HW2:
CONTINUED
EXAMPLES
(page 3)
Let's look
at an example of a point supported by a quotation that might have come from
a student paper.
If I wanted to argue that Gandhi thought modern Western civilization was corrupt
specifically because of its promotion of material greed, I might write the following:
| Gandhi
sees modern civilization as a threat to the Indian people because it promotes
an endless cycle of selfish want. He says, "the railways, [and] machineries. . .are the true badges
of slavery of the Indian people." In Gandhi’s mind, such things
are unnecessary because happiness is "largely a mental condition." For
Gandhi, accordingly, if acquiring material goods will not make us happier,
then the money and energy we devote to getting more things should be considered
a form of slavery. |
| Element |
Text |
The
Claim
What
are you trying to demonstrate?
|
Gandhi sees modern civilization as a threat to the Indian people because
it promotes an endless cycle of selfish want
|
The
Evidence
What
proof do you have? |
He says, "the railways, [and] machineries. . .are the true badges
of slavery of the Indian people." (p. 118) In
Gandhi’s mind, such things are unnecessary because happiness is "largely
a mental condition" (p. 123).
|
The Warrant
Why
do you think that your proof is relevant to your claim?
|
For Gandhi, accordingly, if acquiring material goods will not make us happier,
then the money and energy we devote to to getting more things should be
considered a form of slavery.
|
Some things
to note about the paragraph:
1)
Note that in the sentences with quoted material, I use an introductory phrase
such as "he says," or "in his mind" to introduce
the quotation. The quotation is, therefore, part of my own sentence. Again,
a quotation must always form part of your own sentence. It
cannot stand alone.
You can't simply drop a quotation into your paper.
| Incorrect |
Gandhi sees modern civilization as a threat to the
Indian people because it promotes an endless cycle of selfish want. "the railways, [and] machineries. . .are the true badges
of slavery of the Indian people(p. 118)."Happiness
is largely a mental condition." (p. 123). |
Correct
|
He says,
"the railways, [and] machineries. . .are the true badges
of slavery of the Indian people (p. 118). In
Gandhi’s mind, such things are unnecessary because happiness is "largely a mental condition" (p. 123). |
2) MOST
IMPORTANTLY, note that warrant explains and
interprets the quoted material in the context of my claim that I wish to support.
This last sentence does NOT merely repeat the claim; instead it interprets the evidence and demonstrates how it is relevant to the claim. Look again at
the warrant:
The Warrant
Why
do you think that your proof is relevant to your claim?
|
For Gandhi, accordingly, if acquiring material goods will not make us happier,
then the money and energy we devote to to getting more things should be
considered a form of slavery.
|
Much of the time,
your evidence will take the form of quotations. There are some easy ways to
make your use of quotations more powerful in your paper. Let's look at those
now.
(continue
on to next page on quotations) |