Question

Which of these sentences correctly and effectively incorporates source material into an essay?


I think that time in nature is not leisure time; it's an essential investment in our children's health (and also, by the way, in our own).


If you want good information about the power of nature, check out this quotation from Richard Louv: “Time in nature is not leisure time; it's an essential investment in our children's health (and also, by the way, in our own).”


In his book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, child-advocacy expert Richard Louv focuses on the importance of being in nature: “Time in nature is not leisure time; it's an essential investment in our children's health (and also, by the way, in our own)” (120).


In his book that was published in 2008, on page 120 of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, Richard Louv wrote that “Time in nature is not leisure time; it's an essential investment in our children's health (and also, by the way, in our own).”

Answer 1

The third sentence is the best choice.

Why: it names the author, gives the full title of the work, supplies context (Louv’s focus), and includes a parenthetical page citation—so the quotation is both integrated smoothly and properly attributed.

Notes/small fixes:
- Format the book title in italics.
- In MLA style the final punctuation goes after the parenthetical citation.

Corrected MLA-style example:
In his book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, child-advocacy expert Richard Louv focuses on the importance of being in nature: “Time in nature is not leisure time; it's an essential investment in our children's health (and also, by the way, in our own)” (120).