Punctuating Quotations Part 2 Citing Literature

Standard ELACC8RI1/ELACCRL1: Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. ELACC8W9: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. ELACC8L1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. a. Punctuation

Sample Walter really does try to improve his behavior after the 5 th grade. Meyers says, “I spent most of the summer on the straight and narrow” (55). Despite his best intentions, however, Walter has trouble being good at the beginning of 6 th grade. For example, he manages to refrain from fighting for just two days. “My first fight with Mr. Lasher didn’t happen until the third day” (Meyers 56).

Parts of a quote When you write quotations, you need: explanatory words, a direct quotation, commas, quotation marks, and end marks. Comma Quotation Marks Parts: Meyers says, “I danced by myself” (1). Explanatory Words Quote Citation End Marks

Review When quoting an author, the quote can look like: “They didn’t need much reason to fight” (Draper 68). Draper says, “They didn’t need much reason to fight” (68). “They didn’t need much reason to fight,” says Draper (68).

What if you are quoting an author’s character? You may use the character’s name in the lead in, but you still must cite the author. Sampson says, “They’re not hoodlums, they’re my boys” (Draper 61). It is fine to mention characters, but do NOT cite characters.

What about nested quotes (or quotes within quotes?) Use a nested quote when an author is quoting a character. Use nesting quotations for quotes within quotes Ex. “ ‘Put that book down!’ she shouted” (Draper 31).

Nested Quotes 2 The Nested Quote can be anywhere within the main quote. “When Sampson got home, however, he told his mother, ‘I got the honor roll again’” (Draper 61).

Where to begin… You do not have to begin quoting at the beginning of a sentence. You can simply use the parts you want. You can even create a sentence around a piece of a quotation.

Sample The text says: Today I can look back and laugh, but on that day, I truly thought the German Shepherds were going to eat us alive. Snarling and drooling with death in their eyes, they may have saved us from a potential life of crime. Quotation: The dogs were “snarling and drooling with death in their eyes” (Draper 35).

Blocked Quotes If you have more than 4 lines of a quotation, you must “block” it by indenting 4 times and centering the quotation under the part of the essay you are working on.

Sample Sampson speaks to the idea of making bad grades. He says, When I was in school, a good grade could destroy a kid. High marks could open you up to ridicule, to name-calling, to being made an outsider. I never understood the mentality that made failing equal to being cool (Draper 65).