Writing a Short Response using

MLA Parenthetical In-Text Citation

Short Response Components

1. Thesis Statement Precisely answer the stated question

2. Textual Evidence Cited directly from the text(s)

3. AnalysisQuotes never stand aloneQuotes do not end a response or

paragraph

4. 5-7 Sentences Including quote but …50/50 rule

• Your writing is formal and analytical in tone

• Your writing includes outside sources, as evidence and support in your writing

• You (the writer) become the expert; therefore, you write as fact – In my opinion…– I think…– I believe…

• Do not use ANY personal pronouns: (unless in a quote) makes you writing appear less biased– I, you, me, my, we, us, our

• Write out ALL contractions (unless in a quote)MLA Format

50/50 Rule (for now…later 80/20)• When including outside sources, your writing should never…ever…have more textual evidence quotes than your own analysis of your sources

Parenthetical In-Text Citation• “Quotation marks” around textual evidence quote

• (Parenthesis)• Author’s last name• Page number of quote (if applicable)

ANALYSIS must ALWAYS follow a quote!

In-Text Parenthetical Citation

Parenthetical In-Text Citation Example #1 – full sentence:

“Your world is as big as you make it” (Johnson).

Example #2 – partial texts:“I battered the cordons around me…then soared to the

utmost reaches…” (Johnson).

Parenthetical In-Text Citation Example

Short AnswerWritten Response (Example)Answer the following questions based on your knowledge of the poem.

12. How does the title of the poem support the theme?

Planning = quick 5 minutes or lessThesis1.Textual Evidence

Theme = empowerment1. “Your world is as big as you make it” (Johnson).2. “I battered the cordons around me…then soared to the utmost reaches…” (Johnson).

Components of your Thesis Statement: Type of writing: essay, poem, novel,…

Title of Text Author of Text Verb (see Writer’s Notebook “Analysis Verbs”)

Adjective (can come before author’s choice)

Restating Question Literary Device (purposefully used by author)

Thesis Statement

Short AnswerWritten Response (Example)Answer the following questions based on your knowledge of the poem.

12. How does the title of the poem support the theme?

The poem title, Johnson’s “Your World,” empathically supports the theme of empowerment through the use of extended metaphor.

Thesis Statement Example

Components of your Thesis Statement: Type of writing: essay, poem, novel,

… Author of Text Title of Text Verb Adverb Restating Question Literary Device

Short AnswerWritten Response (Example)Answer the following questions based on your knowledge of the poem.

12. How does the title of the poem support the theme?

The poem title, Johnson’s “Your World,” empathically supports the theme of empowerment through the use of extended metaphor. Johnson suggests that it is up to each person to create the world that they want to live in. The title supports Johnson’s message in the very first line, “Your world is as big as you make it” (Johnson). Johnson also suggests that people can break free of their own limitations that have been imposed upon them, creating their own destiny. “I battered the cordons around me…then soared to the utmost reaches…” (Johnson). In his poem, Johnson compares people taking risks in life to birds, confidently soaring into flight.