SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2014You will be able to:Understand the significant and necessary elements of a paragraph

Homework:Complete viewing of PowerPoint and note taking tonight

WRITING STRONG PARAGRAPHS

The Significant Parts of an Essay

MLA Formatting

Top Left: Writer’s full name Teacher’s name Class DUE Date

Ima Stoodent

Ms. Philipp

English I Honors

4 November 2009

Top Right: Writer’s last name Page number

Stoodent 1

Ima Stoodent

Ms. Philipp

English I Honors

4 November 2009

HINT! Go to “insert page number” click “top of page” click “plain number 3” then type in your name in front of the number.

Title: Centered Creatively address topic

and subject of essay Do not:

bold, underline, italicize, or change size

Stoodent 1

Ima Stoodent

Ms. Philipp

English I Honors

4 November 2009

Title Goes Here

Type Double-space 12 point font Legible, standard

font Times New Roman

1 inch margins Indent paragraphs

Ima Stoodent Stoodent 1

Ms. Smith

English I Honors

4 November 2009

Title Goes Here

Here is my general statement

about my topic. From here, I say

some more stuff, then I funnel to

the thesis statement.

A topic sentence goes here. I

support my arguments in this

paragraph and I include analysis.

Parts of a paragraph…

Topic sentence Background information Lead in, quote, citation Analysis (connection/explanation of

importance) Transition (transitional phrase) Concluding sentence

Topic sentence

Must contain the main idea/ focus of your paragraph

Should let the reader be aware of what you plan to explain/prove

1 sentence

Example Thesis Statement:

In “The Most Dangerous Game” the mood of suspense is shown through the tropical night, Zaroff’s chateau, and the fight in the bedroom.

Topic Sentence for Body Paragraph:

The suspenseful mood is illustrated through the image of the dark, tropical night.

Example: Topic Sentence

Remember! Will always establish

topic of paragraph; provides reader with focus

Background Information

Needed information from work to “set up the scene” and move smoothly into supporting quote

This is not a space for unnecessary character traits or plot summary

1-2 sentences & be specific

Developing Examples

Drawn from conclusions gained from text or story

Come from the ideas generated from the reader

Should not be repeated but distinctive

Lead-in, quote, citation& explanation

Top bun = lead-in meat/fixings = quote bottom bun = citation/explanation

Lead-in should transition smoothly (it should seem as if the quote was made for your paragraph).

Avoid phrases like “Steinbeck writes” and “the author says” in your lead-ins.

Necessary to provide smooth transition Includes context If the quote is

spoken in the text, the speaker must be identified.

Examples: When Zaroff does

this he says, “…quote goes here...”

When Rainsford jumps from the ship, he is described as “…quote goes here...”

Lead-ins

Quote

A quotation does not have to be dialogue; oftentimes it will be a description of an image or a character – these allow for more analysis.

Make sure your quote is not repetitive of information you have already provided or will provide – it should emphasize the main idea and not repeat information

Example:While Rainsford is on the boat, he attempts to “peer through the dank tropical night that was palpable as it pressed its thick warm blackness upon the yacht”

Citation(s)

Not this: (32 Crutcher)

This: (Crutcher 32).

(Connell 5).

Analysis/Explanation

Offers an explanation of HOW the quote supports topic sentence

3-4 sentences

EXAMPLE:

While Rainsford is on the boat, he attempts “to peer through the dank tropical night that was palpable as it pressed its thick warm blackness upon the yacht” (Connell 5). The author’s use of the words “dank,” “palpable,” and “pressed” help to emphasize the suffocation the character feels. The word dank gives one a feeling of a heavy wetness, which would then weigh on the character. Something that is palpable can be touched, and therefore, if the air is pressing on the characters, they would feel suffocated.

On one side of Zaroff’s chateau, the sea is described as “lick[ing] greedy lips in the shadows” (Connell 7). The personification of the sea helps to add suspense because it emphasizes that Rainsford’s only option is the chateau; both the jungle and the sea threaten death.

Analysis continued…

Transition

Leading into the closing Remind audience of what you set out to prove

Concluding sentence

The conclusion sentence includes loose rewording of the topic sentence without, review and insight, final comment on topic.

You want to end with that proving point

Remember- relates to topic

sentence provides insight to the

topic discussed within a single paragraph

Example Thesis Statement: In “The Most Dangerous Game” the mood of suspense is shown through the tropical night, Zaroff’s chateau, and the fight in the bedroom.

Topic Sentence for Body Paragraph 1: The suspenseful mood is illustrated through the image of the dark, tropical night.

Closing Sentence for Body Paragraph 1: The feeling of suffocation as well as the inability to see through the night air helps to build the suspense of the story.

Concluding Sentence

Avoid: “In conclusion…” and “As you can see…”

Grammar & Style: Basic Checklist

Present tense Third person Spell check Avoid

excessive pronoun usage

Use the apostrophe to mark possession

The author wants readers to reconsider how jealousy rules their lives.

The author wants readers to reconsider how jealousy rules their lives.

Mme. Loisel borrowed Mme. Forestier’s necklace because she wanted to look good for her husband. She is a shallow person.

The teecher wantz stoodentz to be smart and use spehl check.

Do:

Pay attention to sentence structure Vary sentence lengths Pay attention to comma placement and

other punctuation Write complete sentences

Avoid: then now that it / thing very get or got positive / negative; good / bad starts to (as a phrase) As you can see, Overall, In Conclusion Utilize – implement “use” instead