Sunday, March 13, 2011--- 12 noon

Greetings,

below are copies of two handouts I distributed and discussed last week in class.
1. A sample paragraph illustrating how MLA in-text citations work in an essay.
2. An explanation of how one paraphrases research and weaves that information into an essay.

Also, please be prepared to share your essay topic with the class tomorrow. In other words, you should definitely have made a decision on your essay topic for Out of Class Essay 2 by tomorrow in class.

See you then!
***********************************************
MLA In-text citations

Sample paragraph from an English 1A research essay:

The history of the debutante ball and a young girl’s coming out to society dates back as far as the early 1800s (McCormick 18). Daughters of very wealthy parents who were between the ages of sixteen and eighteen were introduced into the world of dating when their parents planned a party focused just on their daughter. It was a way to inform everyone in their circle of socially ‘acceptable’ people that their daughters were eligible to be courted (Samson 21-22). Daughters had no choice; they were obligated to go along with their parents’ wishes for a coming out party, even if they had no interest or desire (McCormick 42). According to a journal entry published in the book, The Journals of Emily St. Clare, 1875 – 1899, and edited by Rosemary Sparks, many girls begged their parents not to put them through such a social ordeal: “For weeks, I pleaded with father not to spend the time or money on such a frivolous event. I would much rather he spent more money on books for my personal library” (64). Certainly the ritual of coming out has a long tradition, yet in the past as well as currently, some young women gravitate towards the celebration and some despise it.

*******************************************************************
English 1A
FROM SOURCE TO ESSAY


Topic: Joining a Girl Gang as a Rite of Passage

Thesis Statement: In the past, as a rite of passage, young girls joined gangs in order to develop self-esteem; however, most girl gangs today are less friendly and more competitive among members.

Bibliography Card (3”x5”):

Vida, Vendela. Girls on the Verge: Debutante Dips, Drive-bys, and Other Initiations.

New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1999. Print.

Note Card (4”x6”):

Vida 89

Initiation into the Bentral Valley Bloods(B.V.B.), a girl gang in Central Valley of CA:
initiate gets “jumped in”
• has to walk down a line with sixteen girls on each side of her, beating her
• has to sleep with a male gang member

In Text Citation

In the Central Valley of California, there are several girl gangs, including the Bentral Valley Bloods (B.V.B.). In order to become a member, each initiate must be “jumped in.” This rite of passage initiation requires the girl to walk down a line with sixteen girls on each side of her, who beat her continuously. She must also sleep with a male gang member (Vida 89).