Focus on Literary Analysis Integrating Evidence Focus on Literary Analysis

What is a QUOTE? Remember that when we refer to a quote, we are not just referring to dialogue or what a character says. It refers to ANY text that you directly quote from another source.

Basic rules to selecting a quote from the text: 1. Use a quotation when the author’s words are unique or memorable and will add interest to your paper. 2. Use a quotation when the author’s words are succinct or are so clear that paraphrasing or summarizing them could even detract from the point. 3. Use a quotation to add authority or credibility to your paper. You are providing proof that your claim is correct and the text clearly connects to and supports this claim.

Danger alert...Danger alert...Danger Alert!!! Be wary of lengthy quotations; use only the MOST relevant parts of the passage. This allows you to focus on your analysis and avoids a paper that relies too heavily on quoted material.

Here is an excerpt from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Aunt Polly reveals her conflicted feelings about how to raise Tom when she says, “‘Spare the rod and spile the child, as the Good Book says. I'm a laying up sin and suffering for us both, I know. He's full of the Old Scratch, but laws-a-me! he's my own dead sister's boy, poor thing, and I ain't got the heart to lash him, somehow. Every time I let him off, my conscience does hurt me so, and every time I hit him my old heart most breaks. Well-a-well, man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble, as the Scripture says, and I reckon it's so. He'll play hookey this evening’” (Twain 74).

Here is an excerpt of the excerpt from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Aunt Polly reveals her conflicted feelings about how to raise Tom when she says, “ ‘Spare the rod and spile the child, as the Good Book says. I'm a laying up sin and suffering for us both, I know. He's full of the Old Scratch, but laws-a-me! he's my own dead sister's boy, poor thing, and I ain't got the heart to lash him, somehow. Every time I let him off, my conscience does hurt me so, and every time I hit him my old heart most breaks. Well-a-well, man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble, as the Scripture says, and I reckon it's so. He'll play hookey this evening’” (Twain 74).

You need to lead into, or integrate the quotation. Avoid FLOATING QUOTES!! You need to lead into, or integrate the quotation. You can use context, an idea or explanation, or blending to integrate a quote.

CONTEXT Use details from the text that will orient the reader as to when/where/who/etc. this quotation occurs in the story. Even as Tom flies through the window when Aunt Polly has caught him in a lie, Aunt Polly laments, “‘Every time I let him off, my conscience does hurt me so, and every time I hit him my old heart most breaks’” (Twain 74).

IDEA/EXPLANATION Introduce an idea or explanation as to the significance of the passage. Aunt Polly reveals her conflicted feelings over how to raise Tom, even when he has clearly lied to her: “‘Every time I let him off, my conscience does hurt me so, and every time I hit him my old heart most breaks’” (Twain 74).

BLENDING In some cases you can combine a paraphrase and only use a brief portion of a quote in the sentence. The evidence is then blended into the commentary or explanation, or at least one part of it. Though the American culture of the 19th century embraced strict discipline and physical punishment, Aunt Polly reveals her conflicting emotions because her “conscience does hurt [her] so” when she does not punish Tom, yet her “old heart most breaks” when she does “hit” him (Twain 74).

What NOT to do… While you may have relied on these at an earlier age, work to grow your writing to a more mature level. Avoid expressions such as “On page 47, the narrator/book/author says…” or “In Chapter 7, one quote says…” or “One passage that shows how Aunt Polly is conflicted about punishing Tom is…” Furthermore, avoid similar expressions as you transition to commentary. For example, stay away from “This quote shows…” and “This passage is important because…”

Don’t forget to add sufficient commentary! You will often need to elaborate and explain the significance of the quotation. It also shows your own critical thinking. Admittedly, it is a fine balance between too little and too much, and you do want to be aware of repetitive statements. The following slide is a model of an integrated quote and sophisticated analysis from the Santa Barbara City College Writing Center:

In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Aunt Polly reveals her conflicted feelings about how to raise Tom when she says, “‘Every time I let him off, my conscience does hurt me so, and every time I hit him my old heart most breaks’” (Twain 74). Conventions of 19th century American society dictated that one must beat or spank children to teach them lessons, but throughout his novel Twain reveals Aunt Polly’s anxiety about physically abusing Tom. Aunt Polly’s “conscience” is in conflict with her “heart,” like many Americans who felt forced to choose between social stability and social justice during this tumultuous time in history.

Punctuation matters: Don’t forget that you will also need to remember to use a correct method of punctuation as you integrate the evidence. Four common methods are: Use a complete thought to introduce the evidence, followed by a semicolon. Use a speaker tag or verb of attribution, as you would with dialogue, followed by a comma. Use the word “that” which replaces the need for a comma as described in #2. Blend selected words and phrases in, punctuating only as you would any other sentence without the quotation marks.

Give credit where credit is due: Remember that the basic rules of MLA Parenthetical References state that you include the author’s last name and the page number at the end of the sentence. The period does not go at the end of the quote. It goes AFTER the parenthetical reference. However, if the author is clear, or you are only citing one source, it is acceptable to include only the page number.

MLA Examples: Even as Tom flies through the window when Aunt Polly has caught him in a lie, Aunt Polly laments, “Every time I let him off, my conscience does hurt me so, and every time I hit him my old heart most breaks” (Twain 74). Even as Tom flies through the window when Aunt Polly has caught him in a lie, Aunt Polly laments, “Every time I let him off, my conscience does hurt me so, and every time I hit him my old heart most breaks” (74).

Practice: “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry What is this passage about; what key point does it make? What BRIEF excerpt best supports or illustrates this point? Integrate the passage and then follow up with explanation. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair. Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.

One more… The magi, as you know, were wise men—wonderfully wise men—who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.

If time allows, choose your own passage… What one did you pick? Why? Share with a neighbor or two… Give feedback on the quality of the writer’s response… Evaluate the accuracy and quality of the integration and give feedback to the writer.

Some material adapted from: https://www.sbcc.edu/clrc/files/wl/downloads/ChooseandUseQuotations.pdf

Write a response incorporating two or three pieces of evidence. Prompt: This is not required, but an example you could practice with, if you need to. How was Montresor able to successfully lure Fortunato to his most unfortunate fate? Write a response incorporating two or three pieces of evidence.