You can use a quotation, paraphrase, or summary to introduce a point to your readers.

Quotation Used to Introduce a Point

“When I came around the corner, a black bear was standing in the middle of the trail,” said Joan Gibson, an avid hiker. “We stared at each other for a moment, wondering who would make the first move. Then the bear looked off to the right and shambled up the mountain. I guess I wasn’t worth the trouble.” Joan Gibson’s story, like those of most hikers who encounter bears in the woods, ends happily. But the growing encroachment of humans on rural areas once left largely to wildlife is causing difficulties not only for people who enjoy spending time in the wide-open spaces but also for the animals that make those spaces their home.

Paraphrase Used to Introduce a Point

A New York Times article recently reported that human-bear encounters in Yosemite National Park, which had been on the decline during most of the last decade, have more than doubled in the past year (Spiegel A4). Although no humans have been injured and only one incident resulted in a decision to destroy a bear, park officials point to the uptick in encounters as a warning sign that . . .

Your choice of a quotation or paraphrase will frame the point you want to make, calling your readers’ attention to a specific aspect of an idea or argument and laying the groundwork for a response. Think about how the following quotation leads readers to view a public debate about education reform as a battle between reformers and an entrenched teachers union.

For a closer look, click on each image to enlarge it.

In contrast, note how the following quotation frames the debate as a question of how best to spend scarce education funds.