Literary Writing WorkSheet

Part 1: Look at the excerpts below, and complete the tables.

Graphic Novel:

“Don’t forget to take those pills the doctor gave you. He said they’d help you sleep.”

“Yeah, I just took two. So I was thinking that maybe I’d go visit my om tomorrow.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Nothing, I just can’t remember the last time you wanted to go see your mom without me nagging you about it for two weeks first, that’s all.”

“Yeah, I know, but…You know, with Halloween and everything.”

“Right. Sorry. Well, to be honest, I was hoping you’d come to my midwife appointment with me…If you’re feeling okay. It’s not til three, so you can still go see your mom in the morning.”

“Oh, um…sure.”

“Never mind.”

“What? I said I’d go”

“Yeah, but it’s like pulling teeth to get you to come. Just like with the prenatal classes. This is important, Jack. You’re here, so we should take advantage of it. This’ll give you a chance to see Marlene again before the birth and go over everything. Sometimes you still act like we still have all the time in the world to get ready…it’s like with the crib. I’ve been asking you to finish putting it together for a month. I’ll probably have to do it myself.”

	Graphic Novel
List all of the reporting verbs from the passage above. If the same verb is used more than once, write it multiple times.	Said, thinking, hoping, nagging, hoping, asking
Label each as weak, neutral, or strong.	Said= neutral, thinking= neutral, nagging= strong, asking= neutral.
What is the meaning of each reporting verb? Briefly explain why you think the author chose that particular verb.	Nagging = to bother. Said= to say something.
How many paraphrases are there?	0
How many quotations are there?	11
How many in-text citations are there?	0

Personal Essay:

The heat is extreme, and he and his Sudanese friend have been biking for hours, on and off, so the American is happy to have some time alone. But soon the American is not alone. There is a tall man wading across the river toward him, a friend of his Sudanese friend. The American fears what news this second friend could be bringing, why his friend hadn’t come himself.

‘Hello!’ the second friend says.

The American says hello.

‘Our mutual friend has sent me. He would like you to visit the village over the river. He has sent me to bring you across.’

The American tells him that he’s OK, that he’s fine, that he would like to stay where he is. He is embarrassed to admit that he doesn’t want to wade through the water, which is knee-deep, with his small wound, so he says he’s tired and would like to stay.

The second friend stands above him, flummoxed. ‘Please will you come across the river with me?’ he asks. ‘I was given this task.’

	Personal Essay
List all of the reporting verbs from the passage above. If the same verb is used more than once, write it multiple times. above	Says, says, fears, tells, says, asks, admit.
Label each as weak, neutral, or strong.
What is the meaning of each reporting verb? Briefly explain why you think the author chose that particular verb.
How many paraphrases are there?	3
How many quotations are there?	3
How many in-text citations are there?	0

Speech:

When Malala was in the hospital, and she was going through the severe pains and she had had severe headaches because her facial nerve was cut down, I used to see a dark shadow spreading on the face of my wife. But my daughter never complained. She used to tell us, “I’m fine with my crooked smile and with my numbness in my face. I’ll be okay. Please don’t worry.” She was a solace for us, and she consoled us.

Dear brothers and sisters, we learned from her how to be resilient in the most difficult times, and I’m glad to share with you that despite being an icon for the rights of children and women, she is like any 16-year old girl. She cries when her homework is incomplete. She quarrels with her brothers, and I am very happy for that.

People have asked me, what special is in my mentorship which has made Malala so bold and so courageous and so vocal and poised? I tell them, don’t ask me what I did. Ask me what I did not do. I did not clip her wings, and that’s all. Thank you very much.

	Speech
List all of the reporting verbs from the passage above. If the same verb is used more than once, write it multiple times.	Tell, share, asked, tell, ask, Ask
Label each as weak, neutral, or strong.
What is the meaning of each reporting verb? Briefly explain why you think the author chose that particular verb.
How many paraphrases are there?	3
How many quotations are there?	1
How many in-text citations are there?	0

Academic Article:

Ehrhardt-Padgett, Hatzichristou, Kitson, and Meyers (2003) ascertained that using results of intervention assessment as data, and having well-constructed methodologies for research may improve the services that school psychologists provide to address their students’ educational and mental health needs. Similarly, they recognized the value of school psychologists working with other professionals such as teachers, school counsellors, administrators, and the students’ families. Working with them allows school psychologists to determine alternative and creative solutions, and to maximize existing interventions. Spoth, Randall, and Shin (2008) substantiated the benefits of school-family partnerships on students’ academic success. Family socialization and the youth’s positive perception of their relationships with parents and teachers foster socio-emotional development, which in turn encourages school engagement and better academic performance. It is nonetheless important to note that children must be open to their parents being involved in school activities for the partnership to have an impact on their development (Deslandes & Cloutier, 2002). In the Philippines, children’s peer groups and their participation in school activities also help them cope with the emotional impact of being left behind by parents (Edillon, 2008; Melgar & Borromeo, 2002). Children feel a sense of belongingness and positive involvement when they are given the opportunity to affiliate with their peers and when they take part in school activities.

	Academic Article
List all of the reporting verbs from the passage above. If the same verb is used more than once, write it multiple times.	Ascertained, substantiated, note
Label each as weak, neutral, or strong.
What is the meaning of each reporting verb? Briefly explain why you think the author chose that particular verb.
How many paraphrases are there?	4
How many quotations are there?	0
How many in-text citations are there?	4

Part 2: Complete the chart. Look at your answers above and answer the questions for each genre of text.

	Academic Text	Graphic Novel	Personal Essay	Speech
Are the reporting verbs neutral or not neutral?	Not neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral
Do the authors use the same reporting verbs over and over, or do they use varied vocabulary?	Varied vocabulary	Yes	Yes	Yes
Do the authors use more paraphrases or more quotations?	paraphrases	Quotations	Quotations	Paraphrases
Does the author have in-text citations and a reference page?	Yes	no	No	no

Part 3: Discuss

Which genres use neutral reporting verbs and which use reporting verbs that are not neutral? Why is it different? Consider: How does each genre’s purpose, audience, or relevance effect the reporting verbs?
Which genres use many different reporting verbs, and which use the same reporting verbs over and over? Consider: How does each genre’s purpose, audience, or relevance effect the noun phrases?
Which genres use more paraphrases and which use more quotations? Consider: How does each genre’s purpose, audience, or relevance effect the noun phrases?
Which genres have citations and references, and which do not? Why is it different? Consider: How does each genre’s purpose, audience, or relevance effect the noun phrases?
Why is this information useful to know?