Supporting Your Ideas
Support must do all of the following well to be effective, smoothly integrated into your writing, and clear.
A. Introducing Support/Quotes:
If the support is included without introduction, it will be awkward and unclear, like an unannounced message dropping
out of the sky from an airplane; there needs to be explanation of the piece of support and where it is coming from in order
to give context. No quote should appear in a sentence by itself.
This example makes the mistake of letting the quote stand alone. Each quote should be part of another sentence that
explains where the quote is from (in addition to the parenthetical citation), and its purpose in your paper.
Beowulf was very strong. "Of living strong men, he was the strongest, fearless and gallant and great of heart" (l.89-90).
His grip was the strongest that Grendel had ever felt.
This quote is problematic due to its punctuation--it should have a comma rather than a colon--and the wording of the
introduction; it needs another phrase and a bit of expansion.
He shows his boastful attitude in the epic poem: "I slew nicors that swam the sea/Avenged the woe they had caused the
Weders" (l.157-158).
This quote is nicely introduced, but the quote, as it stands, does not make sense.
Later in the poem, the people said, "His heathen spirit; and hell received them" (l.433).
This quote is an integral part of the sentence and paragraph. The introductory part of this sentence both introduces the
quote and explains the importance of the quote.
John Jay fears that those of the higher classes, who aren't already partially against the government, might "consider the
charms of liberty as imaginary and delusive."
For someone to "say that his hand-grip has thirty men's strength" (l.118), back then that was a compliment to one's
strength especially since you sized up a person back then by their hello handshake.
What also made Beowulf an epic hero was his refusal to slay Grendel with any weapons. "Therefore I scorn to slay him
with a sword" (l.287).
He was smart and knew what he wanted to do. "Foe against foe I'll fight to the death, and the one who is taken must trust
God's grace!" (l.174-176).
B. Quoting/Paraphrasing:
Support should be included in a thorough yet brief manner. If not enough of the quote or support is included, it will be
unclear what it means to the idea it is meant to support. If there is too much information included, it will be unclear which
part of that information is meant to support the idea/point.
This is not specific enough to work as support; it doesn't define any of the challenges alluded to.
There were many challenges Beowulf defeated to be known as a hero. He was the best when it came to challenges. These
challenges threaten the hero, Beowulf, and try to destroy him.
This both integrates the quote into the comment and explains the details of Beowulf's cited strength.
Later, the poem states that his "hand-grip" is that of thirty men.
When he arrived he spoke like a great warrior. He spoke of his past adventures and how he slew the nicors in the sea.
Then he assured Hrothgar that he would put an end to Grendel's terror.
Epic heroes are usually leaders who care a great deal about their followers, just like Beowulf. Beowulf got treasure which
he gave to his people before he died, which was a noble gesture.
Other epic heroes risked their lives for the welfare of other people as well. Odysseus from The Odyssey fought monsters
for his mean and so did Beowulf.
C. Explaining Support/Quotes:
The value of any piece of support must also be explained. Although it may seem to the author (and may, indeed, be) the
most obvious connection between the point and the support, it is still necessary to explain that connection as if your reader
were completely obtuse; it may only be obvious to you, or it may be that you see a connection different than the one your
reader sees. It is important to make certain that your reader knows precisely why you chose to use that piece of support to
shore up that particular point.
This section chooses two quotes, introduces them well, but then fails to expand on and explain why the quote does in fact
support the claim made by the introduction.
He shows his boastful attitude in the epic poem, "I slew the nicors that swam the sea/Avenged the woe they had caused
the Weders" (l157-158). He also shows his attitude again when he brags about how he tied up giants and killed them,
"Five foes I bound of the giants, and crushed their clan" (l.154-155).
This section explains the language ("fatal flaw") that it is discussing, then outlines the way in which Beowulf fits this
definition, giving an example.
One very important trait of an epic hero is a fatal flaw. The fatal flaw is a weakness, either mental or physical, of the hero
that usually ends up being the reason why the character is finally killed. In Beowulf's case, his pride leads him to believe
that he can kill a dragon in his old age. However, Beowulf ends up dying. In this case, Beowulf had nothing to gain
besides the reinforcement of his pride.
Before he died, Beowulf said, "For fifty years I've ruled this realm and never a lord of a neighboring land dared strike with
terror or seek with sword. In my life, I abode by the lot assigned, kept well what was mine, courted no quarrels, swore no
false oaths" (l.1651-1657). This proves that he was a great ruler and an honest man.
Beowulf died showing courage and bravery. He defeated the dragon but unfortunately died in the process. He was
known as a hero to the world and as a superhuman creature. Everyone respected, honored, and looked up to him and his
deeds. He was stronger, braver, and extraordinary.
When Beowulf arrives at Hrothgar's court, he says that his people urged him to come and help. He says, "They had in
remembrance my courage and might/..I slew the Nicors that swam the sea/Avenged the woe they had caused the
Weders/And ended their evil--they needed the lesson" (l.152, 157-159). By saying this Beowulf has told people that he is
well-known as a strong, courageous hero.
Something that a lot of heroes have, whether they be fictional or nonfictional, is pride. That's something Beowulf had.
He showed that he had pride when he told Hrothgar "To bear my sword, or sheltering shield,/or yellow buckler, to battle
the fiend/with hand grip only I'll grapple with Grendel/Foe against foe I'll fight to the death" (l.171-174). Beowulf knows
that Grendel had no weapons, shields, or swords, so it wouldn't be a fair fight [if he used weapons]. Instead Bewoulf
decides that he would fight without any weapons also.
Beowulf was very strong. "Of living strong men, he was the
strongest, fearless and gallant and great of heart" (l.89-90). His
grip was the strongest that Grendel had ever felt.
He shows his boastful attitude in the epic poem: "I slew nicors
that swam the sea/Avenged the use they had caused the Weders"
(l.157-158).
Later in the poem, the people said, "His heathen spirit; and hell
received them" (l.433).
John Jay fears that those of the higher classes, who aren't
already partially against the government, might "consider the
charms of liberty as imaginary and delusive."
For someone to "say that his hand-grip has thrifty men's
strengths" (l.118), back then that was a compliment to one's
strength especially since you sized up a person back then by
their hello handshake.
What also made Beowulf an epic hero was his refusal to slay
Grendel with any weapons. "Therefore I scorn to slay him with
a sword" (l.287).
He was smart and knew what he wanted to do. "Foe against foe
I'll fight to the death, and the one who is taken must trust God's
grace!" (l.174-176).
There were many challenges Beowulf defeated to be known as a
hero. He was the best when it came to challenges. These
challenges threaten the hero, Beowulf, and try to destroy him.
When he arrived he spoke like a great warrior. He spoke of his
past adventures and how he slew the nicors in the sea. Then he
assured Hrothgar that he would put an end to Grendel's terror.
Epic heroes are usually leaders who care a great deal about their
followers, just like Beowulf. Beowulf got treasure which he
gave to his people before he died, which was a noble gesture.
Later, the poem states that his "hand-grip" is that of thirty men.
Other epic heroes risked their lives for the welfare of other
people as well. Odysseus from The Odyssey fought monsters for
his mean and so did Beowulf.
He shows his boastful attitude in the epic poem: "I slew the
nicors that swam the sea/Avenged the woe they had caused the
Weders" (l157-158). He also shows his attitude again when he
brags about how he tied up giants and killed them: "Five foes I
bound of the giants, and crushed their clan" (l.154-155).
Before he died, Beowulf said, "For fifty years I've ruled this
realm and never a lord of a neighboring land dared strike with
terror or seek with sword. In my life, I abode by the lot
assigned, kept well what was mine, courted no quarrels, swore
no false oaths" (l.1651-1657). This proves that he was a great
ruler and an honest man.
Beowulf died showing courage and bravery. He defeated the
dragon but unfortunately died in the process. He was known as
a hero to the world and as a superhuman creature. Everyone
respected, honored, and looked up to him and his deeds. He was
stronger, braver, and extraordinary.
One very important trait of an epic hero is a fatal flaw. The fatal
flaw is a weakness, either mental or physical, of the hero that
usually ends up being the reason why the character is finally
killed. In Beowulf's case, his pride leads him to believe that he
can kill a dragon in his old age. However, Beowulf ends up
dying. In this case, Beowulf had nothing to gain besides the
reinforcement of his pride.
When Beowulf arrives at Hrothgar's court, he says that his
people urged him to come and help. He says, "They had in
remembrance my courage and might/..I slew the Nicors that
swam the sea/Avenged the woe they had caused the
Weders/And ended their evil--they needed the lesson" (l.152,
157-159). By saying this Beowulf has told people that he is
well-known as a strong, courageous hero.
Something that a lot of heroes have, whether they be fictional or
nonfictional, is pride. That's something Beowulf had. He
showed that he had pride when he told Hrothgar "To bear my
sword, or sheltering shield,/or yellow buckler, to battle the
fiend/with hand grip only I'll grapple with Grendel/Foe against
foe I'll fight to the death" (l.171-174). Beowulf knows that
Grendel had no weapons, shields, or swords, so it wouldn't be a
fair fight [if he used weapons]. Instead Bewoulf decides that he
would fight without any weapons also.