Informational WritingHow to write a Power Paragraph

Why are we writing in Spanish class?

1. It’s Strongly tied to reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.

2. It’s a process, not a product.

3. It’s a key that unlocks concepts in every content area, not just English.

Get Ready to Color Your Burger! ● Materials: When we analyze writing, we will

use 3 colors of highlighters or color pencils.

–First color (GREEN) is for TOPIC SENTENCES and CLOSING SENT.–Second color (YELLOW) is for CONCRETE DETAILS (CD).–Third color (RED) is for COMMENTARY (CM).

...that’s where the triple-decker hamburger paragraph

comes in...This year, we will experiment with the 11-sentence

color coded power paragraph model!

GO General: GO! Go ahead and make your main point in a TOPIC SENTENCE (TS)

Specific: Slow Down and choose a CONCRETE DETAIL (CD)/fact

More/Most Specific: STOP and USE COMMENTARY (CM) explain your opinion

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Color coding our writing serves as:- a memory device- a visual learning method- honors earlier writing instruction

Step 1: TOPIC SENTENCE (TS)

■ A Topic Sentence (TS) is the top bun of a hamburger.

• A TOPIC SENTENCE is the FIRST SENTENCE of the paragraph. It is the main idea that you will prove throughout your paragraph.

Example TOPIC SENTENCE (TS)

In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig has traits which help him succeed.

Step Two: CONCRETE DETAIL (CD)

CDs: Examples from the text, the meat patty of the hamburger.

Concrete Details details & facts that prove or support your TOPIC SENTENCE

Example CONCRETE DETAIL (CD)

In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig has traits which help him succeed. For example, he is wise and builds his house out of sturdy brick.

Step 3: Commentary (CM)■Commentary = Explanation - your conclusions, analysis, interpretation, or insight into the text, your opinions!

• CM=are the “extras” on the hamburger—the tomato, cheese, lettuce, mayo—they make it delicious and more interesting and unique!

Example Commentary (2 CMs)

In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig has traits which help him succeed. For example, he is wise and builds his house out of sturdy brick. The wolf is unable to blow down the brick house (1). This shows that the third pig is smarter than his brothers, who were both eaten by the wolf (2).

Step 4: Closing Sentence (CS)

● A closing sentence (CS) is the bottom bun of the hamburger.

A CS brings a close to the Topic Sentence by wrapping up the paragraph.

Example Closing Sentence (CS)In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the

third pig has traits which help him succeed. For example, he is wise and builds his house out of sturdy brick. The wolf is unable to blow down the brick house (1). This shows that the third pig is smarter than his brothers, who were both eaten by the wolf (2). In conclusion, the third pig outsmarts not only his brothers but the “big, bad” wolf as well.

Complete (if short) ParagraphIn the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig has traits which help him succeed. For example, he is wise and builds his house out of sturdy brick. The wolf is unable to blow down the brick house (1). This shows that the third pig is smarter than his brothers, who were both eaten by the wolf (2). In conclusion, the third pig outsmarts not only his brothers but the “big, bad” wolf as well.

TS, CD, CM, CS—Now What?

■ CHUNKING: A combination of Concrete Detail (CD) and two Commentary (CM).

Today, we will use the combination (or “ratio”) of 1:2. For every

1 CONCRETE DETAIL, you will have 2 COMMENTARY

SENTENCES

Example of chunking

■ TOPIC SENTENCE■ Evidence from Text

■ Commentary■ Commentary

■ Evidence from Text■ Commentary■ Commentary

■ Evidence from Text■ Commentary■ Commentary

■ Closing Sentence

For an eleven-sentence

paragraph, you have three

chunks!

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

Transition Samples CONCRETE DETAIL (CD):•For example,•The research states,•For instance,•In the story,•In the article,•In the study,

COMMENTARY (CM):• Thus,• Because of this,• Therefore,• Consequently,• This shows that

Does It Flow?

Now that you know how to write a three-chunk

paragraph…

LET’S EAT!

Notice the color pattern: In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig has the

traits that help him succeed. For example, he is wise and builds his house out of sturdy brick. The wolf is unable to blow down the brick house. This shows that the third pig is smarter than his brothers, who were both eaten by the wolf. Additionally, he is a hard worker. Although it is much easier to build a house out of straw, he chooses the material that will hold up. Even though laying bricks is time-consuming, he knows it is the better choice. This oldest pig also learns his lessons. He remembers his mother taught him that predators seek out little pigs. Knowing a wolf-attack is likely, he plans out his home construction to prevent tragedy. In conclusion, the third pig’s nature enables him to outsmart not only his brothers, but the “big, bad” wolf as well.