Working with Quotes

1. Set up quote                        2. Quote it.                              3. Expand on it.

1. Clear topic sentence begins paragraph

Universities are always concerned about student recruitment and retention.

1. Expand/develop idea in topic sentence. Set up quote.

They put millions of dollars into recreational programs, campus landscaping, advertising, athletics, student services and recruitment programs all in an effort to get and keep students. However, the one thing that students want most – a job – is completely ignored by most universities.

2. Attribute quote. Work it seamlessly into your prose. Cite it correctly.

According to a recent gallup poll, “85% of college students said that the primary reason they attend college is to get a better job” (Smith 3).

3. &. 1. Expand on quote. Connect to your argument, and/or set up another quote

Since career development is the number one reason most students attend college, colleges should place a greater emphasis on meeting this need. After all, students are our customers, and the customers are always right. This is especially true in the area of student recruitment and retention, since the students, themselves, are the greatest authority on what they want.

2. Attribute quote. Work it seamlessly into your prose. Cite it corrrectly.

For example, the same study also found that “75% of those students polled said that the existence of job placement programs would be a major factor influencing which university they attend, or whether they remained at a particular institution” (Smith 3).

3. Expand on quote. Connect to your argument.

This demonstrates that the existence of job placement programs, or the lack of them, has a significant effect on student recruitment and retention. Not only are these the type of programs students want, but they are one of the strongest factors affecting which institution students attend. If universities would divert some funding away from a variety of programs aimed at recruitment and retention and put it toward job placement programs, they would realize a significant increase in how many students attend and remain at their particular institution. This would mean a huge increase in revenue for the university, and, over time, more money would be available to put back into job placement programs as well as all the other programs aimed at increasing student recruitment and retention.

Connect back to thesis.

Once we recognize these advantages, we will come to realize that job placement programs are not only good for students, but also very beneficial for universities. From this perspective, it is unreasonable for colleges to do anything but increase funding for job placement programs.

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