Writing Body Paragraph #1

1. Writing Body Paragraph #1 Using the Chunking Method

2. Chunking • Topic Sentence • Concrete Detail • Commentary • Commentary • Concrete Detail • Commentary • Commentary • Closing Sentence

3. Topic Sentence • Must Reflect First Point in Thesis! • One Sentence Long • Must support the task (answer prompt) • Use a transition to indicate a meaningful arrangement (ex: why did you choose this point to go first?)

4. Organization • Logical/Meaningful Arrangement of ideas (points from thesis) • Chronological order, sequential order, compare/contrast, time, consequence and result, emphasis, etc. • Look at thesis statement and decide (you may have to revise the order)

5. Example Even though General Zaroff invites his opponent as a guest to play the game, he uses an unfair advantage throughout the entire three days the game is played.

6. Concrete Detail • Fact from the text • Detail that supports the topic sentence (proves your point with clear facts from the text) • Quote or summary in your own words • Must cite the page number • “Fact” (12).

7. Use Transitions • For example, • In particular, • For instance, • Specifically, • It is evident in the text that …when…

8. Example Concrete Detail • It is evident in the text that General Zaroff plays the game with an unfair advantage when preparing for a game because he supplies Rainsford, his opponent, with hunting clothes, food, a knife, and moccasins, but General Zaroff uses a pistol to play the game (12).

9. Commentary • Your own ideas about the fact you gave • Your response to the detail • Your reaction • Your explanation of the detail • Do not introduce new facts in the commentary

10. Commentary • Use transitions! • This shows that… • This is significant because… • This means that… • Clearly, • It is obvious, • NEVER write “I THINK…” OR “I BELIEVE”

11. Commentary One Example • Clearly, by giving Rainsford a knife as his only weapon to defend himself against the jungle terrain and General Zaroff’s weapon, Rainsford stands no chance in defeating General Zaroff at his own game.

12. Commentary Two • Furthermore, the pistol that General Zaroff uses gives him unfair advantage because the range of a gun has a greater distance than the range of a knife; if Rainsford would have any chance, he would have to be extremely close to General Zaroff, and even then, a pistol would definitely be more resourceful in killing than a knife.

13. Repeat • Find another concrete detail that supports the topic sentence • I would probably provide a quote about General Zaroff knowing about the terrain of the island especially in the dark whereas Rainsford knows nothing about the plants, animals, landscape, and dangers of the island which give General Zaroff an unfair advantage

14. Repeat • Give two more responses (pieces of commentary) to the new fact • Remember commentary cannot introduce NEW facts!

15. Closing Sentence • Never end with “and that is why…” • REALLY DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSION BASED OFF OF ALL OF YOUR EVIDENCE! • Use a transition! (Try to avoid in conclusion,) • MUST BE DIFFERENT FROM TOPIC SENTENCE!!

16. Closing Sentence Example • Since General Zaroff invented the game and set up the rules himself, he obviously gives himself the advantage of winning the game by providing himself with more powerful weapons and knowing the island inside and out, yet Rainsford is given poor weaponry and does not know the terrain of the island at all.

17. All Together Now! Even though General Zaroff invites his opponent as a guest to play the game, he uses an unfair advantage throughout the entire three days the game is played. It is evident in the text that General Zaroff plays the game with an unfair advantage when preparing for a game because he supplies Rainsford, his opponent, with hunting clothes, food, a knife, and moccasins, but General Zaroff uses a pistol to play the game (12).Clearly, by giving Rainsford a knife as his only weapon to defend himself against the jungle terrain and General Zaroff’s weapon, Rainsford stands no chance in defeating General Zaroff at his own game. Furthermore, the pistol that General Zaroff uses gives him unfair advantage because the range of a gun has a greater distance than the range of a knife; if Rainsford would have any chance, he would have to be extremely close to General Zaroff, and even then, a pistol would definitely be more resourceful in killing than a knife. Another example of General Zaroff having an unfair advantage is when he ecplains to Rainsford, “I suggest too that you avoid a big swamp in the southeast corner of the island. We call it Death Swamp. There’s quicksand there” (22). This shows that General Zaroffis familiar with the landscape of the island since he has lived there and hunted on the island for many years, but Rainsford does not the dangerous obstacles that the island will give him. Also, Rainsford does not know whether or not General Zaroff is withholding any other dangers located on the island, so this give General Zaroff an unfair advantage throughout the entire game which sets Rainsford up for failure. Since General Zaroff invented the game and set up the rules himself, he obviously gives himself the advantage of winning the game by providing himself with more powerful weapons and knowing the island inside and out, yet Rainsford is given poor weaponry and does not know the terrain of the island at all.