Paragraph Parts

And Ms. Dorsey’s Weird Fish-Tank Analogy.

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Congratulations!

• You’re going to get a fish! • Fine, whatever, someone’s

going to read a paragraph you wrote!

• You’d better get ready.

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The Container:• Topic Sentence:• A sentence at the beginning of a paragraph that states the

main idea of the paragraph.

• It should be interesting and specific.

• It is also called the central idea.http://www.photospin.com/content/photos/thumb/PS015091.jpg

The Container:

The secret formula:

An interesting subject + Your specific feeling about it_________________________ A good topic sentence

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Examples

• Teachers are a different species than the students they teach.

• Sandals are the best kind of footwear to wear when it rains.

• English and math have more in common than most students think.

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The Water

• The most important part.

• There needs to be enough water to fill the container.

• The water needs to go inside the container.

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The Water• Supporting Details:• Reasons, details, examples, and

other information that supports and explains the topic sentence.

• There needs to be enough (3 is usually a safe guess)

• Every sentence should support the topic sentence.

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Good Example—Enough Water

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Sandals are the best kind of footwear to wear when it rains. First, getting your feet wet when it rains is unavoidable, and sandals dry much faster than thick, stiff, close-toed shoes. Would you rather have your feet wet for ten minutes or an hour? Sandals also eliminate the problem of muddy, soggy socks. Your exposed toes might be colder at first, but they will be dry and toasty ten minutes later. Socks and shoes can take hours to fully dry, leaving your toes squelching and damp all day. Because getting wet is no longer a worry when you wear sandals, you no longer have to take long, tricky, and dangerous jumps off curbs to avoid puddles you could be happily splashing in.

• Sandals are the best kind of footwear to wear when it rains.

• First, getting your feet wet when it rains is unavoidable, and sandals dry much faster than thick, stiff, close-toed shoes. – Would you rather have your feet wet for ten minutes or an

hour? • Sandals also eliminate the problem of muddy, soggy socks.

– Your exposed toes might be colder at first, but they will be dry and toasty ten minutes later. Socks and shoes can take hours to fully dry, leaving your toes squelching and damp all day.

• Because getting wet is no longer a worry when you wear sandals, you no longer have to take long, tricky, and dangerous jumps off of curbs to avoid puddles you could be happily splashing in.

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Bad Example

Sandals are the best kind of footwear to wear when it rains. Your feet get wet when it rains no matter what you do, and your feet dry faster when you wear sandals instead of shoes.

• ALL of the water goes INSIDE the container

• ALL of the supporting details/reason/examples support the topic sentence.

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Bad Example

English and math have more in common than most students think. Both teach skills that students will need for the rest of their lives to be successful in jobs and further education. A lot more students seem to hate math, I know my friends do! Sentences and equations are not that different from each other. Both are made up from discrete parts with specific functions that work together to equal something. In math it’s a number, in English it’s a meaning, but the process is similar. My English teacher makes us know the parts of speech, but she uses fun videos and games. My math teacher just uses the whiteboard. I don’t like writing essays, though. I think I’d rather do math!

Bad Example

English and math have more in common than most students think. Both teach skills that students will need for the rest of their lives to be successful in jobs and further education. A lot more students seem to hate math, I know my friends do! Sentences and equations are not that different from each other. Both are made up from discrete parts with specific functions that work together to equal something. In math it’s a number, in English it’s a meaning, but the process is similar. My English teacher makes us know the parts of speech, but she uses fun power points. My math teacher just uses the whiteboard. I don’t like writing essays, though. I think I’d rather do math!

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Better ExampleEnglish and math have more in common

than most students think. Both teach skills that students will need for the rest of their lives to be successful in jobs and further education. Sentences and equations are not that different from each other. Both are made up from discrete parts with specific functions that work together to equal something. In math it’s a number, in English it’s a meaning, but the process is similar.

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Conclusion Sentence

• The last sentence of a paragraph that brings the paragraph to a smooth close (sum up, opinion, hope for the future, restate the topic sentence, etc.)

• Like the rocks and decorations in your fish tank, it’s there to add the finishing touch.

ExampleSandals are the best kind of footwear to wear when

it rains. First, getting your feet wet when it rains is unavoidable, and sandals dry much faster than thick, stiff, close-toed shoes. Would you rather have your feet wet for ten minutes or an hour? Sandals also eliminate the problem of muddy, soggy socks. Your exposed toes might be colder at first, but they will be dry and toasty ten minutes later. Socks and shoes can take hours to fully dry, leaving your toes squelching and damp all day. Because getting wet is no longer a worry when you wear sandals, you no longer have to take long, tricky, and dangerous jumps off of curbs to avoid puddles you could be happily splashing in. Wearing sandals when it rains frees you to enjoy the rain and puddles without long-lasting damp and soggy consequences.

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English and math have more in common than most students think. Both teach skills that students will need for the rest of their lives to be successful in jobs and further education. Sentences and equations are not that different from each other. Both are made up from discrete parts with specific functions that work together to equal something. In math it’s a number, in English it’s a meaning, but the process is similar. Although they seem very different, English and math have a lot in common.

• Aquariums and fish bowls come in all sorts of crazy shapes and sizes, but nearly all of them have these three basic things:

• A container• Enough water inside the container• Rocks, plants, or other decorations

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• Paragraphs can be long or short, serious or funny, comparing or sequential, etc., but they nearly all have these three basic parts.

• A Topic Sentence (Central Idea)• Multiple details/reasons/examples that

support the topic sentence• A Conclusion Sentence

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