Name ________________________________ Date _______________

Citing Specific Examples

When incorporating a quote or a specific example into your discussion of literature (for example, in the
body paragraphs of your essays), you need to ICE it!

Introduce it: identify the speaker and/or the background situation

Cite it: Write the actual quote or state the specific example
Explain it: Tell what the quote/example shows or means, or relate it to the point you’re trying to make

Examples:

(John Steinbeck’s The Pearl)

1. Juana is in conflict with her husband, Kino, who fantasizes about the great luck and opportunity
the pearl possesses. When a stranger breaks into their home, Juana begs of Kino, “Let us throw it back
into the sea. It has brought evil. It will destroy us.” Her foresight about the pearl shows that Juana learns a
grave lesson early on: with the pearl comes greed and jealousy, two evils that create a potential threat to
her family.

*Notice how the speaker of the quote is identified before the quote. This may be necessary if you are
discussing a character’s exact words in a conversation.

(John Steinbeck’s The Pearl)

2. One important symbol of tradition and family in the novel is Kino’s grandfather’s canoe, a prized
possession that has been passed down from generation to generation. Shortly after Kino kills a man who
tries to steal the pearl, Kino finds his canoe with “a splintered hole broken in it.” Kino considered this act
“an evil beyond thinking.” Clearly, Kino is reminded that family is irreplaceable, and the destruction of
family is the greatest of all evils.

*Notice how the quotes are used to finish a sentence. There is no need in this case to use the expression
Kino says, “…”

(Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird)

3. Bob Ewell is an uneducated, racist citizen in the small town of Maycomb. Mr. Ewell proves how
ignorant he is during Tom Robinson’s trial. When Atticus, Tom’s lawyer, asks Mr. Ewell if he is
ambidextrous, Mr. Ewell replies that he is not because he can use both of his hands. Obviously Mr. Ewell
does not know the meaning of the word ambidextrous, and his ignorance becomes apparent to everyone in
court.

*Notice that even when you are not using a direct quote, you still need to give specific details and explain
the importance of your example.
Directions: Using the ICE method, develop a claim about one of the characters (your choice) from A
Raisin in the Sun. You may make a claim about the character’s personality based on your reading so far.
Prove the claim with a specific example (quote) and explanation that is well developed.

CLAIM #1: _______________________________ is __________________________________.

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