1. Paragraph Topic Sentence(s)—one single
sentence isn’t enough—your goal is to create 3-4-5 sentences that set up ONE specific (right-sized) concept. You
can explain/explore/define (but don’t use Dictionary)/discuss the concept. You
must include Keyword/Keyword Phrases.
These keywords are found in the questions you are being asked to answer. If
your essay doesn’t have questions for you to answer, you’ll need to create your
own keywords. You don’t want a quote to start—or end—your paragraph. You want
your voice to come first and last in the paragraph. The focus of Topic
Sentences is to set up the concept; explain what it is; how it works; describe
what you mean when you say_______; explore its different attributes.
2. Illustrations—The most common type of support is quotes, but you can bring in
stats/data/graphs/pictures/photos/paraphrase/evidence/stories. Whatever you
bring in, the goal here is for the support to make your paragraph’s concept be
more persuasive, more clear, more “supported.” Quote length for a 5-page paper
should be rather short, no more than a line or two.
3. Explanation—This is the
part of the paragraph where you bring in your opinion/POV/analysis/response
about 1 and 2 above—the concept and the support--you have already
presented. Your goal is to create 3-4-5
sentences of commentary. Commentary is more about evaluating; judging;
critiquing; assessing the value of ________; deciding how you feel about
__________. Students
sometimes don’t feel comfortable including their opinions, or may feel they
don’t know what to say. Rest assured that we (college) DO want to know what you
think, and that it doesn’t have to be the “world’s greatest insight” every time
you offer a commentary. It is important, however, that all—or most—of your
paragraphs include your opinions. If you aren’t sure what to say, you might
consider using the following questions to help get your ideas flowing.
·
How does this make me feel? What does this remind me of?
·
Why is this important or significant? Who or what is to blame here?
·
What is the problem here? What is the solution here?
·
What can we learn from this? Why does this happen?
·
What can this be compared/contrasted to? Why should anyone care about this?
