State, support, explain

1. State, support, explain Paragraph Structure

2. Analytical Writing • Makes a claim and supports that claim with logical commentary/argument • Used to closely examine a text • Uses direct quotes or paraphrase • Provides ample evidence for the claim

3. TAG • When referring to a text, you must include a TAG: • T = Title • Quotation marks for a short story or article • Underline novels • A= Author • Use the author’s full name in TAG • If referenced again, use the author’s last name • G= Genre • Fiction? Non-Fiction? Article? Short Story?

4. State • Topic Sentence (May be more than one sentence) • State your opinion and include a TAG • LEAVE OUT “I” OR “I THINK” • This is where you write a concise response to the prompt. The short story, “Salvador Late or Early,” by Sandra Cisneros uses rich imagery to paint a picture of how poor and unfortunate Salvador’s family and living circumstances are.

5. Support • Include a “juicy” quote • Juicy???? You can squeeze your own interpretation out of it. • Stay away from quotes that state facts, look for something that has layers of meaning • Find all possible quotes before you start writing! • Use a signal phrase • Your words attached to the quote that explain the speaker and the context. Sandra Cisneros describes Salvador as waking his younger brothers and “feed[ing] them milk and cornflakes from a tin cup.”

6. Explain • THE HEART OF YOUR WRITING • Explain your quote: DO NOT RESTATE THE QUOTE!!! • Show your own original thinking and interpretation • Some helpful transitions: • Clearly • Through this quote the reader can assume (or can see) • The author describes • The author implies • Or, just start writing the explanation! The sensory imagery evoked with the cornflakes and the tin cup reminds the reader that the family cannot afford to have even the simplest of household supplies such as bowls for cereal. The fact that Cisneros has them eat out of a tin contributes to the emotional impact because it makes the reader visualize a simple old rusty tin instead of a real bowl. Additionally, cornflakes are one of the least expensive (and least nutritious) breakfast items available which leads the reader to assume that this is the best breakfast that Salvador can provide for his brothers.

7. Concluding Thought • Bring your paragraph to a close. • Tie up any lose ends. • If you choose to restate your topic, you must do so using unique phrasing to avoid repetition. • Try to end with a text to world connection/statement, a broad truth, a universal application or idea. Salvador is likely not the only boy in this society who struggles to care not only for himself, but for his brothers as well. Poverty is huge issue in our society and Cisneros does a wonderful job at pointing it out in a way that melts the heart of the reader.

8. Transition Words • Do not forget transitions when moving from one thought to the next or when including more than one piece of support: • First • Although • However • In addition • Another • Moreover

9. FAQ’S • Do paragraphs need a title? • Yes, they must be unique to the prompt • “Tin Cups and Cornflakes” • How many sentences does it have to be? • Depends on how much support you have • Each piece of support needs at least two sentences of explanation (if you can’t write that much, you have chosen a weak quote) • Typical paragraphs are between 8-10 sentences.

10. SSE Prompt Select one piece of figurative language from “Salvador Late or Early” and analyze its meaning, as well as its importance in expressing the overall message of the story.