How to Get How to Get Started with the Started with the

paper…paper…American LiteratureAmerican Literature

Start with a 3 part Start with a 3 part thesis…thesis…

For your topic, brainstorm 3 things you For your topic, brainstorm 3 things you would like to discuss.would like to discuss.

Example:Example: Mrs. Tucker’s American Dream is Mrs. Tucker’s American Dream is to marry to marry

Brad PittBrad Pitt, , work for a weather stationwork for a weather station, and , and see her niece and nephew graduate collegesee her niece and nephew graduate college..

Make sure you incorporate the main Make sure you incorporate the main element of your topic: sacrifice, definition of element of your topic: sacrifice, definition of the American Dream, or obstacles. Use the the American Dream, or obstacles. Use the organizer to help you.organizer to help you.

Once you have your topic, Once you have your topic, you need to find articles to you need to find articles to include for extra support…include for extra support… Go to MackinVIA (Cobb digital Library)Go to MackinVIA (Cobb digital Library) Type in your ID # and the password “read”Type in your ID # and the password “read” Type in GALE in to the search engine.Type in GALE in to the search engine. Go to Opposing Viewpoints or Literature Go to Opposing Viewpoints or Literature

Resource or Student Resources in ContextResource or Student Resources in Context Type in The American DreamType in The American Dream Choose an article Choose an article www.MackinVIA.com

The Lead-in…The Lead-in…

Integration of Quoted MaterialIntegration of Quoted Material Always use correct lead-ins for direct Always use correct lead-ins for direct

quotesquotes Never drop a quotation into a sentence Never drop a quotation into a sentence

or a paragraph without proper lead-in. or a paragraph without proper lead-in.

Do this: Agee points out that “many teachers

believe rules stifle spontaneity,” resulting in a de-emphasis in the instruction of grammar in the modern classroom (10).

Never Do This: There has been a de-emphasis of grammar instruction in the modern classroom. “Many teachers believe rules stifle spontaneity” (Agee 10).

Styles of Lead-insStyles of Lead-ins

Somebody saysSomebody says Punctuate as dialoguePunctuate as dialogue Quote must be a complete sentenceQuote must be a complete sentence Use a commaUse a comma Vary synonyms for “says”Vary synonyms for “says”

Somebody SaysSomebody Says

Jane Agee comments, “Many Jane Agee comments, “Many students who would not have students who would not have attempted college seven years ago attempted college seven years ago are now coming into state are now coming into state universities through junior colleges” universities through junior colleges” (10). (10).

Types of Lead-ins Types of Lead-ins continuedcontinued

Sentence:Sentence: Make sure both are complete, correct Make sure both are complete, correct

sentencessentences Begin quote with a capital letterBegin quote with a capital letter Use a colon to separateUse a colon to separate

Sentence:Sentence:

Agee insists that English instruction Agee insists that English instruction on the college level will not improve on the college level will not improve until educators become realistic: until educators become realistic: “Public school teachers need to sit “Public school teachers need to sit down and evaluate the situation” down and evaluate the situation” (12).(12).

Types of Lead-ins Types of Lead-ins continuedcontinued

BlendedBlended Make the quotation a grammatical part Make the quotation a grammatical part

of your sentenceof your sentence Do not use a comma or capital letter Do not use a comma or capital letter

unless it would be called for by the unless it would be called for by the structure of the sentencestructure of the sentence

Do not use ellipses at the beginning or Do not use ellipses at the beginning or endend

BlendedBlended

State universities are now providing State universities are now providing “special remedial programs” in “special remedial programs” in which students who do not meet the which students who do not meet the “entrance requirements are “entrance requirements are admitted on probation” (Agee 13). admitted on probation” (Agee 13).

Note: Do not use the author’s name as a possessive and then make reference with a personal pronoun.

Do this: In The Grapes of Wrath Steinbeck

comments, “There grew up governments in the world, with leaders, with elders” (269).

Never do this: In Steinbeck’s novel, he says, “There grew

up governments in the world, with leaders, with

elders” (269).

PracticePractice

Using a quote from a book (any Using a quote from a book (any book, but not dialogue) write three book, but not dialogue) write three lead ins using:lead ins using: Somebody saysSomebody says SentenceSentence BlendedBlended

Compare with partnerCompare with partner Share with classShare with class

For your paper…For your paper…

Each kind of lead in needs to be Each kind of lead in needs to be evident AT LEAST once…evident AT LEAST once… SaidSaid SentenceSentence BlendedBlended

Parenthetic Parenthetic DocumentationDocumentation

Material taken from an outside source is referenced in parentheses in the text of the paper.

These references are called parenthetical documentation.

• Whenever paraphrasing or quoting, identify in parentheses the author and page number(s) of the source (if book).

Example 1: This comedy has been highly

acclaimed by literary critics: “Twelfth Night is the most nearly perfect festive comedy that Shakespeare wrote” (Schwartz 509).

� If no author or editor is given, use the title and page number(s).

Example 2: Twelfth Night has more playfulness

than any other of Shakespeare’s comedies (“Analyzing Humorous Plays” 6).

Punctuation Reminders

• Place commas and periods inside quotation marks.

• Place semicolons and colons outside quotation marks.

• Place question marks and exclamation marks inside quotation marks when they are part of the quote; place them outside the quotation marks if they are part of your sentence.

•

The author’s name MUST be either in the lead-in or in the parenthetical documentation, but never in both.

Schwartz contends, “Twelfth Night is the most nearly perfect festive comedy that Shakespeare wrote” (509).

or One critic contends that “Twelfth

Night is the most nearly perfect festive comedy that Shakespeare wrote” (Schwartz 509).

Guidelines

1. Use parenthetical documentation to lead the reader to the exact page cited.

2. Match exactly the documented sources in the research paper to the sources listed on the Works Cited page.

3. Place the parenthetical documentation as close as possible to the information it documents, usually at the end of a sentence.

4. Place parenthetical documentation before the comma or period.

5. Use transitional expressions to link several paraphrased sentences from the same source so the flow of the paragraph is not interrupted by excessive parenthetical documentation.

6. Place the parenthetical documentation between the closing quotation marks and the end punctuation if a direct quotation occurs at the end of a sentence.

Example: G. K. Hunter regards “the song as an

extended comment on the central ideas of the play” (100).

Note: For three-digit page numbers in parenthetical documentation, give only the last two digits of the second number unless more are necessary, for example 210-11 or 395-401.

Practice Practice (lead in and parenthetic)(lead in and parenthetic)

PagePage AuthorAuthor QuoteQuote 170170 Homer RiceHomer Rice Leadership itself is aLeadership itself is a

worthy subject of study. worthy subject of study. 205205 Bill CurryBill Curry Our inner computer canOur inner computer can

be programmed forbe programmed forpositive or negative. positive or negative.

1717 Grant TeaffGrant Teaff A true positive leader A true positive leader brings people together brings people together for a common goal. for a common goal.

Block Quotations:Block Quotations:

Sometimes the author says it better Sometimes the author says it better than you can. If you have a quote that than you can. If you have a quote that is more that 4 lines after it is typed, is more that 4 lines after it is typed, you need to create a block quote. Block you need to create a block quote. Block quotes:quotes: Every line is indentedEvery line is indented They DO NOT have quotation marks They DO NOT have quotation marks

around themaround them The period comes before the parenthetical The period comes before the parenthetical

citation, not after.citation, not after.

Block Quotations:Block Quotations:

Example:Example:

Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration:They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)

Your research paper:Your research paper:

One of your quotes needs to One of your quotes needs to be a block quote. You only be a block quote. You only need 1. If there is not need 1. If there is not enough room on the enough room on the outline, please indicate outline, please indicate which quote you intend to which quote you intend to block.block.

Reminder…Reminder…

Quotes from NovellaQuotes from Novella Quotes from Critical Viewpoints (TBD)Quotes from Critical Viewpoints (TBD) Quotes from 3 articlesQuotes from 3 articles

One of the 3 may be from an article we One of the 3 may be from an article we read in classread in class

***5 sources TOTAL need to be evident in ***5 sources TOTAL need to be evident in your paper and cited on your works cited your paper and cited on your works cited page.page.