Paragraph Writing

1. Paragraph Writing 1-0-1

2. Step 1: Topic Sentence • The topic sentence MUST be one sentence in length and present the central argument of the paragraph. It must be professional and incorporate the language from the question being asked. When in an essay, it must show a direct transition from the previous statement to itself.

3. Sample Topic Sentences: One of these sentences is not like the other: One of these sentences works. • Not only do Americans continue to strive for the past, like Gatsby, in “boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past,” but people throughout time have sought. • No because his characteristics of lying and cheating blemished his greatness. • If offered the chance to recommend The Great Gatsby to a friend, I would certainly recommend the text because of its excellent illustration of how obsessing over the past can only lead to pain and suffering.

4. Step 2: Proof • The proof must be specific, to the point, and not extremely long. • You should only quote what you can’t say any better. • Mixing paraphrasing with quotations is a great technique. A sentence where 50-60% is you and the rest is the quote makes a strong statement and keeps you from quoting too much. • The proof should be feasible from the beginning.

5. Proof Samples: Which one(s) works? • “After Gatsby’s death the East was haunted for me like that . . .” • Not only do Americans continue to strive for the past, like Gatsby, in “boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past,” but people throughout time have sought. • Throughout the text, Gatsby is constantly longing for the one thing he cannot possibly possess, the past. His unwillingness to look beyond the past is best illustrated when he responds to Nick Caraway’s claim that you can’t repeat the past with “‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’”

6. Step 3: Explanation • As simple as it is, this step is the one that seems to be the most difficult to master. • You must completely explain how the quotation proves the point you are making in your topic sentence. • No assumptions; no thinking you’ve already done it. You have notexplained it completely until you’ve completelyexplained it.

7. Explanation Samples: Which one(s) work • Even Nick was terribly affected by Gatsby’s death, and he barely knew him. With all the years Gatsby has loved Daisy, and then suddenly losing her, he will go into depression. • It’s why you see civilizations attempt to recreate and conserve the norm, to revert the change they don’t like. They strive to live in the past and end up missing the future. • With this simple response to Nick’s proclamation that the past cannot be recaptured, Gatsby demonstrates his one fatal flaw, an inability to live beyond the past. This flaw is one that eventually consumes Gatsby and destroys him. Through Gatsby’s tragic death, audiences are able to gain an understanding of how important it is to move beyond the past, to live life to the fullest. For this simple reason, I feel this book should be recommended to other people.

8. If offered the chance to recommend The Great Gatsby to a friend, I would recommend the text because of its illustration of how obsessing over the past can only lead to pain and suffering. Throughout the text, Gatsby is constantly longing for the one thing he cannot possibly possess, the past. His unwillingness to look beyond the past is best illustrated when he responds to Nick Caraway’s claim that you can’t repeat the past with “‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’” With this simple response to Nick’s proclamation that the past cannot be recaptured, Gatsby demonstrates his one fatal flaw, an inability to live beyond the past. This flaw is one that eventually consumes Gatsby and destroys him. Through Gatsby’s tragic death, audiences are able to gain an understanding of how important it is to move beyond the past and to live life to the fullest lest they become consumed, too. For this simple yet important lesson, I feel this book should be recommended to other people.

9. Your Practice Rules • You will write and submit one paragraph on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. • Each paragraph must analyze one the logos employed in Plato’s Symposium and how that logos helps to convey Plato’s perspective on love. • The paragraph must have all of the required parts – A – P – E completely represented or the work will be returned. I will not accept less that a complete attempt because if each part is worth 33 points, only having two parts complete will not allow you to earn an 80 or higher. Moreover, this assignment is not busy work; I am going to help destroy your one weakness; therefore, I expect the assignment completed each night. Failure to comply will result in a returned assignment with no comments.

10. Your Practice Rules • We will have another multiple choice test at the end of the six weeks, but until that time, your tests will be largely essay based. On Friday of this week, you will write a complete, timed essay. • You will be required to write a paragraph over the reading every night until the end of the six weeks, and I will have pop quiz essay assignments in class. • Again, I’m not trying to be cruel. My desire is to finally help you master writing, so you never, ever have a structural issue that keeps you from success. • Finally, you will not pass this six weeks without mastering the writing craft. I’m sorry, but it’s time you lose your one weakness and emerge strong scholars.

11. The Plan • Today, you will read the first ten pages of Symposium (through the line “for Agathon and Socrates are the only ones left.”). • You will write one paragraph analyzing the use of logos in the selection you read. Keep it focused to one topic sentence, one proof, and one explanation. • Tomorrow’s Assignment will take you through page 18 (through the line “or anything else which you please.”). You will write again, one paragraph analyzing the logos of the selection. • Finally, Thursdays assignment will have you finish the text and repeat the exercise one final time. • On Friday, I will call upon you to complete a timed writing over Symposium. This time, you will write a rhetorical analysis of the piece that focuses on either pathos or ethos (I’ll reveal the selection on Friday).