CLAIM, QUOTE, COMMENT! (CQC)

Transcription

1 CLAIM, QUOTE, COMMENT! (CQC)

2 Why do we have to use quotes? Everything you write is an argument. Yes, everything. No matter what you are writing, you are claiming that your opinion is accurate and what is on the paper is true. It is not enough to just have an opinion you need to be able to back up that opinion with evidence. This is true in English class, Science class, Social Studies, and life in general!

3 Things to remember You can t isolate quotes and just hang them out there Do not leave the reader to fill in the blanks! You need to explain why you have chosen the quotes that you use. To do this, you must successfully use the CQC method

4 Start out with a strong topic sentence. After you have this, everything you write about will directly relate back to your thesis statement and/or topic sentence. Prove what your thesis statement says! How? CLAIM make your point QUOTE provide evidence that supports the point you just made COMMENT explain how the evidence you just offered proves your claim. Answer the question: so what?

5 CLAIM make a statement! Although we often think that the quotes or examples we choose to back up our thoughts speak for themselves, they usually don t. We know what we are thinking, but the reader doesn t. Your job is to provide the reader with context, a frame of reference, for the evidence (quote) you are going to provide. This should indicate who is involved in the quote, why this happened, what is going on in general, when this is all happening (in terms of the story), and/or where this is all taking place.

6 Quote When choosing a proper quote to support your topic sentence (and this is ALL about supporting the thesis/topic sentence), it is important to choose wisely. A. Choose quotes that expand upon your main point (the thesis) and allow for elaboration or analysis (in other words, pick quotes about which you have something to say.) B. Avoid quotes that simply repeat what has already been said.

7 Comment (THE ANALYSIS) This is the most important part of the paragraph because it is where your ideas come into play. This is where you explain to the reader why you think the quote you have chosen supports your point thus, proving it! A. The comment portion must clearly explain the connections that you see. Remember that the reader may not see this connection your job is to make it as clear as possible! B. During the comment portion, be sure NOT to simply re-state what the quote says. Also AVOID phrases like "this quote shows, this proves that, etc. C. Give your reader the SO WHAT? What is the point of the quote? You need to make this clear to the reader.

8 Example - BAD Topic Sentence It is very easy to plot the differences and similarities in Deadline and Fault in Our Stars. A plot similarity between the movie and the book is that Hazel and Ben have realized that they have a short time to live and want to spend what time they have left by doing something they love. I have maybe twelve months to fall in love, marry, Make smart investments, grow old and die (Crutcher 24). Ben and Hazel both want to do things they love before they die. Claim Quote Comment Note how this quote only repeats what you already said. It does not actually explain or analyze anything.

9 Example - GOOD: Topic Sentence It is very easy to plot the differences and similarities in Deadline and Fault in Our Stars. A plot similarity between the movie and the book is that Hazel and Ben have realized that they have a short time to live and want to spend what time they have left by doing something they love. This idea is enforced by Ben s comment, I have maybe twelve months to fall in love, marry, Make smart investments, grow old and die (Crutcher 24). Ben and Hazel know that they have a limited amount of time left and want to make the most of their lives. Comment This example actually does explain how the similarities of Ben and Hazel want to do something they love. You ve shown the reader exactly what you were talking about.