Lead-ins Open your notebooks to the next page of the writing concepts section. Title it “Lead-ins” Add it to your table of contents.

To write a proper lead-in statement for each quote, it must: Give BRIEF background information about what is happening in the story when the quote happens. Includes who is involved and where it is happening. If someone is saying it or thinking it, you must tell who said it or thought it. This takes some special punctuation. Use a dependent clause to introduce the statement. When, after, while… There needs to be a comma after the dependent clause and before the “he says,” phrase.

Good lead in or not? While General Zaroff is explaining to Rainsford that to date he had never lost the game, he mentioned, “ ‘One of them almost did win. I eventually had to use the dogs.’ ” (50) Rubric: _____background information _____dependent clause (after, during, while….) _____ s/he says statement (followed by a comma)

What it isn’t It isn’t telling the reader what you are going to say: NON - EXAMPLE: General Zaroff was telling how he almost had to use the dogs during a close call, “ ‘One of them almost did win. I eventually had to use the dogs.’ ” (50) This is just repetitive!

Review: Which is better? Explain… A: While General Zaroff is explaining to Rainsford that to date he had never lost the game, he mentioned, “One of them almost did win. I eventually had to use the dogs.” (50) B: General Zaroff was telling how he almost had to use the dogs during a close call, ““One of them almost did win. I eventually had to use the dogs.” (50)

Which is better for the quote: “Tonight we will hunt, you and I.” (52) A. When General Zaroff told Rainsford that he was going to be hunted, the General said, “ ‘Tonight we will hunt, you and I.’ ” (52) B. After refusing to murder humans, General Zaroff informs Rainsford, “ ‘Tonight we will hunt, you and I.’ ” (52) Explain your answer!

The explanation comes in the commentary After refusing to murder humans, General Zaroff informs Rainsford, “ ‘Tonight we will hunt, you and I.’ ” (52) This shows that General Zaroff is letting Rainsford know that he is now the target of the hunt. Rainsford has just been thrown into a fight to the death with another man which is a prime example of person versus person conflict.

You try: “ ‘I will not lose my nerve, I will not.’ ” (54) Rubric: _____background information (who, where, what was happening at this point in the story….) _____dependent clause (after, during, while….) _____ s/he says statement _____avoids simply explaining the quote. (you will explain it in the commentary)