How to structure a paragraph CHEESEBURGER STYLE Topic

How to structure a paragraph CHEESEBURGER STYLE

Topic Sentence Supporting Detail Text Evidence Concluding Sentence

Topic Sentence (Reason) • Expresses the main idea of the paragraph • Needs: • Transition • Clear statement • Get to the point • COMPLETE sentence

Topic Sentence BAD Examples • First off, immigration and removal. • The first reason is the living conditions. What’s wrong with these examples?

Topic Sentence BAD Examples Continued… What equals a complete sentence? • Contains a SUBJECT and a VERB • Expresses a complete idea • Makes sense on it’s own. What’s wrong? ◦ First off, immigration and removal. ◦ The first reason is the living conditions.

Topic Sentence GOOD Examples • To begin, Immigration came in and removed strikers both in Esperanza Rising and in history. • The first reason is that the living conditions described in “Picture This: Depression Era 1930’s” and in Esperanza Rising are similar.

Supporting Details • Additional details that support the topic sentence (reason) • Needs: • Relevant to the topic sentence/reason (logical)

Text Evidence • Evidence from a text that illustrates ideas or supports an argument • Needs: • Citation phrase (SOURCE IT!) • Quoted or paraphrased

Citing Text Evidence BAD Examples • The article says, “Mexican and Mexican American immigrants often earned more money in the United States than they could in Mexico’s civil war economy. ” • “Picture This: The Depression Era 1930’s” states, “organizing strikes to protest lowered wages and worsening living conditions. ” • According to “The Migrant Experience, ” “[…] many of the refugees [pinned] their hopes for a better life on California. ” • Original quote: “Why did so many of the refugees pin their hopes for a better life on California? ”

Citing Text Evidence GOOD Examples • “Picture This: Depression Era 1930 s” says, “Mexican and Mexican American immigrants often earned more money in the United States than they could in Mexico’s civil war economy. ” • “Picture This: The Depression Era 1930’s” explains that immigrants began “organizing strikes to protest lowered wages and worsening living conditions. ” • According to “The Migrant Experience, ” “many of the refugees [pinned] their hopes for a better life on California. ”

Concluding Sentence • Completes paragraph by connecting supporting details and text evidence back to the topic sentence/reason.

#I just want someone to look at me the way these guys look at cheeseburgers

Esperanza Rising Example 1)The first reason Esperanza Rising is considered historical fiction is because, in both history and the book, the immigrants had poor living conditions. 2) In Esperanza Rising, Esperanza complains about the small shack she has to live in. 3) She describes the newspaper that covers the walls and ceiling and even goes so far as to call the little cabin a “horse stall. ” 4) The article “Picture This: Depression Era 1930 s” says, “The walls and roofs of the [shacks were] patched together from different materials. ” 5) Since Esperanza Rising provides a similar description of the homes as this informational article, it is obvious that the book is based on historical facts.

Esperanza Rising Example The first reason Esperanza Rising is considered historical fiction is because, in both history and the book, the immigrants had poor living conditions. In Esperanza Rising, Esperanza complains about the small shack she has to live in. She describes the newspaper that covers the walls and ceiling and even goes so far as to call the little cabin a “horse stall. ” The article “Picture This: Depression Era 1930 s” says, “The walls and roofs of the [shacks were] patched together from different materials. ” Since Esperanza Rising provides a similar description of the homes as this informational article, it is obvious that the book is based on historical facts.

Plan and write a REASON #4 paragraph Reason #4 Evidence & Sources *Texts are in the binder on pages 19 & 20