Using Quotations Effectively 5 Steps to success!

Literary Analysis Example: Meg has a tendency to jump to conclusions and to assume the worst about anything that happens. When she realizes that her father has rescued her from “It,” the giant evil brain, but that he is powerless to retrieve her brother Charles Wallace from the planet of Camazotz, she lashes out at him in despair, complaining bitterly, “You don’t even know where we are!” She continues, “We’ll never see mother or the twins again! We don’t know where earth is! Or even where Camazotz is! We’re lost out in space!” (L’Engle 172). With this statement, Meg acknowledges her beloved father’s imperfections and takes a step toward adulthood by realizing that in some situations, even parents are not all powerful.

What the? In the example, the writer is examining Meg’s character in A Wrinkle in Time and illustrating one of her personal qualities by including a quotation, folded into a sentence of the writer’s own devising. The writer is considerate of the reader by setting the quotation in its proper context and identifying its speaker. When two quotations are included, they are linked by a traditional phrase.

Oh, I get it! The writer also comments on the quotation, analyzing it, revealing why it was included, and relating it to the overall topic of Meg’s character. The italicized parts of the paragraph illustrate both the introduction and the commentary the writer made after it.

Strategy! Assertion: Meg has a tendency to jump to conclusions and to assume the worst about anything that happens. Introduction to the quotation (speaker and situation): When she realizes that her father has rescued her from “It,” the giant evil brain, but that he is powerless to retrieve her brother Charles Wallace from the planet of Camazotz, she lashes out at him in despair, complaining bitterly,

Strategy! Quotation that proves or backs up the assertion: “You don’t even know where we are!” Documentation of the quotation (L’Engle 172). Commentary on the quotation With this statement, Meg acknowledges her beloved father’s imperfections and takes a step toward adulthood by realizing that in some situations, even parents are not all-powerful.

Evidence in an Argument Example: For example, in an editorial article about cloning, perhaps the feature writer would like to include a quotation from a reputable, well- known scientist to reinforce the thesis of the article. In this case, the writer must again courteously make the reader aware of who the speaker is and of the circumstances surrounding the quotation

Evidence in an Argument Example: All the media hype about cloning has obscured the scientific reasons for the technique and sensationalized topic rather than debated it logically. The noted cloning experts from Jones University, Clark and Burns, comments on the matter in their speech at Warren Medical Center last May. Their point of view was, “We won’t know that applications of this technology are possible until people calm down and examine the issue logically” (Jordan 45). Their balanced rational statements have done much to tone down the emotional storm caused in their university by experimentation with cell reproduction.

Locate These in the example! Assertion: Introduction to the quotation: Quotation that proves or illustrates the assertion: Documentation of the quotation’s source: Commentary on the quotation:

Othello Blog #1 You will need to include a textual example in your blog response. I am looking for ALL 5 steps of quotation inclusion!! Remember when citing a play, you will need the Act, scene and line numbers separated by periods as your citation. Let’s check out an example.

Blog Assignment: Please cite a quotation in your response to the following: Do a close read of one or more of the play's bizarre comic scenes: Iago/Desdemona in Act II, the drinking song in Act II sc. iii, or the clown in Act III. sc. i. How do these supposedly lighthearted scenes echo, reflect, distort, or comment on the more serious matters in the play? Avoid repetition in your response, and use the five steps of quotation citation in your response.

Label the 5 steps in this sample response: In act ll scene iii Shakespeare has Iago sing an eccentric song to not only lighten the mood but show the audience what an actor Iago can be. In this scene Iago is planning an evil scheme to get cassio drunk so he will do something foolish to hence lose his position as lieutenant. To Cassio and Montano Iago sings “some wine, ho! And let me the canakin clink, clink; and let me the canakin clink. A soldier’s a man; O man’s life’s but a span, why then, let a soldier drink. Some whine, boys!” (Act ll. scene iii ). Before Iago sang this comical song he was trying to persuade Cassio to have a couple drinks. He also exceeded in getting Cassio drunk before he sings the song as well. I think Shakespeare has him carol this song to give some humor and just add the icing on top to Iago’s little act he has going. Cassio is already drunk but Iago wants to see if he can push him even further. The scene before this is one is of Iago’s little soliloquies where he is very dark and rash, showing his true self. I think shakespear ads in this comical section to show that Iago can put up any act he wants to make sure his plan will work.