E12 Notes on using quotations as evidence in writing

How to Use Quotations in Your Writing

“” quotation marks

“” 3 purposes”

1. reported speech She said, “Pick up the present.”

2. title “Boys and Girls”

College Writing Skills     College Writing Skills italics

“College Writing Skills” Don’t do that

The Whale Rider The Whale Rider

“I Can’t Feel My Face”

2. use evidence in an answer

“XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.” quote whole sentence

keep them short , 2,3,4 words

INCORPORATE quotations into your sentences

e.g. The silver foxes that the narrator’s father raised were “small, mean, and rat-like” when they were skinned.

LESS IS MORE- salt in food- a little bit

MOST IMPORTANT- You are writing your own sentences. The “” is just a little bit of proof, evidence.

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The narrator is surrounded by people and social forces that are trying to harm her. For example, this is symbolized by the foxes who look at her with “malevolent faces”(3).

The narrator is surrounded by people and social forces that are trying to harm her. For example, this is symbolized by the foxes who look at her with “pure hostility”(4) when she goes into their pen to feed them.

Incorporating quotations into your writing.

... ellipsis- show that words have been omitted

The foxes had “aristocratic tails and the bright fur sprinkled on dark down their back- which gave them their name- but especially for their faces, drawn exquisitely in pure hostility, and their golden eyes.”

The foxes had “aristocratic tails and the bright fur sprinkled on dark down their back- which gave them their name- but especially for their faces, drawn exquisitely in pure hostility, and their golden eyes.”

The foxes had “aristocratic tails ... and golden eyes.” WORDS HAVE BEEN OMITTED, still has to be grammatical

The foxes had “aristocratic ... eyes.”(3-4) NOT A SENTENCE

PROOF HAD TO STAND-ONLY, SELF-CONTAINED

...... NOT ENGLISH

“I like dogs, cats, fish, ......” NOT ENGLISH

“I like dogs, cats, fish, etc.” et cetera (Latin) “and others”

e.g. for example (Latin) examplia gratis free example

i.e. that is (Latin) id est

[] square brackets- make small changes, stylistic or grammatical

The narrator doesn’t like to work in the kitchen with her mother; rather, she prefers “working with my father”(5) doing farm chores.

The narrator doesn’t like to work in the kitchen with her mother; rather, she prefers “working with [her] father”(5) doing farm chores.

The narrator doesn’t like to work in the kitchen with her mother; rather, she prefers “working with [Santa Claus]”(5) doing farm chores. NO GOOD, BE HONEST

TOOLBOX

“”

...

[]

PROOF that your ideas are good ideas.

The narrator was wary of spending time with her mother because she felt that she was “not to be trusted”(5). This shows the narrator’s unease with her role as a girl in the family.

EVIDENCE, PROOF

WHEN READING- MAKE NOTES