The quote sandwich (signal phrase + quote + parenthetical + interpretive) and MLA in-text

Quick-noticing: read this passage. What's missing? 'Climate change is a global crisis. "My continent contributes the least to climate change, yet suffers some of its worst consequences." The Maya were also affected.'

• Listen for: no signal phrase, no citation, no interpretive sentence, non-sequitur jump
• Note: 'naked quote' style
• Tee up the four-part sandwich

The QUOTE SANDWICH has four parts (MG-8). SLICE 1 — SIGNAL PHRASE names the source. SLICE 2 — the QUOTE in quotation marks. SLICE 3 — PARENTHETICAL CITATION (Author Page) AFTER closing quote, BEFORE period. SLICE 4 — INTERPRETIVE SENTENCE explains WHY you quoted. Slice 4 is the most important. MG-10 covers 6 in-text cases: author named/page; author not named/page; two authors; et al.; no author (short title); no page. Punctuation: parenthetical BEFORE period.

• Signal sets up reader; quote; (47) page only since Nakate named; interpretive connects to claim.

  model According to Nakate, climate inaction has the greatest impact on those who contributed least to the crisis: "My continent contributes the least to climate change, yet suffers some of its worst consequences" (47). This reframes the climate debate as one about justice, not just emissions.

  prompt Build a sandwich for Nakate p.47: 'My continent contributes the least to climate change, yet suffers some of its worst consequences.'
• Two authors — both named in signal; (23) only in parens.

  model Aronson and Budhos argue that sugar drove the first global economy: "Sugar was the first global commodity, linking continents in chains of consumption and coercion" (23). This connection between commodity and coercion frames their argument about trade's human cost.

  prompt Build for Aronson and Budhos p.23.
• Short title in parens because no author.

  model According to the National Geographic article "Maya Astronomy," Maya astronomers achieved remarkable precision: "The Maya developed astronomical observations of remarkable precision" ("Maya Astronomy"). This precision shaped their religious calendar and architectural alignments.

  prompt Build for a website with no page number.

• Pair-share: build a sandwich from one of your note cards.
• Cold Call: what punctuation goes between the closing quote and parenthetical? (Answer: nothing.)
• Thumbs: I can build a four-part sandwich (up) / I need re-explanation (down)

M-7-F-RES-08-A Chart

MG-8 anchor: 4-part stacked card with each slice and worked example. Bottom rule: 'Skip the interpretive and your reader is stuck.' Print-ready 11x17.

MG-8 Chart

Quote sandwich four-part integration anchor (CCSS W.7.8): 4-part stacked card. SLICE 1 (top bread) — SIGNAL PHRASE: 'According to Nakate...' / 'As Coates writes...' / 'In her TED talk, Adichie notes...'. Names the source and gives reader context. FILLING (middle, the quote) — the direct quote in quotation marks: '....'. SLICE 2 (parenthetical citation): (Nakate 47) or (Nakate). Author and page (or just author for sources without pages — most websites). SLICE 3 (bottom bread) — INTERPRETIVE SENTENCE: 'This shows that...' / 'In other words...' / 'This evidence supports my claim that...'. Tells the reader WHY you quoted this. Worked example: 'According to Nakate, climate inaction has the greatest impact on those who contributed least to the crisis: "My continent contributes the least to climate change, yet suffers some of its worst consequences" (Nakate 47). This data-grounded statement reframes the climate debate as one about justice, not just emissions.' Bottom rule: 'Skip the interpretive sentence and your reader is stuck. The interpretive sentence is the most important slice.' Print-ready 11x17.

M-7-F-RES-08-B Video Physical / non-image

MG-33 video: Grade-7 student types each slice; reviews interpretive sentence; revises to add analysis. Multicultural classroom. Caption track on.

MG-33 Video Physical / non-image

6:00 model of a Grade-7 researcher building a quote sandwich. Student is drafting a body paragraph. She has a quote from Nakate. Voiceover walks through: SLICE 1 — signal phrase ('According to Nakate, in her book A Bigger Picture...'). SLICE 2 — quote with quotation marks ('...'). SLICE 3 — parenthetical citation (Nakate 47). SLICE 4 — interpretive sentence ('This shows that...'). Student types each slice. Then she reviews — does the interpretive sentence add MEANING or just restate? She revises the interpretive sentence to add analysis. Final paragraph displayed with all 4 slices visible. Multicultural classroom. Caption track on.

• Build 2 sandwiches from your note cards using the 4-slice organizer.

  scaffold MG-8 anchor; signal-phrase variety card; graphic organizer
• Pair-edit: check each slice. Flag weak interpretives — do they ANALYZE or just RESTATE?

  scaffold Pair-edit rubric: 4 slice y/n

• Build a sandwich for: Coates, 'The Case for Reparations,' Atlantic, June 2014. 'Two hundred fifty years of slavery. Ninety years of Jim Crow.'

• Restate: 4 slices, every time. Interpretive is most important.
• Preview: MLA Works Cited book and article templates

• Build 3 more sandwiches each with DIFFERENT signal phrase. Bring tomorrow.