The concept of using a quotation may seem like the opposite of "writing in your own words." However, learning to use a quote the correct way is an essential writing skill. First, you must understand when to use a direct quotation. Use a direct quotation in order to: Argue against another author's specific idea Continue another author's specific idea Prove your own point with the help of another author Add eloquence or power with a very meaningful quote A quote should never appear all by itself. Instead, you need to place the quote into the context of your essay. Write a sentence or two that leads up to the quotation, demonstrating the need for this particular voice. Be sure to provide the reader with any information they may need to understand this particular quote. The first time you bring a writer's words into your own text, introduce the quote with a "signal phrase." This should always include the name of the person (or persons) who wrote the words, as well as the full title of the work from which the quote is taken. Here are two examples: In his book End of Humanism, Richard Schechner states, "I prefer to work from primary sources: what I've done, what I've seen" (15). As Dixon and Foster explain in their book Experimental Cinema, "filmmakers assumed that the audience for their films was to be an intimate group of knowledgeable cineastes" (225). The proper way to format both your quote and the citation for your quote will depend on the style-guide you are following (MLA, APA, AP, or Chicago style). The specific rules of block-quoting, citation, and even the placement of the quotation marks will be determined by the style guide you use. (The citations provided above are done in MLA format). In general, your quote should not exceed 3-4 lines of text. If it does (and it is truly necessary), you will need to use block quote formatting. At the end of the quote, include any relevant data that you have not already stated, such as the name of the author, the page number, and/or the date of publication. No matter what style guide you choose, you must always cite the author you quote. This is a crucial step and must never be skipped. Anytime you use the exact phrasing of an author, you must place this phrase in quotation marks and include the name of the author. Forgetting this step is unethical. It also puts you at risk for plagiarism. If there is no specific author, then use the editor instead, or whatever your specific style-guide requires.
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One-sentence summary -- Decide that a quote is needed. Contextualize the quotation. Introduce the quote. Check your format. Cite the author.

While the cake is cooling, mix together 4 tablespoons (57 g) of butter, 2 tablespoons (12 g) of cocoa powder, 1 cup (156 g) of powdered sugar, and teaspoon (2.5 ml) of vanilla in a medium size bowl. Stir until all of the ingredients are well blended. You don't necessarily have to make a chocolate frosting for the cookie cake. Use your favorite buttercream frosting recipe for a simple vanilla frosting if you prefer. You can also use canned frosting in your favorite flavor if you're short on time. Once the butter mixture is well blended, begin stirring in 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 ml) of milk. You only want to add as much milk as is necessary to make the frosting smooth. Whole milk works best for the frosting, but you can use whatever type you prefer. After you've finished mixing the frosting, place it in a piping bag that's fitted with a decorative tip. Carefully pipe the frosting along the outer edge of the cookie cake in whatever pattern you prefer. Make sure that the cake has cooled before you pipe the frosting onto it. The frosting may melt otherwise. If you don't have a piping bag, you can place the frosting in a sealed plastic bag and cut the tip off one of the bottom corners. Squeeze the bag so the frosting emerges from the hole just as it would through the tip of a piping bag. To make the cake more festive for the occasion, use the chocolate frosting in the piping bag or a tube of decorating gel to write "Happy Birthday" or a similar message on the cake. If you're using a piping bag, you may need to switch to a smaller tip when you're writing. If you want a more colorful look for the cake, press some bright sprinkles, colored sugar, or dragees into the frosting. Colorful candies, such as M&M's, also make ideal decorations for the cake. Shaved chocolate and mini chocolate chips are also fun decorations for the cake.
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One-sentence summary -- Combine the butter, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Add milk until the frosting is smooth. Place the frosting in a piping bag and pipe along the edges of the cake. Use the frosting or a decorating gel to write on the cake. Accent the cake with sprinkles.

Proper first aid treatment is essential to helping prevent a bacterial infection, but you should not attempt to treat a severe flesh wound by yourself. If the wound is deep, wide, or bleeding a lot, you should seek medical help immediately. If you treat a wound with dirty hands, you will increase the chances of a bacterial infection. Wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap for 20 seconds and dry them well. Wear clean vinyl or latex gloves if they are available. Avoid latex gloves if you have a latex allergy. If the bleeding is severe, seek medical attention immediately. Do not attempt to treat a severe wound by yourself. Go to an emergency room or call 911. Hold the wound under a gentle stream of running water to clean it. Do not use soap on the wound unless it appears visibly dirty. If it does seem dirty, clean around the wound gently with a mild soap. Also, do not use hydrogen peroxide to clean a wound. Hydrogen peroxide can interfere with healing. If you notice any debris in the wound, you can try to remove it with tweezers that have been sterilized with alcohol. If you do not feel comfortable doing that, you can go to a doctor for treatment. An antibiotic ointment, such as Neosporin, can help a wound heal faster and can help keep infection at bay. Gently apply the ointment to the wounded area after cleaning. If the wound is a small scrape, leave it open to the air. If the wound is deeper, cover it with a sterile gauze. A nonstick bandage held in place with medical tape is the best option for larger wounds, though large band-aids may also work. Be sure that you do not put the adhesive area of a bandage over a wound, as it may re-open the wound when you remove it. Change the gauze once a day if it is dirty. A good time to change the gauze is when you take a shower. If the wound is red, swollen, draining pus, streaking red away from the wound, or just looking worse, call your doctor.
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One-sentence summary --
Prevent a skin infection by properly cleaning and bandaging a wound right away. Wash your hands before treating a wound. Keep pressure on the wound until it stops bleeding. Clean the wound with warm running water. Apply ointment. Bandage the wound. Watch for signs of infection.