Do not quote from the documents. Use them to support your thesis. You must cite documents parenthetically within your essay. Remember, your DBQ essay should have an equal mix of documentary evidence and outside evidence. Keep in mind that although you may think of something important or interesting to say about a topic, that does not mean it will be considered significant by your audience. When you quote someone, you are giving them credit while also showing how their ideas relate to your own. This makes quotes useful tools for scholars who want to give credit to others while still developing their own thoughts on a subject. Although it is not necessary to use quotes in your essay, doing so can help you illustrate points more clearly and effectively. There are three main types of quotes: authorial, attributed, and paraphrased. Authorial quotes are words or phrases written by the person they are quoting. These can be found in articles, books, and other forms of media such as movies and songs. Attributed quotes include words or phrases taken from another source but which were not actually written by the person they are attributed to. For example, many people believe that Socrates was a great philosopher because of his contributions to philosophy through the work of other authors; thus, he deserves credit for being quoted. Paraphrased quotes are interpretations of facts or ideas written by another person.