English Language Arts
Grade 8
15 min
Formatting titles
Formatting titles
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify direct objects within sentences.
Identify indirect objects within sentences.
Differentiate between titles requiring italics and titles requiring quotation marks.
Apply correct capitalization rules to titles embedded in sentences.
Accurately format titles functioning as direct objects in academic writing.
Accurately format titles functioning as indirect objects in academic writing.
Analyze and revise sentences for correct title formatting and grammatical function.
Ever wondered why some titles get fancy italics and others get quotation marks? 🤔 What if those titles are also doing a job in the sentence, like receiving an action?
In this lesson, you'll learn the essential rules for formatting titles correctly, whether they're books, ar...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Direct ObjectA noun or pronoun that receives the action of a transitive verb. It answers the question 'What?' or 'Whom?' after the verb.She read *The Outsiders*. (*The Outsiders* is the direct object of 'read'.)
Indirect ObjectA noun or pronoun that tells to whom or for whom the action of the verb is done. It always comes before the direct object.He gave *The Giver* a glowing review. (*The Giver* is the indirect object of 'gave'.)
Transitive VerbA verb that expresses an action directed toward a person, place, thing, or idea (the direct object).Common transitive verbs include 'read,' 'wrote,' 'watched,' 'gave,' 'created.'
Italics for Major WorksA formatting convention used for ti...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Identifying Direct Objects
To find the direct object, ask 'What?' or 'Whom?' after the transitive verb.
Use this rule to pinpoint the noun or pronoun that directly receives the action of the verb. The direct object completes the meaning of the verb.
Identifying Indirect Objects
To find the indirect object, first find the direct object, then ask 'To whom?' or 'For whom?' the action was performed.
The indirect object always precedes the direct object and indicates the recipient of the direct object. It cannot exist without a direct object.
Formatting Major vs. Minor Titles
Use italics for major works (e.g., books, movies, albums) and quotation marks for minor works (e.g., chapters, articles, songs).
This convention helps readers...
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Challenging
Which sentence correctly uses a book title as an indirect object and a chapter title as a direct object?
A.The publisher gave "The Hunger Games" the new title *A Spark of Rebellion*.
B.The publisher gave the book *The Hunger Games* the new chapter title "A Spark of Rebellion".
C.The publisher gave the new chapter title "A Spark of Rebellion" to the book *The Hunger Games*.
D.The publisher gave *The Hunger Games* "A Spark of Rebellion" for its first chapter.
Challenging
Compare these two sentences:
1. The librarian read the children the book *Where the Wild Things Are*.
2. The librarian read the book *Where the Wild Things Are* to the children.
Which statement is most accurate?
A.In both sentences, 'the children' is the indirect object.
B.In sentence 1, 'the children' is the indirect object; in sentence 2, it is the object of a preposition.
C.In sentence 1, 'the children' is the object of a preposition; in sentence 2, it is the indirect object.
D.In both sentences, *Where the Wild Things Are* is the indirect object.
Challenging
A student wrote an essay titled "Symbolism in *The Great Gatsby*." How should they format this title if they mention it in another piece of writing?
A....my essay *Symbolism in "The Great Gatsby"*.
B....my essay "Symbolism in *The Great Gatsby*".
C....my essay "Symbolism in 'The Great Gatsby'".
D....my essay *Symbolism in The Great Gatsby*.
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