1. Writing a Short Response using MLA Parenthetical In-Text Citation

2. Short Response Components
Thesis Statement
 Precisely answer the stated question
Textual Evidence
 Cited directly from the text(s)
Analysis
Quotes never stand alone
Quotes do not end a response or paragraph
5-7 Sentences
Including quote but …50/50 rule

3. MLA Format Your writing is formal and analytical in tone
Your writing includes outside sources, as evidence and support in your writing
You (the writer) become the expert; therefore, you write as fact
In my opinion…
I think…
I believe…
Do not use ANY personal pronouns:
(unless in a quote)  makes you writing appear less biased
I, you, me, my, we, us, our
Write out ALL contractions (unless in a quote)
MLA Format

4. In-Text Parenthetical Citation
50/50 Rule (for now…later 80/20)
When including outside sources, your writing should never…ever…have more textual evidence quotes than your own analysis of your sources
Parenthetical In-Text Citation
“Quotation marks” around textual evidence quote
(Parenthesis)
Author’s last name
Page number of quote (if applicable)
ANALYSIS must ALWAYS follow a quote!
In-Text Parenthetical Citation

5. Parenthetical In-Text Citation Example
Example #1 – full sentence:
“Your world is as big as you make it” (Johnson).
Example #2 – partial texts:
“I battered the cordons around me…then soared to the utmost reaches…” (Johnson).
Parenthetical In-Text Citation Example

6. Planning = quick 5 minutes or less
Short Answer
Written Response (Example)
Answer the following questions based on your knowledge of the poem.
12. How does the title of the poem support the theme?
Planning = quick 5 minutes or less
Thesis
1.Textual Evidence
Theme = empowerment
1. “Your world is as big as you make it” (Johnson).
2. “I battered the cordons around me…then soared to the utmost reaches…” (Johnson).

7. Thesis Statement Components of your Thesis Statement: Title of Text
Type of writing: essay, poem, novel,…
Title of Text
Author of Text
Verb (see Writer’s Notebook “Analysis Verbs”)
Adjective (can come before author’s choice)
Restating Question
Literary Device (purposefully used by author)
Thesis Statement

8. Thesis Statement Example
Short Answer
Written Response (Example)
Answer the following questions based on your knowledge of the poem.
12. How does the title of the poem support the theme?
Thesis Statement Example
The poem title, Johnson’s “Your World,” empathically supports the theme of empowerment through the use of extended metaphor.
Components of your Thesis Statement:
Type of writing: essay, poem, novel,…
Author of Text
Title of Text
Verb
Adverb
Restating Question
Literary Device

9. Short Answer
Written Response (Example)
Answer the following questions based on your knowledge of the poem.
12. How does the title of the poem support the theme?
The poem title, Johnson’s “Your World,” empathically supports the theme of empowerment through the use of extended metaphor. Johnson suggests that it is up to each person to create the world that they want to live in. The title supports Johnson’s message in the very first line, “Your world is as big as you make it” (Johnson). Johnson also suggests that people can break free of their own limitations that have been imposed upon them, creating their own destiny. “I battered the cordons around me…then soared to the utmost reaches…” (Johnson). In his poem, Johnson compares people taking risks in life to birds, confidently soaring into flight.