What’s wrong with this statement? Yes, I agree that she is to blame for what happened. In my opinion it is clear to see from the reading of the book that yeah, I am correct. Find as many errors as you can…

The words “yes, or no.” The words “yes, or no.” Answer the question, but don’t ACT like you’re Answer the question, but don’t ACT like you’re answering it; seem as if you have come up with the concept on your own! Yes, I agree that he is to blame for what happened. In my opinion it is clear to see from the reading of the book that I am correct. $$ WHAT TO AVOID AT ALL CO$T $$

PRONOUNS: “it, that, they, them…” and VAGUE REFERENCES PRONOUNS: “it, that, they, them…” and VAGUE REFERENCES Pronouns seem harmless enough, but MAN they get confusing. Be specific! It helps! Right now, listen to Ms. Gebel’s story and see if you know what she’s talking about. Yes, I agree that he Curley is to blame for what happened his wife’s death. In my opinion it is clear to see from the reading of the book that yeah, I am correct.

“In my opinion” or “I” statements. “In my opinion” or “I” statements. $$ WHAT TO AVOID AT ALL CO$T $$ I know it’s your opinion; you’re writing it! By telling me it’s your opinion, you’re actually being redundant and repeating yourself… raise your hand if you caught the joke in this passage. Yes, I agree that he Curley is to blame for what happened his wife’s death. In my opinion it is clear to see from the reading of the book Of Mice and Men that yeah, I am correct.

$$ WHAT TO AVOID AT ALL CO$T $$ CASUAL LANUGAGE: Yeah, stuff, like. CASUAL LANUGAGE: Yeah, stuff, like. Remember, this isn’t an ; it is a formal paper! Yes, I agree that he Curley is to blame for what happened his wife’s death. In my opinion it is clear to see from the reading of the book Of Mice and Men that yeah, I am correct.

Babble! Babble! $$ WHAT TO AVOID AT ALL CO$T $$ Don’t go on and on…CUT TO THE CHASE… answer the question! Imagine the “parent scenario, if you will…” Don’t go on and on…CUT TO THE CHASE… answer the question! Imagine the “parent scenario, if you will…” Yes, I agree that he Curley is to blame for what happened his wife’s death. In my opinion it is clear to see from the reading of the the book Of in Of Mice and Men that I am correct.

True or False: (Circle one) During the course of your paper, it is okay to move away from the thesis as long as you are discussing other things related to the book. During the course of your paper, it is okay to move away from the thesis as long as you are discussing other things related to the book. FALSE!

ALWAYS STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR THESIS! The entire paper should PROVE your point with specific examples The entire paper should PROVE your point with specific examples Different paragraphs should address different points of your thesis Different paragraphs should address different points of your thesis If you go away from your claim, you lose credibility, focus, and conviction If you go away from your claim, you lose credibility, focus, and conviction

THE FINAL TRANSFORMATION! Yes, I agree that she is to blame for what happened. In my opinion it is clear to see from the reading of the book that yeah, I am correct. In Of Mice and Men, Curley is to blame for his wife’s death.

Now that you’ve mastered the art of what NOT to include in your writing, It’s time to discuss what IS needed after all!

NEEDS OF AN A + PAPER…FLOW TRANSITION S TRANSITION S WHEN DO YOU NEED TRANSITIONS? a. Between Paragraphs b. Between new ideas within the same paragraph Correct answer: C. Both a AND b!

NEW PARAGRAPH FOR NEW IDEAS/ FOCUS NEW PARAGRAPH FOR NEW IDEAS/ FOCUS NEEDS OF AN A + PAPER… FOCUS CLEAR, CONCISE TOPIC SENTENCES at the start of each paragraph CLEAR, CONCISE TOPIC SENTENCES at the start of each paragraph CLEAR, CONCISE CONCLUSION SENTENCES at the end of each paragraph CLEAR, CONCISE CONCLUSION SENTENCES at the end of each paragraph

NEEDS OF AN A + PAPER… Proper Quotations The following quote was said about Lennie on page 2 of the story Of Mice and Men....and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. If you were to include this in a paper, what would it look like? USE QUOTATION MARKS AND PARENTHESIS and TRY THIS ON YOUR OWN!

NEEDS OF AN A + PAPER… CITATION...and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. “...and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws” (2).

NEEDS OF AN A + PAPER… Proper Quotations The following quote was said by Lennie on page 42 of the story Of Mice and Men. (It is in “quotation marks” in the book…) (It is in “quotation marks” in the book…) “I didn’t mean no harm, George.” If you were to include this in a paper, what would it look like? USE QUOTATION MARKS AND PARENTHESIS and TRY THIS ON YOUR OWN!

NEEDS OF AN A + PAPER… CITATION I didn’t mean no harm, George. “ ‘I didn’t mean no harm, George’ ” (42). Anytime a line is taken from a text, it must be in quotation marks. If, however, someone is also SPEAKING, an additional SINGLE quotation must be added to show that voice!

NEEDS OF AN A + PAPER… Proper Quotations Now let’s change up that last quote a bit, and see if you can still GET it… Same quote as before (said by Lennie on page 42), but there’s a slight variation that will change the requirements… Do you get it? Lennie said, “I didn’t mean no harm, George.” YOUR TURN! Turn it into a proper quotation for a paper!

NEEDS OF AN A + PAPER… CITATION Lennie said, “I didn’t mean no harm, George.” “Lennie said, ‘I didn’t mean no harm, George’” (42). Who can explain WHY???

NEEDS OF AN A + PAPER… Proper Quotations The following quote was said by Lennie and George on page 42 of the story Of Mice and Men. The following quote was said by Lennie and George on page 42 of the story Of Mice and Men. Lennie said, “I didn’t mean no harm, George.” George looked at Lennie and said, “I know you didn’t, Lennie.” Lennie said, “I didn’t mean no harm, George.” George looked at Lennie and said, “I know you didn’t, Lennie.” TRY TO MAKE THIS QUOTE CORRECT FOR A PAPER… remember the rules we’ve discussed.

NEEDS OF AN A + PAPER… Proper Quotations Lennie said, “I didn’t mean no harm, George.” George looked at Lennie and said, “I know you didn’t, Lennie.” Lennie said, “I didn’t mean no harm, George.” George looked at Lennie and said, “I know you didn’t, Lennie.” “Lennie said, ‘I didn’t mean no harm, George.’ George looked at Lennie and said, ‘I know you didn’t, Lennie’” (42).

INCLUDING QUOTES… Quotation Mark RULES Always put lines from the text in quotation marks. Always put lines from the text in quotation marks. If a line is IN quotation marks in the book, it requires a SINGLE quotation mark every time there is a double quotation mark in the text. If a line is IN quotation marks in the book, it requires a SINGLE quotation mark every time there is a double quotation mark in the text. There should be NO Punctuation at the end of the quote BEFORE the parenthesis… punctuation comes at after the page number. There should be NO Punctuation at the end of the quote BEFORE the parenthesis… punctuation comes at after the page number.

INCLUDING QUOTES… CITATION RULES When documenting the page number, place it in parenthesis… ALONE. NO P, PG, PAGE, etc… When documenting the page number, place it in parenthesis… ALONE. NO P, PG, PAGE, etc… Punctuation comes AFTER the parenthesis… OUTSIDE, looking like this: “Quote” (42). Punctuation comes AFTER the parenthesis… OUTSIDE, looking like this: “Quote” (42).

INCLUDING QUOTES… BEFORE YOU START ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS introduce the quote before you include it! ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS introduce the quote before you include it! Include who said quote or who it’s about, and WHEN quote was said (not the page number, but what scene in the text: talk about action) Include who said quote or who it’s about, and WHEN quote was said (not the page number, but what scene in the text: talk about action) NEVER say “This quote proves my point.” NEVER say “This quote proves my point.”

INCLUDING QUOTES… AFTER YOU WRITE THE QUOTE LINK IT! A quote should never be the last line of a paragraph. You must ALWAYS explain a quote’s significance LINK IT! A quote should never be the last line of a paragraph. You must ALWAYS explain a quote’s significance Explain how quote supports your thesis/topic sentence in no less than THREE sentences. Explain how quote supports your thesis/topic sentence in no less than THREE sentences. Do not say “This quote proves my point because…” Just start explaining: cut to the chase! Do not say “This quote proves my point because…” Just start explaining: cut to the chase!

CONGRATULATIONS! You are now an expert at writing papers correctly; therefore, it’s time to apply this vast knowledge. YOU are writing a paper about your aspirations. You are now an expert at writing papers correctly; therefore, it’s time to apply this vast knowledge. YOU are writing a paper about your aspirations.