Writing About Lit: a Primer
-
Upload
gerald-lucas -
Category
Education
-
view
2.196 -
download
3
description
Transcript of Writing About Lit: a Primer
Writing about Lit: a PrimerDr. Gerald Lucas
Present Tense
• Write about literature in the present tense
Present Tense
• Write about literature in the present tense
• Odysseus pokes out the cyclops’ eye.
Present Tense
• Write about literature in the present tense
• Odysseus pokes out the cyclops’ eye.
• Not: Odysseus poked out the cyclops’ eye.
Research
• Begin with
Research
• Begin with
• Dictionaries
Research
• Begin with
• Dictionaries
• Encyclopedias
Research
• Begin with
• Dictionaries
• Encyclopedias
Research
• Begin with
• Dictionaries
• Encyclopedias
• Yahoo
Cite
• Cite only solid sources, like
Cite
• Cite only solid sources, like
• Professional web sites
Cite
• Cite only solid sources, like
• Professional web sites
• Journal articles (some online)
Cite
• Cite only solid sources, like
• Professional web sites
• Journal articles (some online)
• Books
Titles
• Titles of short works are in quotation marks
Titles
• Titles of short works are in quotation marks
• Poem: “To His Coy Mistress”
Titles
• Titles of short works are in quotation marks
• Poem: “To His Coy Mistress”
• Story: “Babylon Revisited”
Titles
• Titles of short works are in quotation marks
• Poem: “To His Coy Mistress”
• Story: “Babylon Revisited”
• Song: “Ants Marching”
Titles
• Titles of short works are in quotation marks
• Poem: “To His Coy Mistress”
• Story: “Babylon Revisited”
• Song: “Ants Marching”
• Episode of TV Series: “Doomsday”
Titles
• Long works are italicized
Titles
• Long works are italicized
• Novel: Fight Club
Titles
• Long works are italicized
• Novel: Fight Club
• Film: Star Wars
Titles
• Long works are italicized
• Novel: Fight Club
• Film: Star Wars
• TV Series: Star Trek
Titles
• Long works are italicized
• Novel: Fight Club
• Film: Star Wars
• TV Series: Star Trek
• Play: Hamlet
If unsure about how to present a title: look it up!
Vocabulary
• Use literary vocabulary
Vocabulary
• Use literary vocabulary
• “novel,” not “book”
Vocabulary
• Use literary vocabulary
• “novel,” not “book”
• “protagonist,” not “main character”
Vocabulary
• Use literary vocabulary
• “novel,” not “book”
• “protagonist,” not “main character”
• “antagonist,” not “bad guy”
Vocabulary
• Use literary vocabulary
• “novel,” not “book”
• “protagonist,” not “main character”
• “antagonist,” not “bad guy”
• “film,” not “movie”
When arguing a point: use specific textual evidence.
Quote Correctly
• Incorporate the quotation and citation
Quote Correctly
• Incorporate the quotation and citation
• The writer shares a connection: “the axolotls spoke to me” (398).
Quote Correctly
• Incorporate the quotation and citation
• The writer shares a connection: “the axolotls spoke to me” (398).
• The writer shares a connection. “The axolotls spoke to me” (398).
Quote Correctly
• Incorporate the quotation and citation
• The writer shares a connection: “the axolotls spoke to me” (398).
• The writer shares a connection. “The axolotls spoke to me” (398).
• Use punctuation correctly with quotation marks (FAQs 78)
When a quotation is long, it should be block quoted.
Use Proper MLA
• Refer to The Writer’s FAQs (176)
Use Proper MLA
• Refer to The Writer’s FAQs (176)
• Must have:
Use Proper MLA
• Refer to The Writer’s FAQs (176)
• Must have:
• In-text parenthetical citation
Use Proper MLA
• Refer to The Writer’s FAQs (176)
• Must have:
• In-text parenthetical citation
• Works cited entry
In-Text Citations
• Appear at the end of the sentence
In-Text Citations
• Appear at the end of the sentence
• List the author’s last name and page # in parentheses
Works Cited Page
• Lists any work that you cite
Works Cited Page
• Lists any work that you cite
• Uses MLA style in English courses unless told otherwise
Works Cited Page
• Lists any work that you cite
• Uses MLA style in English courses unless told otherwise
• Must follow a particular format
MLA is tricky only if you don’t look it up!
Writing about Literature
• Focus
Writing about Literature
• Focus
• Do not try to write it all
Writing about Literature
• Focus
• Do not try to write it all
• Illustrate a theme or motif
Writing about Literature
• Focus
• Do not try to write it all
• Illustrate a theme or motif
• Analyze a character
Writing about Literature
• Focus
• Do not try to write it all
• Illustrate a theme or motif
• Analyze a character
• Discuss a metaphor
Writing about Literature
• Focus
• Do not try to write it all
• Illustrate a theme or motif
• Analyze a character
• Discuss a metaphor
• Trace a symbol
Have a thesis!
Organize
• Focus on a major issue
Organize
• Focus on a major issue
• Follow a logical order
Organize
• Focus on a major issue
• Follow a logical order
• Compare or contrast characters, works, etc.
Organize
• Focus on a major issue
• Follow a logical order
• Compare or contrast characters, works, etc.
• Work toward synthesis
Write Critically
• Use citations
Write Critically
• Use citations
• Focus on response
Write Critically
• Use citations
• Focus on response
• Remember art
Write Critically
• Use citations
• Focus on response
• Remember art
• Consider style and rhetoric
Write Critically
• Use citations
• Focus on response
• Remember art
• Consider style and rhetoric
• Don’t ape critics or peers