How to Write a Stand Alone Paragraph Response

Step 1 - TAG Not THAT TAG! T – title A – author G

Step 2 – Answer the Question In the first sentence, you must make sure

Step 2 – Answer the Question Ex. In the story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt

Step 3 – Add quotation You need proof from the text, this is where

Step 4 – Explain your quote Now that you have your quote, you need

Step 4 – Explain your quote Instead, you need to explain WHY your quote

Quotes and Explanations You should have 2 -3 quotes taken from throughout the story

Step 5 – Wrap it up You always want to have a conclusion sentence

Then you will have an excellent Stand Alone paragraph response!

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How to Write a Stand Alone Paragraph Response

Step 1 - TAG

Step 1 - TAG Not THAT TAG! T – title A – author G – genre Ex. – In the story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut

Step 2 – Answer the Question In the first sentence, you must make sure to answer the question You only have one paragraph to try to explain your answer, so get right down to it Do NOT paraphrase the story – you don’t have enough space Be specific!

Step 2 – Answer the Question Ex. In the story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, Harrison represents individual freedom. Here, you have included tag and clearly answered the question so there is no way to misread your purpose Now prove it! Tell WHY.

Step 3 – Add quotation You need proof from the text, this is where quotes come in. Quotations should be maximum 6 -8 words. Any longer than that and you are running out of space to explain it Choose ONLY quotes that will help your purpose. If you are proving that Harrison symbolizes freedom, don’t include a quote about Hazel – Stay on topic!

Step 4 – Explain your quote Now that you have your quote, you need to explain why that quote is important DO NOT explain what the quote means Once again, DO NOT summarize the story DO NOT repeat the quote Ex. George thought the ballerinas should not be handicapped, “maybe they shouldn’t be handicapped”

Step 4 – Explain your quote Instead, you need to explain WHY your quote is important to your thesis (or your answer in the first sentence). How does the quote prove he represents individual freedom? Ex. When Harrison “tore the straps of his handicap harness” and it “crashed to the floor”, Harrison was proving that he would no longer be like everyone else, and that he was, in fact, stronger than the average.

Quotes and Explanations You should have 2 -3 quotes taken from throughout the story and explanations to match If you choose a quote from the beginning, the middle and the end, it proves you understand the whole story

Step 5 – Wrap it up You always want to have a conclusion sentence to wrap up everything you just said Quickly touch on the topics you talked about, and then restate your answer/thesis

Then you will have an excellent Stand Alone paragraph response!