The Writing Prompt: Writing About a Quote Catherine Wishart Literacy Coach Copyright © All rights reserved.

Types of Quotes Sometimes authors write quotes that are: Sometimes authors write quotes that are: Inspirational Inspirational Controversial Controversial Advisory Advisory Confusing Confusing

Classifying the Quote Read the quote carefully. Read the quote carefully. Decide if you have an emotional response to the quote. Decide if you have an emotional response to the quote. – Do you feel like you could do something better? Quotes that make you feel better are inspirational. Quotes that make you feel better are inspirational. – Do you feel like you strongly agree or disagree with the author? Quotes that you strongly agree with or disagree with are controversial. Quotes that you strongly agree with or disagree with are controversial. – Do you feel like the quote is giving advice? Quotes that make you feel this way make you think about your life. Quotes that make you feel this way make you think about your life. – Do you feel like the author isn’t very clear? Quotes that unclear are confusing. Quotes that unclear are confusing.

Examples of Inspirational Quotes “It’s our choices… that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities” (J. K. Rowling). “It’s our choices… that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities” (J. K. Rowling). “Little by little, one travels far” (J. R.R. Tolkien). “Little by little, one travels far” (J. R.R. Tolkien). “Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today” (Will Rogers). “Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today” (Will Rogers). “What we think, we become” (The Buddha). “What we think, we become” (The Buddha). "He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life” (Muhammad Ali). "He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life” (Muhammad Ali). “You lose a lot of time, hating people” (Marian Anderson). “You lose a lot of time, hating people” (Marian Anderson). "We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated“ (Maya Angelou). "We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated“ (Maya Angelou). "Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom“ (George Washington Carver). "Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom“ (George Washington Carver)

Examples of Controversial Quotes “Everywhere, everywhere, children are the scorned people of the earth” (Toni Morrison). “Everywhere, everywhere, children are the scorned people of the earth” (Toni Morrison). “A riot is the language of the unheard” (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ). “A riot is the language of the unheard” (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ). “I’ve never had a humble opinion. If you have an opinion, why be humble about it?” (Joan Baez). “I’ve never had a humble opinion. If you have an opinion, why be humble about it?” (Joan Baez). “When the character of a man is unclear to you, look at his friends” (Japanese proverb). “When the character of a man is unclear to you, look at his friends” (Japanese proverb). “Charity creates a multitude of sins” (Oscar Wilde). “Charity creates a multitude of sins” (Oscar Wilde). “All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others” (George Orwell). “All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others” (George Orwell). “It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend” (William Blake). “It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend” (William Blake)

Examples of Advisory Quotes “The only unsinkable ship is friendship” (Jeff Sczpanski). “The only unsinkable ship is friendship” (Jeff Sczpanski). “A friend is one who walks in when others walk out” (Walter Winchell). “A friend is one who walks in when others walk out” (Walter Winchell). “I get by with a little help from my friends” (John Lennon). “I get by with a little help from my friends” (John Lennon). “If you can learn from hard knocks, you can also learn from soft touches” (Carolyn Kenmore). “If you can learn from hard knocks, you can also learn from soft touches” (Carolyn Kenmore). “I want to touch the heart of the world and make it smile” (Charles de Lint). “I want to touch the heart of the world and make it smile” (Charles de Lint). “Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts” (Charles Dickens). “Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts” (Charles Dickens). From The Friendship Page. From Quotes Daddy.

Examples of Confusing Quotes “In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists” (Eric Hoffer). “In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists” (Eric Hoffer). “You always admire what you really don’t understand” (Blaise Pascal). “You always admire what you really don’t understand” (Blaise Pascal). The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so the necessary may speak” (Hans Hofmann). The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so the necessary may speak” (Hans Hofmann). “Everything in the universe goes by indirection. There are no straight lines” (Ralph Waldo Emerson). “Everything in the universe goes by indirection. There are no straight lines” (Ralph Waldo Emerson). “Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it” (Andre Gide). “Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it” (Andre Gide). “No question is so difficult to answer as that to which the answer is obvious” (George Bernard Shaw). “No question is so difficult to answer as that to which the answer is obvious” (George Bernard Shaw).

Classifying Quotes “A school is four walls – with tomorrow inside” (John Locke). “A school is four walls – with tomorrow inside” (John Locke). “Hope is a waking dream” (Aristotle). “Hope is a waking dream” (Aristotle). “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (Martin Luther King, Jr.). “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (Martin Luther King, Jr.). “The sound of laughter is like a vaulted dome of a temple of happiness” (Milan Kundera). “The sound of laughter is like a vaulted dome of a temple of happiness” (Milan Kundera). “It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but even more to stand up to your friends” (J. K. Rowling). “It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but even more to stand up to your friends” (J. K. Rowling). “To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act” (Anatole France). “To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act” (Anatole France). Read the quotes below. Decide what type of quote each one is. Be ready to discuss why you classified the quote the way you did.

Reacting to a Quote How you react to a quote should reflect the quote: How you react to a quote should reflect the quote: – An inspirational quote should be answered by connecting it to an inspirational story. – A controversial quote should be answered by stating your opinion about the quote. – A touching quote should be answered by connecting it to a touching story. – A confusing quote can be answered by focusing in on one word and discussing its meaning.

What We Learned There are different types of quotes: There are different types of quotes: – Inspirational – Controversial – Advisory – Confusing Each reader can decide what category a quote belongs in for himself or herself Each reader can decide what category a quote belongs in for himself or herself How we should write about a quote depends upon into which category the quote falls How we should write about a quote depends upon into which category the quote falls

What We Need to Learn In detail, how should I plan to write about these different types of quotes? In detail, how should I plan to write about these different types of quotes? How can I organize my essay about a quote? How can I organize my essay about a quote? What can I do if I am worried I don’t have enough time to finish my essay? What can I do if I am worried I don’t have enough time to finish my essay?

Sources Used In This Presentation to Find Quotations Easy Literacy. Friendship Page. Quotes Daddy.