► Examines the use of direct quotations in master's theses written by L2 writers. ► Compares the use of direct quotations in high- and low-rated master's theses. ► Provides an account of student writers’ motivations to use direct quotation. Using textual analysis and interviews with student writers, this study aims to provide an insight into second language students’ use of direct quotations in their MA theses by comparing direct quotations in high-rated and low-rated Master's theses, and by exploring student writers’ own motivations to quote directly from sources. The corpus consists of eight high-rated and eight low-rated Master's theses written in English in the field of gender studies by students from Central and Eastern Europe studying at an English-medium university in Central Europe. The findings show that high-rated theses display almost three times as many direct quotations per 1000 words as low-rated theses, which was found to be statistically significant. Differences are also evident in the type of quotations preferred: while high-rated theses primarily use quotation fragments (i.e., quotations shorter than a T-unit), low-rated theses rely on clause-based quotations, which do not require modification when quoted in a text. Interviews with student writers reveal the following motivations to quote directly from sources: (a) source-related motivations (e.g., vivid expression of an idea), (b) writers’ own goals (e.g., stylistic variety), (c) external factors (e.g., lack of time), and (d) students’ beliefs and fears (e.g., fear of plagiarism). The findings are discussed with reference to the development of student academic writing in the area of source use and citation. Pedagogical recommendations aimed at making students’ use of direct quotations more effective are also offered.