Strong quotations

The best way to build a strong argument is to know the kind of argument a particular discipline （or teacher） expects, and to have good material on which to build. It's important to find the best quotations, the ones that really serve your purpose. Students often gather quotations in a desultory fashion, jumping about the text, stopping when they have what they deem a sufficient number, and then forcing these into an essay regardless of how well they really fit. But there's no shortcut to good research. An important part of the process is going through texts with a fine-tooth comb, reading not only for comprehension but for choice phrases. You should expect to end up with many more quotations than you'll actually end up using in your essay. One tip: teachers will often point out many of the best passages, so keeping track in class can prove helpful come essay （and exam） time.