Final answer:
A research paper should contain no more than 10% to 20% quoted material, equaling no more than 10 to 20 words of direct quotes per 100 words. For poetry, when quoting more than three lines, the formatting changes, requiring an indentation and omission of quotation marks. Quotations should support the writer's original ideas, and in-text citations must be included.
Step-by-step explanation:
In academic writing, particularly when doing research in the field of English, it is essential to balance quoted material with original analysis and argument. A research paper should contain no more than 10% to 20% quoted material. This means that for every 100 words, no more than 10 to 20 words should be direct quotes. It is advised to limit brief quotations to no more than two per page and long quotations to no more than one every three pages. When incorporating quotations, especially poetry, it is important to format them carefully. For instance, if you quote more than three lines from a poem, you should indent the quotation one-half inch and refrain from using quotation marks, and the period should come before the parenthetical citation.
Always remember, the role of quoted material is to support your own argument, and it should not overshadow your ideas. Each time a source is quoted, an in-text citation is necessary, which aligns with a corresponding entry on the Works Cited page. Efficiently integrating quotations involves selecting only the most pertinent information that advances your thesis. Lastly, cut superfluous words and ensure your writing is concise and potent, adhering to advice like that given by poets Ezra Pound and William Carlos Williams, who emphasized precision in expression.