USING DIRECT USING DIRECT QUOTESQUOTES

……during literary analysis!during literary analysis!

A.E. Harter, 2010

Sheboygan Falls High School

Method 1. ParaphraseMethod 1. Paraphrase► Begin with an Begin with an argument sentenceargument sentence to introduce to introduce

your point.your point.► Put the phrase into your own wordsPut the phrase into your own words► Cite the line/pageCite the line/page where the paraphrased where the paraphrased

statement appears. (Include author last name statement appears. (Include author last name if you plan to cite multiple texts.)if you plan to cite multiple texts.)

► Ex. Ex. There is a sense that the community is one There is a sense that the community is one being.being. The whole neighborhood buzzes with The whole neighborhood buzzes with excitement as the lottery numbers are read excitement as the lottery numbers are read (7).(7).

Method 2. Quote + TagMethod 2. Quote + Tag►Begin with an Begin with an argument sentenceargument sentence to to

introduce your point.introduce your point.► Immediately after, write a sentence that Immediately after, write a sentence that

includes the includes the evidence quoteevidence quote, along with a , along with a tagtag telling us where the quote came telling us where the quote came from.from.

►Cite Cite the line/page number.the line/page number.►Ex. Ex. In this poem, the speaker is caught In this poem, the speaker is caught

between two opposing choices.between two opposing choices. He states,He states, ““Two roads diverged in a yellow woodTwo roads diverged in a yellow wood" " (1).(1).

Notice the placement of the Notice the placement of the punctuation:punctuation:

►Frost statesFrost states,, ““Two roads diverged in a Two roads diverged in a

yellow woodyellow wood”” ((11).).

► (Comma separates tag and quote. Quotation (Comma separates tag and quote. Quotation marks surround direct quote. Parentheticals marks surround direct quote. Parentheticals around citation. It all ends with the period.)around citation. It all ends with the period.)

FYIFYI

►You may quote the author (person who You may quote the author (person who wrote the poem) or the speaker (the wrote the poem) or the speaker (the character who narrates the poem).character who narrates the poem).

►Sometimes they are the same. Most of Sometimes they are the same. Most of the time they are not. the time they are not.

Words you can use other Words you can use other than “states” or “says”than “states” or “says”

► demonstrates demonstrates ► reportsreports► claimsclaims► suggestssuggests► acknowledgesacknowledges► observesobserves► admitsadmits► assertsasserts► emphasizesemphasizes► declaresdeclares► brings to lightbrings to light► holdsholds► maintainsmaintains► argues thatargues that

Method 3. Method 3. Sentence/Quote FusionSentence/Quote Fusion

►Fuse your Fuse your argument sentenceargument sentence together along with your together along with your evidence evidence quotequote through the magic of the through the magic of the coloncolon!!

►CiteCite the line/page number the line/page number►Ex. Ex. Through his personification of the Through his personification of the

night sky, the speaker portrays the night sky, the speaker portrays the danger, beauty, and struggle of inner danger, beauty, and struggle of inner city New Yorkcity New York:: ““So much on my mind So much on my mind that I can’t recline/blastin’ holes in the that I can’t recline/blastin’ holes in the night ‘til she bled sunshinenight ‘til she bled sunshine” ” (15-16).(15-16).

Method 4. Small “sound Method 4. Small “sound bytes” within a sentencebytes” within a sentence

► Incorporate Incorporate small phrasessmall phrases from the from the piece into the piece into the argument sentenceargument sentence and and citecite them as you refer to them. them as you refer to them.

►Ex. Ex. The character’s motion is The character’s motion is constantly changing as heconstantly changing as he “ “soarssoars” ” through the airthrough the air (63),(63), “ “rattlesrattles” ” (65)(65), , and and laterlater “ “explodes, wanders, and hoversexplodes, wanders, and hovers” ” (93)(93)..

Method 5. IncorporationMethod 5. Incorporation

► Incorporate and Incorporate and citecite your direct quote your direct quote straight into an straight into an explanatory sentenceexplanatory sentence. . Use an Use an argument sentenceargument sentence to show to show the quote’s significance.the quote’s significance.

►Ex. Ex. It is in this turbulent city of Verona It is in this turbulent city of Verona that that ““two star cross’d lovers take their two star cross’d lovers take their lifelife” ” (1)(1). . Shakespeare tells his readers Shakespeare tells his readers that fate will play a part in this tragic that fate will play a part in this tragic tale early on.tale early on.

Try using the argument Try using the argument sentence and evidence quote sentence and evidence quote below to practice a method!below to practice a method!

►Argument sentence: The speaker, full Argument sentence: The speaker, full of conflicting information, seems of conflicting information, seems unable to commit to the scene he sets.unable to commit to the scene he sets.

►Quote: “It was the best of times, it was Quote: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”the worst of times”

►Line number: 1Line number: 1

Happy Analyzing!Happy Analyzing!