Writing Effective Paragraphs

2. Writing Effective Paragraphs

3. What is a Paragraph? • Definition • A group of related sentences that develop one main idea • Three concepts for good paragraphs • Unity: one idea per paragraph • Development: sufficient detail (good writing is 25% ideas & 75% details!) • Coherence: understandable, easy to follow (logical order, effective transitions)

4. Anatomy of a Paragraph • Topic Sentence • Usually first—want to use the norm for the paragraph assignments • Contains TWO PARTS Topic Controlling Idea • Body • The details which make your topic sentence vivid to the reader, that • prove your point

5. Sample & Exercise • Identify the topic sentence and supporting details in the following paragraph from Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: • The summer picnic gave ladies a chance to show off their baking hands. On the barbecue pit, chickens and spareribs sputtered in their own fat and in a sauce whose recipe was guarded in the family like a scandalous affair. However, every true baking artist could reveal her prize to the delight and criticism of the town. Orange sponge cakes and dark brown mounds dripping Hershey’s chocolate stood layer to layer with ice-white coconuts and light brown caramels. Pound cakes sagged with their buttery weight and small children could no more resist licking the icings than their mothers could avoid slapping the sticky fingers.

6. Sample & Exercise • The topic sentence and supporting details: • The summer picnic gave ladies a chance to show off their baking hands. On the barbecue pit, chickens and spareribs sputtered in their own fat and in a sauce whose recipe was guarded in the family like a scandalous affair. However, every true baking artist could reveal her prize to the delight and criticism of the town. Orange sponge cakes and dark brown mounds dripping Hershey’s chocolate stood layer to layer with ice-white coconuts and light brown caramels. Pound cakes sagged with their buttery weight and small children could no more resist licking the icings than their mothers could avoid slapping the sticky fingers.

7. Topic Sentences • Pete’s sloppiness is a terrible habit. • Pete’s sloppiness is an endearing quality. • Allie’s dirty kitchen is a sign of her cooking skills. • Allie’s dirty kitchen makes me want to call the health department. • Identify the TOPIC and CONTROLLING IDEA in each

8. Topic Sentences • The TOPIC and CONTROLLING IDEA: • Pete’s sloppiness is a terrible habit. • Pete’s sloppiness is an endearing quality. • Allie’s dirty kitchen is a sign of her cooking skills. • Allie’s dirty kitchenmakes me want to call the health department.

9. Generating Details for the Body • For an excellent and inexpensive Mexican lunch, you cannot beat La Caretta. • What details do we need? • Consider menu • Consider prices • Consider what “excellent” implies

10. Select and Drop Details • Which of the following details would NOT support the topic sentence (For an excellent and inexpensive Mexican lunch, you cannot beat La Caretta.) • Combination plates cost $5.00 • Service is fast • A margarita is $27.00 • Daily specials • Friendly waiters • Located in a shopping mall • Free chips and salsa • Established 1965

11. Arrange in a Plan or Outline • For an excellent and inexpensive Mexican lunch, you cannot beat La Caretta. • Combination plates cost $5.00 • Service is fast • Daily specials • Friendly waiters • Free chips and salsa

12. The Paragraph • For an excellent and inexpensive Mexican lunch, you cannot beat La Caretta. This great restaurant has become a regular stop in my week. The delicious combination plates only cost $5.00. Add fast service and daily specials with even more discounts, and you can see why it’s my favorite place for lunch. The waiters are among the friendliest I’ve ever encountered, and if you run low on the free chips and salsa, they’ll bring you more in a hurry.

13. What is Voice? • Voice should be a steady note, unifying your piece of writing • Voice sounds like: • A distinct personality • A distinguishing tone • A discernible atmosphere

14. Identify the details that provide the piece with voice • After six days the Burger Derby manager Jerry Speller, this little twerp who believed that the responsibility of running a burger joint put you a heartbeat away from Emperor of the Universe, said I didn’t have the right attitude and I told him he was exactly right. I said I had to confess I didn’t have the proper reverence for the Burger Derby institution, and to prove it I threw my hate into the Mighty Miser and turned it on. Sandi was so impressed she burned the French fries twice in a row. • The Bean Trees, Barbara Kingsolver

15. Add details to give this piece a unique voice • Suzy was at the diner for a few hours before she felt tired. She left but didn’t say goodbye to anyone. It was cold outside and she didn’t expect it and wasn’t wearing the right clothes. The walk seemed really long. When she finally got to her apartment it took a while to find the right key, and when she did, the lock was hard to turn. The apartment was still dark, she could tell no one had come home. Exhausted, she went straight to bed.

16. Your Task • Today you should: • Decide your stance – should Mrs. Maloney be found guilty or not guilty? • Comb through the story for the best details to support your argument • Craft an outline that includes topic sentences and your ideas for support • Have Mrs. Cukiernik check your outline before you move on!