Incorporating Quotes in Literary Writing

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Incorporating Quotes in Literary Writing

• SS(Q)S Method

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• In the beginning of Book 9, Odysseus gives a
  monologue (long speech, he is the only one
  speaking) describing who he is and what dangers
  he has encountered.
• Based on his monologue to King Alcinous, how does
  Odysseus view himself? In your answer, cite one
  piece of textual evidence using the SSQS format.

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Using Quotations

• Why do you need quotes in your essay?
• In literary analysis you need to use quotations
  to support your thesis.
• You can strengthen your argument by using
  quotations whenever and wherever they directly
  support a point.
• In order to use quotes, you cannot just throw
  your quotes into the paragraph you must
  incorporate them correctly.

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Using Quotations

• SSS method of incorporating quotes
• S speaker
• S situation
• (Q) quote
• S Significance

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SS(Q)S Method

• Speaker who is saying the quote
• Situation what is going on at the time the
  quote is being said
• Quote your concrete detail to support your
  thesis
• Significance how the quote proves your thesis

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SS(Q)S Method

• Example
• Calypso becomes upset when Hermes arrives on
  her island to tell her that she must let Odysseus
  return home. She is reluctant to let him go as
  she says, If you could see it all, before you
  go-/all the adversity you face at the sea-/you
  would stay here, and guard this house, and
  be/immortal (1109). Calypso believes she can
  offer Odysseus a better life, yet she is forced
  by Zeus to let him continue his journey home.

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SS(Q)S Method

• Example
• Calypso becomes upset when Hermes arrives on
  her island to tell her that she must let Odysseus
  return home. She is reluctant to let him go as
  she says, If you could see it all, before you
  go-/all the adversity you face at the sea-/you
  would stay here, and guard this house, and
  be/immortal (1109). Calypso believes she can
  offer Odysseus a better life, yet she is forced
  by Zeus to let him continue his journey home.

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SS(Q)S

• SIGNIFICANCE
• Do not say
• The significance of this quote is
• This quote means
• This quote proves
• Do say
• Jump right into your analysis by explaining what
  the quote means
• Your significance may be 1-2 sentences in length

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MLA Citations of Quotations

• How do you cite quotations using MLA format?
• Punctuation comes AFTER the citation
  (parenthesis)
• The strong god glittering left her as he
  spoke,/and now her ladyship, having given heed/to
  Zeus mandate, went to find Odysseus/in his stone
  seat to seaward-tear on tear/brimming in his
  eyes (1108).
• EXAMPLE
• Exceptions if the quote ends with a question
  mark or exclamation point, include the
  punctuation and then place a period after the
  parenthesis