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Intro to the P.I.E. ParagraphWriting Paragraphs with a Purpose

+One of the hardest milestones in writing is. . .

Writing clearly and effectively

Supporting your opinion with evidence

Making sure everything in your writing has a purpose and isn’t just “fluff”

+. . .Which is why we are going to use P.I.E.!!!

Make your POINT, stating your opinion/ POSITION

ILLUSTRATE your point with INFORMATION, such as quotations, examples, facts from literature, situations from life, lessons learned, etc.

And last, but not least, write sentences that EXPLAIN or EXPAND your ideas to show the link between those examples and your position statement.

+Stating your POINT/POSITION

In your first sentence, answer the following questions: What is the point of this

paragraph? What is your stance on

this particular issue?

Most times, the point of the paragraph is also known as the TOPIC SENTENCE.

Example: I think that out of all of the types of pie that there are in the world, that chocolate and peanut butter pie is the best.

+Then, ILLUSTRATING your point with specific INFORMATION. . .

The information is the evidence used to support/develop the point.

Answer the following question when illustrating your point: How is the point supported

with specific data, experiences, or other factual material?

Types of Information: Information from readings or

class discussions Personal experience Representations in the media

(newspapers, magazines, television)

Statistics

Example: To elaborate, I am an adventurous eater, and have tried many different kinds of pie in my life, including blueberry, strawberry, pumpkin, pecan, and cherry. However, chocolate peanut butter pie always seems to taste the best. Also, in 2012 at the Annual Good Food Pie Contest, the winner was a chocolate peanut butter pie.

+Lastly, EXPLAINING this information and how it is relevant to your point. . .

The explanation is the writer’s analysis, elaboration, and evaluation of the point and information given, connecting the information with the point.

Your explanation should answer the following question: What does the information

provided mean? How does it have to do with

the point that I am trying to make.

Example: Both my personal experiences as a pie connoisseur, as well as the judgments of others do in fact suggest that chocolate peanut butter pie is superior to all other types of pie. Therefore, it can be determined that this pie is, in fact, the best.

+Now put it all together. . .

I think that out of all of the types of pie that there are in the world, that chocolate and peanut butter pie is the best. To elaborate, I am an adventurous eater, and have tried many different kinds of pie in my life, including blueberry, strawberry, pumpkin, pecan, and cherry. However, chocolate peanut butter pie always seems to taste the best. Also, in 2012 at the Annual Good Food Pie Contest, the winner was a chocolate peanut butter pie. Both my personal experiences as a pie connoisseur, as well as the judgments of others do in fact suggest that chocolate peanut butter pie is superior to all other types of pie. Therefore, it can be determined that this pie is, in fact, the best.

+Now it’s your turn. . .

Learning to communicate well is an important skill for anyone to develop, whether one is a student or a professional. For example, teachers learn what students understand from what they say. This means that students who want to get good grades in school will have to speak well enough to show what they know. Also, professionals sometimes write letters to tell a company about a bad experience a client has had with a product bought for a special occasion present broke on the first day. If the letter was written poorly, it wouldn’t be taken as seriously by the company. So, from these examples, one can see that learning to write well can be good in lots of ways for people of all ages.

+POINT/POSITION

Learning to communicate well is an important skill for anyone to develop, whether one is a student or a professional. For example, teachers learn what students understand from what they say. This means that students who want to get good grades in school will have to speak well enough to show what they know. Also, professionals sometimes write letters to tell a company about a bad experience a client has had with a product bought for a special occasion present broke on the first day. Lawyers have to prepare their speeches before they present them to a judge or a jury if they would like to be taken seriously. So, from these examples, one can see that learning to write well can be good in lots of ways for people of all ages.

+INFORMATION/ ILLUSTRATION

Learning to communicate well is an important skill for anyone to develop, whether one is a student or a professional. For example, teachers learn what students understand from what they say. This means that students who want to get good grades in school will have to speak well enough to show what they know. Also, professionals sometimes write letters to tell a company about a bad experience a client has had with a product bought for a special occasion present broke on the first day. If the letter was written poorly, it wouldn’t be taken as seriously by the company. So, from these examples, one can see that learning to write well can be good in lots of ways for people of all ages.

+EXPLANATION

Learning to communicate well is an important skill for anyone to develop, whether one is a student or a professional. For example, teachers learn what students understand from what they say. This means that students who want to get good grades in school will have to speak well enough to show what they know. Also, professionals sometimes write letters to tell a company about a bad experience a client has had with a product bought for a special occasion present broke on the first day. If the letter was written poorly, it wouldn’t be taken as seriously by the company. So, from these examples, one can see that learning to write well can be good in lots of ways for people of all ages.