CLAIM, QUOTE,
COMMENT!
(CQC)
Why do we have to use quotes?
 Everything you write is an argument. Yes,
everything. No matter what you are writing,
you are claiming that your opinion is accurate
and what is on the paper is true.
 It is not enough to just have an opinion – you
need to be able to back up that opinion with
evidence.
 This is true in English class, Science class,
Social Studies, and life in general!
Things to remember…
 You can’t isolate quotes and just “hang
them out there”
 Do not leave the reader to fill in the
blanks!
 You need to explain why you have
chosen the quotes that you use.
 To do this, you must successfully use the
CQC method…
Start out with a strong topic sentence.
After you have this, everything you write
about will directly relate back to your
thesis statement and/or topic sentence.
Prove what your thesis statement says!
 How?
 CLAIM– make your point
 QUOTE—provide evidence that supports the point
you just made
 COMMENT– explain how the evidence you just
offered proves your claim. Answer the question:
so what?
CLAIM – make a statement!
Although we often think that the quotes or
examples we choose to back up our thoughts speak
for themselves, they usually don’t. We know what
we are thinking, but the reader doesn’t.
Your job is to provide the reader with context, a
frame of reference, for the evidence (quote) you
are going to provide. This should indicate who is
involved in the quote, why this happened, what is
going on in general, when this is all happening (in
terms of the story), and/or where this is all taking
place.
Quote
When choosing a proper quote to support
your topic sentence (and this is ALL about
supporting the thesis/topic sentence), it is
important to choose wisely.
A. Choose quotes that expand upon your main
point (the thesis) and allow for elaboration or
analysis (in other words, pick quotes about
which you have something to say.)
B. Avoid quotes that simply repeat what has
already been said.
Comment (THE ANALYSIS)
 This is the most important part of the paragraph because it is
where your ideas come into play.
 This is where you explain to the reader why you think the quote
you have chosen supports your point—thus, proving it!
A. The comment portion must clearly explain the connections
that you see. Remember that the reader may not see this
connection—your job is to make it as clear as possible!
B. During the comment portion, be sure NOT to simply re-state
what the quote says. Also AVOID phrases like "this quote
shows,” “this proves that,” etc.
C. Give your reader the “SO WHAT?” What is the point of the
quote? You need to make this clear to the reader.
Example - BAD
Topic
Sentence
It is very easy to plot the differences and
similarities in Deadline and Fault in Our Stars. A
plot similarity between the movie and the book
is that Hazel and Ben have realized that they
have a short time to live and want to spend
what time they have left by doing something
they love.“ I have maybe twelve months to fall
in love, marry, Make smart investments, grow
old and die”(Crutcher 24). Ben and Hazel both
want to do things they love before they die.
Comment
Note how this quote only
repeats what you already
said. It does not actually
explain or analyze anything.
Claim
Quote
Example - GOOD:
Topic
Sentence
It is very easy to plot the differences and
similarities in Deadline and Fault in Our Stars. A plot
similarity between the movie and the book is that
Hazel and Ben have realized that they have a short
time to live and want to spend what time they have
left by doing something they love. This idea is
enforced by Ben’s comment, “ I have maybe twelve
months to fall in love, marry, Make smart
investments, grow old and die”(Crutcher 24). Ben
and Hazel know that they have a limited amount of
This
example
actually does
time left and want to make the most ofexplain
their
lives.
how the similarities
Comment
of Ben and Hazel want to do
something “they love”.
You’ve shown the reader
exactly what you were
talking about.