Poetry Lesson: Evidence Your Paragraph

As you choose quotations for a literary analysis, remember the purpose of quoting. Your paper develops an argument about what the writer of the poem is doing--how the poem "works."

Use quotations to support an argument; that is, you select, present, and discuss material from the poem or secondary source specifically to "prove" your point-- to make your case--in much the same way a lawyer brings evidence before a jury. Quoting for any other purpose is counterproductive.

Don't quote to "tell the story" or otherwise convey basic information about the poem; assume the reader knows the poem Don't quote just for the sake of quoting or just to fill up space. Your quotes either FRAME the argument’s context or are specific evidence.

The following paragraph is from a student's analysis of the poem “The Tyger” . Notice how statements expressing the writer's ideas and observations are verified with specific evidence from the poem in both summarized/paraphrased and quoted form AND using secondary sources

Leads and Exits: Two kinds Argument (arguing a point not stated in a quote) Data (giving context to the quote)

Point The reader learns about the savagery of the Tyger, forcing him or her to contend with the problem of God creating such evil in the first place.

Lead/Entrance into Proof (L/E) For example, the poet cries out, “. And what shoulder, & what art/ Could twist the sinews of thy heart?” (Blake 4,5). This lead is an argument – it leads by arguing a point/sub-point (the poet is crying) before entering a quote. The quote gives the poet’s name and line #s.

Exit and another lead-in The poet’s exasperation at God’s ability to create evil continues as he wonders how God, who created Jesus, could also create the Devil (19,20). Lead by argument again Always have your own words link a series of quotes/paraphrases Here is an exit (exasperation continues) then a lead/entrance (as he wonders) Since source material is the same, just cite the line #s after the quote.

References Includes quotes of textual data, summarize , and paraphrase. Summarize or paraphrase when it is not so much the language of the text that justifies your position, but the substance or content. This can help reduce “quote overload”

Quote Selectively Quote only the portions of the text specifically relevant to your point. Think in terms of units: words, phrases, sentences, and groups of sentences, and use only the units you need.

Patterns for Integrating Quotations into Sentences Do not always quote entire sentences (between two of your own) Other ways create variety and, therefore, better interest Lead in with arguments!

Secondary Source Evidence Lead- in to secondary sources with data, meaning include the critic’s name Put near beginning of paragraph if using to frame argument or set the table Put closer to end if critic is echoing your point