Accordion Paragraphs Enjoy a clip from one of

Accordion Paragraphs Enjoy a clip from one of my favorite childhood shows, Family Matters:

The purpose: • To practice using the accordion paragraph method to write organized paragraphs • To make sure each topic sentence, piece of evidence and explanation supports your thesis • To make sure each piece of evidence you use supports your topic sentence • To help you add more of your own original thoughts and analysis into your research paper

You will need… • This Power Point presentation • Your handout on accordion paragraphs (you received this last week) • The sample essay, “A Call to Action: Regulate Use of Cell Phones on the Road” (the link will come later in this presentation) • The most recent version of you research paper (get this from turnitin. com if you don’t have any other resource) • Microsoft Word

At the end of today’s class you will… • Submit your quiz on turnitin. com • Submit at least 3 paragraphs that have been rewritten using the accordion paragraph technique on turnitin. com

Traffic Light Paragraph • Topic Sentence • Transition/Idea • Elaboration/ Explanation

Accordion Paragraph Main idea (Topic Sentence) Key/Star Idea (support/reason) • Explanation/Elaboration

Acrobats Many believe as I do that the most impressive acts at the circus are the aerial artists. Aerial rope artists swing and twist by using their arms and legs. With incredible strength and at unbelievable speeds, they spin around. The speeds and the heights would make most people extremely dizzy. These artists hang upside down for long periods of time. They support themselves by wrapping their feet around the rope. Just as impressive are the trapeze artists. They swing back and forth across the top the circus tent, making release after release. They fly through the air aiming for another trapeze or the hands of another artist. Circus acts of all kinds entertain the audience, but the aerial artists who seem to take the biggest risks draw the most attention.

Topic Sentence: Many believe as I do the most impressive acts at the circus are the aerial artists. Key/Star idea: rope artists Evidence/Elaboration: – twists and spins • leg and arm strength – hang upside down • Support from feet • Key/Star idea: artists on swinging bards Evidence/Elaboration: – Release – Fly through the air – Catch one another

Example Research Paper (read this) • Research question: Is regulation of the use of cell phones while on the road necessary? • Thesis: Regulation is needed because drivers using phones are seriously impaired and because laws on negligent and reckless driving are not sufficient to punish offenders.

Accordion Paragraph Outline Topic sentence: No one can deny that cell phones have caused traffic deaths and injuries. Key/Star Idea: Cell phones implicated in 3 deaths in November 1999 Elaboration/ Explanation: • Morgan Pena • Shannon Smith • John and Carole Hall

Your turn: Paragraph 2 Note: There are 3 Key/Star ideas in this paragraph Topic sentence: Key/Star Idea: Elaboration/ Explanation:

Your turn: Paragraph 2 Check it Topic sentence: Expert testimony, public opinion, and even cartoons suggest that driving while phoning is dangerous. Key/Star Idea: Expert testimony: Frances Bents Elaboration/ Explanation: 450 – 1, 000 crashes every year related to cell phone use Key/Star Idea: Public opinion Elaboration/ Explanation: Farmer’s Insurance Group Statistics Key/Star Idea: Cartoons

Apply it • Choose 3 paragraphs in your essay • • • Open a Word document Copy and paste your paragraphs into the document Ask yourself the following about each paragraph: – – • • Does the topic sentence support or relate to thesis? Do my Key/Star ideas support the topic? Do I use information, evidence and data to support my Key/Star ideas? Do I explain how that information and data supports my Key/Star ideas? If the answer to any of these questions is “No, ’ make the appropriate adjustments. color code your paragraphs based on the traffic light structure Save your document as First Name_Last Name_ Paragraphs Save it to the “Accordion Paragraphs” assignment on turnitin. com This will be due at 11: 59 pm tonight, but I recommend using your time wisely. If you finish early, continue this process for other paragraphs in your paper.