WRITING PARAGRAPHS DEFINITION A paragraph is a series

WRITING PARAGRAPHS

DEFINITION: A paragraph is a series of sentences concerning ONE point or main idea. A paragraph should consist of — at the very least — FIVE sentences, o for what can a writer truly prove or illustrate adequately in less than a few sentences? !

CONSTRUCTION *PARAGRAPH OVERVIEW* (1) TOPIC SENTENCE (2) SUPPORT (3) CLINCHER SENTENCE

CONSTRUCTION (1) A paragraph should begin with a TOPIC SENTENCE, which states the main idea of the paragraph. (2) The remainder of the paragraph is devoted to SUPPORTING (proving or illustrating) that main idea. (3) A paragraph should conclude with a CLINCHER SENTENCE, a statement that reiterates the main idea of the paragraph.

(1) TOPIC SENTENCES DEFINITION: q A TOPIC SENTENCE o states the main idea of the paragraph. o controls the focus and organization of its paragraph.

(1) TOPIC SENTENCES ANALOGY: q a topic sentence is to a paragraph as q a thesis statement is to an essay q That is, just as thesis statement guides the entire essay, so too does the topic sentence guide the entire paragraph.

(1) TOPIC SENTENCES FORMULA: TOPIC + MAIN IDEA q TOPIC: o About what are you writing? What is your subject matter, concern, focus? q MAIN IDEA: o What are you saying about that topic? What is your point, message, position, meaning, purpose, goal?

(2) SUPPORT Prove your point OR support your main idea with any of the following evidence: q anecdotes (short narratives) q examples q reasons q details q description

(3) CLINCHER SENTENCES DEFINITION: q A CLINCHER SENTENCE o is the last sentence in a paragraph. o is a concluding statement that reiterates the main idea of the paragraph. q In an essay, it looks forward to the next point in the following paragraph; that is, it works as a transition from one paragraph to the next.

(3) CLINCHER SENTENCES q Do not simply end your paragraph once you have supported your point. o bring your essay full circle o repeat your main idea o repeat your topic sentence – • not word for word, but the gist of it • like a Conclusion for your paragraph

(3) CLINCHER SENTENCES q *Do NOT end a paragraph with some else’s words or ideas. o especially true in researched essays o no direct quotes or paraphrases • there should be no parenthetical at the end of a para. o your essay = your words

PARAGRAPHS in ESSAYS

The GOLDEN RULE of PARAGRAPHS *only 1 idea per paragraph*

The GOLDEN RULE of PARAGRAPHS q That is, discuss ONLY ONE point in each paragraph. q You mentioned three points in your thesis statement, so discuss each point in its own paragraph.

The GOLDEN RULE of PARAGRAPHS q Thus, you will discuss ONLY ONE attribute, reason, type, role, similarity, difference, or characteristic per paragraph. q Exceptions: o In a Process-Analysis essay, you may group related steps into phases and discuss such connected steps within a single paragraph. o Do the same in a Narrative essay.

The SILVER RULE of PARAGRAPHS *no fewer than 5 sentences per paragraph*

The SILVER RULE of PARAGRAPHS q A paragraph should consist of — at the very least — FIVE sentences, o for what can a writer truly prove or illustrate adequately in less than a few sentences? !

OVERVIEW PARAGRAPH OVERVIEW: *Follow the same level of deduction (G S) you did in your Introduction. 1) Name (in a Topic Sentence) 2) Explain (briefly) 3) Illustrate (with specific examples) 4) Conclude (with a Clincher Sentence) *no fewer than 5 sentences per paragraph*

(1) TOPIC SENTENCES DEFINITION: q A TOPIC SENTENCE o states the main idea of the paragraph. o controls the focus and organization of its paragraph.

(1) TOPIC SENTENCES ANALOGY: q a topic sentence is to a paragraph as q a thesis statement is to an essay q That is, just as thesis statement guides the entire essay, so too does the topic sentence guide the entire paragraph.

(1) TOPIC SENTENCES To write a topic sentence, answer: q What is the focus of this particular paragraph? q What attribute, reason, type, role, similarity, difference, or characteristic will I discuss and illustrate in this paragraph? q How is this idea related to my thesis? q What transitional expression works best with the organization of my essay?

(1) TOPIC SENTENCES q Refer to your thesis statement. o In your topic sentence, you will repeat 2/3 of your thesis statement. o In other words, repeat the topic and the main idea. o Add to that the singular point you will discuss in that paragraph: o For an Example essay (Illustration or Argument) on steroids:

(1) TOPIC SENTENCES THESIS: q Steroids (topic) should be banned from professional sports (main idea) because of adverse health risks to athletes (support 1), illegitimate claims to records (support 2), and irreversible damage to the essence of sports (support 3).

(1) TOPIC SENTENCES TOPIC SENTENCE #1: q One reason to ban steroids from sports involves adverse health risks to athletes.

(1) TOPIC SENTENCES TOPIC SENTENCE #2: q In addition to the negative health risks, another reason steroids should be banned concerns illegitimate claims to legitimately achieved records.

(1) TOPIC SENTENCES TOPIC SENTENCE #3: q While dangerous health risks and cheating are strong arguments, the most important reason steroids should be banned from sports is because they cause irreversible damage to the very essence of sports and sportsmanship.

(2) EXPLANATION q After you have written your topic sentence, you should next briefly explain your point. q Remember: “Brevity is the soul of wit. ” o You do not want to spend more time explaining your point at the expense of illustrating it. q“In other words” q “That is to say” q “What this means is”

(3) SUPPORT q You have talked the talked, now you must walk the walk. o Put up or shut up. o You have made a claim and have explained it, now you must prove it. q Otherwise, all you have is opinion.

(3) SUPPORT q Support your point with o specific, relevant, unambiguous examples o specific people and instances o details o descriptions o anecdotes o statistics

(4) CLINCHER q Finally, wrap up the paragraph with a clincher sentence. q Similar to the clincher sentence in your Conclusion. q Bring it full circle.

(4) CLINCHER q Repeat your point: “Thus, Lyle Alzado’s case proves that steroids can detrimentally effect an athlete’s health. ” q Segue to your next point: “Thus, steroids can detrimentally effect an athlete’s health; they can also negatively effect the record books. ”

SUMMATION *PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE* (1) Name your point. (2) Explain briefly your point. (3) Illustrate your point with specific and relevant examples. (4) Repeat your point and segue to your next point.