Writing Activity #1

1. Writing Activity #1 Topic Sentences Commentary Concrete Details Concluding Sentences Definitions obtained from Teaching the Multi-Paragraph Essay: A Sequential Nine-Week Unit by Jane C. Schaffer

2. What is a Topic Sentence? • The first sentence in a body paragraph • Must contain a subject and opinion (commentary) for the entire paragraph

3. Topic Sentence Example • Russell Middle School uses stamp cards to reward students who demonstrate Dog Pack PRIDE. Subject: Russell Middle School Opinion: demonstrates Dog Pack PRIDE

4. What are Concrete Details? • Specific details that form the backbone or core of your body paragraphs • Synonyms of concrete details are: facts, specifics, examples, descriptions, illustrations, support, proof, evidence, quotations, paraphrasing, or plot references

5. Example of a Concrete Detail • Students are given stamps in each class when they have demonstrated preparation, respect, integrity, dependability, and excellence. • This example can be considered a fact. It gives support to the opinion in the topic sentence.

6. What is Commentary? • Your opinion or comment about something • Some synonyms associated with commentary are: opinion, insight, analysis, interpretation, inference, personal response, feelings, evaluation, explication, and reflection

7. Example of Commentary • These stamps help to motivate students to always try their best, because they are being rewarded when they do. • By looking at their stamp cards, students can see if they are behaving in a successful way. • These examples can be considered an opinion or insight. The statements offer the writer’s viewpoint on the benefits of the stamp cards.

8. When do I use Concrete Details and Commentary Together? • As a general rule, remember that your writing will be strongest when you use concrete details to provide a backbone or support for your writing and commentary to provide the cushioning or insight • The commentary should be used to further explain the concrete details in some way

9. Concrete Details/Commentary • Your spine has vertebrae (concrete details) to structurally support your body, but the disks/cushioning (commentary) make you feel more at ease. Both are necessary for a good back and good writing! Commentary Concrete Details Picture obtained from: http://static.spineuniverse.com/displaygraphic.php/137/dp_latcutaway-BB.jpg

10. Concluding Sentence • The last sentence in a body paragraph • It is all commentary (don’t introduce new information or details) • Does not repeat key words • Gives a finished feeling to the paragraph

11. Example of a Concluding Sentence • The stamp cards represent a way for students to show they are trying their best. • The example is all commentary and gives a finished feeling to the paragraph • Instead of repeating the key words “Dog Pack PRIDE” from the topic sentence, we instead substitute the phrase “trying their best.”

12. The Complete ParagraphCan you identify the different types of sentences used? Russell Middle School uses stamp cards to reward students who demonstrate Dog Pack PRIDE.Students are given stamps in each class when they have demonstrated preparation, respect, integrity, dependability, and excellence.These stamps help to motivate students to always try their best, because they are being rewarded when they do.By looking at their stamp cards, students can see if they are behaving in a successful way.The stamp cards represent a way for students to show they are trying their best.

13. Practice: Create a Tree Map to classify the following sentences (on the next slide) as topic sentences, concrete details, commentary, or concluding sentences. Use as many lines as necessary. Sentences for Great Writing Concrete Details Concluding Sentences Commentary Topic Sentences

14. Being a student at RMS is a wonderful experience. For instance, many of the teachers have posted a sign that welcomes students as part of their graduating class. This makes students feel as if they will be successful graduates one day. Students can see that their teachers care, and that makes them feel good. In conclusion, RMS is a great place for students to attend school. Football is a complicated sport. For example, football has an offense and a defense. This can be confusing, because not all positions are necessary for both offense and defense. Someone watching or playing the sport will have to know the differences between offense and defense. This is why football can be difficult to understand.

15. Answer Key Being a student at RMS is a wonderful experience.For instance, many of the teachers have posted a sign that welcomes students as part of their graduating class.This makes students feel as if they will be successful graduates one day. Students can see that their teachers care, and that makes them feel good.In conclusion, RMS is a great place for students to attend school. Football is a complicated sport. For example, football has an offense and a defense.This can be confusing, because not all positions are necessary for both offense and defense.Someone watching or playing the sport will have to know the differences between offense and defense.This is why football can be difficult to understand.