Formal Writing and Process Considerations

1. Formal Writing and Process Considerations aka Writing �Dos� and �Don�ts�

2. Formal Writing Conventions Just to make sure your English teacher is in a good mood when he or she is grading your paper, be certain to fix the following easy goofs. Formatting Citations Punctuation Fiction Writing Conventions �If you don�t know what these are all about, then they are explained on the next few slides.

3. Formal Writing Conventions Format: (If you don�t know for sure that your paper is formatted this way, you need to check.) double spaced lines (no more, no less) proper heading and page header 12 point consistent style of font 1 inch margins on all sides indent for each paragraph

4. Formal Writing Conventions Citations and Punctuation EVERY time you refer to a specific element of a story, whether it is paraphrased, summarized, or quoted, you MUST cite when it happens. The period goes AFTER the parenthetical citation. There is no need for a comma inside the parenthetical citation. Wanna see an example??? �I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you� (148).

5. Formal Writing Conventions Formal Writing & Writing About Fiction All of your writing (not necessarily quoted text) needs to be in present tense, which may seem awkward when dealing with the chronology of a story, but that�s the way it works. Literature is always considered �alive� and must be treated that way. All contractions in your writing should be made into two separate words. You may keep them in quoted text. 1st person and 2nd person pronouns and similar possessive pronouns should be omitted, but they are okay in quoted text. These are words like: I, me, mine, my, you, your, yourself, our, we, us, etc. These can usually be corrected easily by replacing them with �the reader� or something similar.

6. Introductions & Conclusions If you are feeling confused or frustrated about introductions or conclusions, then look at the next few slides for some ideas and suggestions.

7. Introductions This is a paper about a character named Marshall Herrick. He tried to do his duty but does not like what he has to do. That doesn�t sound good, right? Instead, try a hook using sensory details or a related idea like this: As the gunshot rings out, the butt of the rifle slams against his shoulder. Blood sprays out onto his patent leather black boots and the dull gray of his uniform. The Jewish boy, 14, is unrecognizable now � his head a putrid mess. The Nazi guard turns away from the sight, his face strained. The killing is a painful but necessary duty to him. He is fighting for his country. He must maintain order, and after all, he is just following orders.

8. Introductions Or how about this great introduction??? She longs to be near him so badly that she will do anything for his love � witchery, murder, self-inflicted pain. Her innocence means nothing to her anymore. Without him she feels as if her life has no meaning. What do you think? You can do this too. Consider the concepts you are using in your theme (and therefore, also your thesis), and brainstorm about how you might introduce these concepts in an interesting way rather than using a famous quote or very specific evidence from the novel or play. Give it a try! Impress your friends!

9. Conclusions If you aren�t sure how to deal with making a nice conclusion, consider the following. Which would you rather read? And that is why everyone who reads The Crucible knows that liars will never prosper even if they are very skillful thanks to the writing from Arthur Miller. Miller warns his audience that the weak and unattached are very susceptible to the temptation to allow jealousy to control their behaviors and cautions all his readers to be wary of the barely perceptible line between jealousy and obsession.

10. Conclusions Try brainstorming the various warnings you see from the author to do with your paper�s focus. Make notes about how these warnings connect to the ideas you have written about. Some papers are a bit less about a warning from the author and are more about a noble or praiseworthy behavior. If your paper is more focused on honorable actions, then list/ explain in a bit of notes how you see these as suggestions for behavior from the author.

11. Conclusions Finally, a connection between the ideas in the paper you have written and the real world today � possibly to do with human nature in general � is a lovely statement to end with. Try connected your last couple of sentences in this way Consider how people behave in the novel or play and how human behavior is similar today Consider how there are certain types of people who are more capable in the context of the novel or play and TODAY to fail or succeed as the author suggests often happens in circumstances similar to the novel or play.

12. Using Quotes Effectively (aka �thanks 10th grade teachers!�) When writers use quotes effectively, their maturity and clarity improve. Writers who quote indiscriminately or haphazardly often do not have success. How can you use them well? Remember the lessons from last year! Here they are to refresh your memory!

13. Using Quotes Effectively A good way to introduce a quote that is from a piece of dialogue from a work of fiction or poetry (that is, in which one or more of the characters are speaking) into a critical essay is to lead into the quote by informing the reader of the passage�s speaker and situation, or the context of the quote. Be careful in your use of very lengthy quotes. Find out from your teacher if he or she intends to restrict you in the length of your quoted items. It is a good rule to not use more than one lengthy quote in a standard five paragraph essay, and probably you should plan on using small bits of quotes that point to the heart of the meaning or evidence you are hoping to communicate.

14. Using Quotes Effectively Make an assertion (an opinion statement that the author intends to support with evidence) to precede the evidence. Example: (Assertion) As the boys live without their former societal rules, their savage natures begin to emerge. (Evidence) ��Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood�� (Golding 67).

15. Using Quotes Effectively Blend the evidence into your sentence in as if the words were already a natural part of the sentence. Ellipses may be helpful if you need to leave a word or words to make the text fit in your sentence more easily. Example: Original Quote: �Simon, sitting between the twins and Piggy, wiped his mouth and shoved his piece of meat over the rocks to Piggy, who grabbed it� (74). Blended Quote: Jack denies Piggy any meat, but �Simon� wiped his mouth and shoved his piece of meat over the rocks to Piggy, who grabbed it� (74).

16. Using Quotes Effectively Another example of blended evidence: Example: John Proctor uneasily confesses to the tribunal, �I have known her, sir. I have known her� to demonstrate Abigail�s vested interest in harming his wife, and he further presses to convince the judges by reminding them that �a man will not cast away his good name. You surely know that� (Miller 193).

17. Using Quotes Effectively Use a bracket with information not originally included in the quote to help you to make it work in your sentence grammatically or to clarify the context. Example: John Proctor presents a testament before the court signed by people who �declare their good opinions of Rebecca, and [his] wife, and Martha Corey� (Miller 185). In this example the word �my� is substituted with the word [his] to make the grammar and context clear.

18. Using Quotes Effectively Use block form if you must use a quote that is four typed lines or longer. Only use a lengthy quote if the material is so very vital to the point of your paper that you are unable to write without it! There are several formatting requirements for this type of quoting that must be followed: Strangely, quotation marks are not used. The parenthetical citation is at the end of the final word with the period after the closing parenthesis Both margins are moved toward the middle of the paper a full 1 inch on both sides to set off this lengthy quote from the rest of the text of the writing. No indention begins the block text, and no indention begins the writing following the lengthy quote. Get permission from your teacher BEFORE you use a lengthy quote!!! He or she will provide you with an example.

19. Transitions You are now trying to move from the possibly choppy ideas you put together to make your outline to the smoother flow of ideas in a rough draft. Many of the elements of a successfully completed rough draft will help you make these transitions. Clear ideas in topic sentences that connect well to your thesis/ theme Introductory ideas that sum up or preceded your evidence (in the format you saw for the Herrick sample these were the capital letter statements) Thoughtful commentary

20. Transitions Strong topic sentences are absolutely necessary. If your topic sentence is only about one piece of evidence, then it is too specific and will not introduce the ideas in your whole paragraph. Consider the following examples: The cruelty of Abigail�s many lies demonstrate her self-centered nature. OR Abigail lies in the court about her affair with John Proctor. The first is broad enough to include several pieces of support and a thoughtful discussion. The second is too narrow to begin a paragraph unless the paragraph is only a summary of one piece of evidence.

21. Transitions Clear sub-headings in your outline may help you transition between various ideas. Example: II. Abigail�s need for affection causes her to continually put herself in situations in which John Proctor himself or just the idea of him is in her life. Abigail tempts John. Evidence: �Give me a word John. A soft word� (Miller 21). Commentary: Abigail pleads with John for a bit of hope to keep her from feeling lonely. Commentary: The reader imagines the guilt-ridden man cringing upon hearing these words. If you don�t have clear sub-headings, coming up with a synonym or considering how Miller would characterize the purpose of a character�s words or actions would be a helpful way to ease into the example.

22. Transitions If you have done some thorough work on your commentary, you may be able to reorder your ideas that are already on paper to introduce the evidence you are trying to use more fluidly. Example: III. Abigail�s obsession for John is seen in her delusional behavior. A. Discussion over Abigail not accepting that John hopes to forget his sin 1. Evidence: ��Give me a word, John. A soft word.� � �No, no, Abby. That�s done with�� (Miller 149). 2. Commentary: Abigail does not want to accept the fact that John has rejected her. 3. Commentary: Abigail�s need for love and affection is so starved in the life she is living that she does not seem to be able to understand the sincerity of John Proctor�s dismissal.