Writing Paragraphs A paragraph must have a topic
- Slides: 7
Writing Paragraphs A paragraph must have a topic sentence. Topic sentences tell the reader what the paragraph is going to be about. Remember to: Supply your readers with all of the important information they need Stay focused on your main idea Explain and support your main idea with details such as facts, statistics, sensory details, incidents, examples, reasons, and quotations. The ending of the paragraph should contain a clincher sentence that reminds the reader of the topic paragraph and what it really means.
Different Types of Sentences Levels of Detail: Level 1 – Controlling Sentence – name and control the topic Level 2 – Clarifying Sentences – make the topic clearer Level 3 – Completing Sentences – add specific details A good paragraph will have at least two to three Level 2 sentences and two to three Level 3 sentences.
11 Sentence Paragraph The 11 Sentence Paragraph is a model for an effective paragraph structure or format, much like the 5 paragraph structure is a possible format for an essay. The purpose of learning the 11 Sentence structure is to see how major and minor support sentences are necessary for development of ideas.
11 Sentence Paragraph 1. Topic Sentence: States the main idea of the Paragraph; must contain a controlling idea ; should intrigue the reader and make them wonder. 2. Major Support Sentences: Provide reasons “Why? ” or “Because” (These are the reasons why you think what you think. ) 3. Minor Support Sentences: Provide concrete examples from the text, as well as explanation for the evidence. (How does the evidence support your reasoning? ) 4. Concluding Sentences (a. k. a. “Clincher”): Re-emphasizes the main idea now that concrete evidence has been introduced and explained. Also important: Transitions are used to move from one major support to another.
11 Sentence Paragraph Sample Structure Topic Sentence (1) �Major Support Sentence (2) �Minor Support Sentence (Evidence) (3) �Minor Support Sentence (Explanation) (4) �Major Support Sentence (5) �Minor Support Sentence (Evidence) (6) �Minor Support Sentence (Explanation) (7) �Major Support Sentence (8) �Minor Support Sentence (Evidence) (9) �Minor Support Sentence(Explanation) (10) �Concluding Sentence (11)
11 Sentence Paragraph The 11 Sentence Paragraph should be coded with a highlighter: Topic Sentence – Pink Major Supports – Green Minor Support with evidence: Yellow/underlined Minor Support with Explanation –Yellow Concluding Sentence – Neatly Underlined in Pencil Transitions – Neatly Circled in Pencil
11 Sentence Paragraph Assignment: Choose ONE of the following topics* and write a carefully constructed 11 Sentence Paragraph: The best gift you’ve ever received. The best event you’ve ever attended. The best birthday you ever had. *Make sure there are 3 specific reasons for your selection…those will be your 3 Major Supports.
