Grammar/Writing Mini lessons 8th Grade English – Literary Analysis

Literary Present Tense When we write about a work of literature, we use the present tense of the verb. It is a “current” work, not something confined to the past. For Example: When Johnny dies, he leaves Ponyboy with a sense of hope for the future. NOT—When Johnny died, he left Ponyboy with a sense of hope for the future.

Your turn The Outsiders (is/was) a work of literature that (portrays/portrayed) the difficulty of growing up in a gang environment.

Author Author Name The first time you mention the author (in the introduction), you will use the author’s full name, first and last. After that, you refer to the author only by last name. Do not use a title such as Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc. For Example: Hinton likes to have the boys rough house to show their competitive nature and playfulness. NOT- Susie or Ms. Hinton likes to have…

Your Turn Look at this sentence. Not from an introduction paragraph… Once (Gordon Korman/Mr. Korman/Korman) establishes his humor, he adds comic relief throughout the novel.

November 12, 2014 In-text Citation When you use the exact words of the author (not an example but a direct quote from the book), you must put those words in quotation marks and give credit to the source. After the end quote, put the page # in parentheses, and then the period. Use only the numeral, no # or p. or pg. There is no need to put Hinton (the author’s last name) in the parentheses when the paper is only analyzing one work and no other sources are being utilized. Hinton is implied.

Examples/Nonexamples Correct: “I figured Southern gentleman had nothing on Johnny Cade” (120). Incorrect: “I figured Southern gentleman had nothing on Johnny Cade.” (Hinton, pg. 120).

Darry didn't deserve to work like an old man when he was only twenty. Your Turn This is a direct quote from page 16 Darry didn't deserve to work like an old man when he was only twenty. Punctuate it properly as if you were citing it in your essay.

answer “Darry didn't deserve to work like an old man when he was only twenty” (16). Quotation marks Only page number inside parentheses Period OUTSIDE end parenthesis

Citing Quoted material The quote inside a quote This is handled the same way, except words already inside quotation marks must be put in single quotes, and the whole quote from the book placed in double quotes. It will look like this … “‘ ----------------’” (160).

Examples “‘I was crazy, you know that, kid? Crazy for wantin’ Johnny to stay out of trouble, for not wantin’ him to get hard…’” (147). “‘What’d he want?’ Two-Bit asked. ‘What’d Mr. Super-Soc have to say?’” (118).

Your Turn From page 78 Johnny shrugged. “Yeah,” he said with a sigh. “I guess we’re different.” Punctuate it properly as if you were citing it in your essay.

Answer “Johnny shrugged. ‘Yeah,’ he said with a sigh. ‘I guess we’re different’” (78).

Dally robs a grocery and pulls a gun on the police. reminder This is for quotes ONLY! You do not need a citation for examples, such as… Dally robs a grocery and pulls a gun on the police.

Fragments and Run-ons Skip this slide! Fragments-: A fragment is not a complete thought. It may be missing a subject or a verb. It is always missing a complete thought! Your turn - page 44 Run-ons: A run-on sentence occurs when two or more sentences are written as one. Your turn - page 46 #1-8 only