Tim O'Brien Reading from The Things They Carried

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Integrating Quotations

Here is a useful illustration of an effective way to integrate quotations into your paper.

1. Locate the passage you want to quote and identify the text you want to include in the quotation.	Original Passage In his effort to break with Marge, Nick had been unable to go beyond sulking conversation, so that she took the initiative and immediately and decisively rejected him when he said that love wasn't fun anymore (81-82). The switching of traditional masculine and feminine roles is striking (for 1916) and clearly warrants the reference in Nick's reverie in 'A Way You'll Never Be' to 'the great Gaby' and 'the far side of the taxi' (obvious plays on F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and This Side of Paradise). Hannum, Howard L. "'Scared Sick Looking at It': A Reading of Nick Adams in the Published Stories." Twentieth Century Literature.
2. Add quotation marks or, if the quotation is long, set the text in a block. If you modify the passage, use ellipses and brackets appropriately.	"In his effort to break with Marge, Nick had been unable to go beyond sulking conversation, so that she took the initiative and immediately and decisively rejected him when he said that love wasn't fun anymore"
3. Identify the sources of the quotation and the location, such as the page number.	As Howard L. Hannum observes, "In his effort to break with Marge, Nick had been unable to go beyond sulking conversation, so that she took the initiative and immediately and decisively rejected him when he said that love wasn't fun anymore" (47).
4. Avoid "orphan quotations" by providing a context for your quotation. Introduce the quotation and indicate how it relates to your argument.	As Howard L. Hannum observes, Marjorie is the one who officially ends the relationship: "In his effort to break with Marge, Nick had been unable to go beyond sulking conversation, so that she took the initiative and immediately and decisively rejected him when he said that love wasn't fun anymore" (47). Marjorie fearlessly confronts Nick about his feelings and remains stoic when faced with his jarring words.

Research Papers!

I have once again extended the deadline for the Research Papers. You may have until Wednesday, May 13.

The Final Draft (Due May 13^th)

Please submit in a large envelope (with your name on it) in this order

1. Outline: this should reflect the final structure of your paper. It should be typed.

2. The paper

3. Works Cited page in MLA format

4. On the same page or subsequent page, present a list of “Works Consulted” if there are sources you read but did not end up using in your paper (only list sources you actually read)

(Staple these first four items together)

5. A copy of your proposals w/ my comments.

6. A copy of your progress report w/ my comments

7. A copy of your short research paper w/ my comments

8. A copy of short research paper w/ peer review comments

9. Copies of your sources, clearly labeled and in alphabetical order, matching your “Works Cited” page (for books, just submit copies of the pages you cited from). Please staple each source separately, writing or circling the author’s name on the first page of each stapled packet. Also, please highlight or underline the ideas you quoted or paraphrased, and write, in the margin of the source, the page number of your paper where I can find that quote or paraphrase.

The Things They Carried: Reading Schedule

Although we will not have time to discuss each story in class, you should be prepared to discuss your responses to the reading. Bring your questions!

5/4 "Love," "Spin," "On the Rainy River,"* "Enemies," "Friends,"

5/6 "How to Tell a True War Story,"* "The Dentist," "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong," "Stockings," "Church"

5/11 "The Man I Killed,"* "Ambush," "Style," "Speaking of Courage," "Notes"

5/13 "In the Field," "Good Form," "Field Trip," "The Ghost Soldiers," "Night Life," "The Lives of the Dead"*

5/18 Final Exam

*stories with asterisks will most likely be discussed in class