better job at integrating my quotes.