Paragraph Breakdown

1. Giddyup! Paragraph Breakdown

2. Writing Opportunities • Stalin Propaganda • Africa Essay • Maya, Inca, Aztec • Leopold • Global Conflict Essay

3. Paragraph: The Component Parts • Thesis (claim) • Evidence • Analysis • Conclusion • Works Cited

4. Paragraph: The Component Parts • What should a paragraph look like in an essay? • Body thesis statement (not every paragraph needs one) or introductory sentence • Context • Evidence • Analysis • Transitional or concluding sentence • You should also include sentences that connect directly to your so what in your thesis. • Remember your so what is your big idea that you are attempting to prove in your essay • This is true for both LA and SS essays

5. Thesis Reminders • Clear/Specific – proper nouns, clear phrasing. Often forgotten! 2. Argument/Claim – the idea that you are trying to prove in your writing. The claim is your answer to the question. You are all good at this part! 3. “So what” – why what you are writing is important, why it matters to the text, history, impact on a character, etc. This is the hardest part for 9th grade writers.

6. Thesis Reminders • Thesis don’ts: • Use the word “I.” EVER! • Answer the question with the question’s words. • “The best place to live …” • So, no “best!”

7. Thesis Reminders • Thesis dos • Create an original statement that answers the question specifically. • Minimize the amount of words. Make each one count. • Narrow down the scope so that is as specific as possible. • Claim the most significant, coolest thing you can based on your evidence. (What can you prove?)

8. The Overall Strategy • Collect evidence. (What, knowledge-level) • Consider evidence to determine importance. (Why, comprehension-level) • Apply your own knowledge to further consider evidence. (Application-level) • Analyze evidence to make sure it’s amazing. (Analysis-level) • Create a new idea, your claim-thesis, based on your analysis. (Synthesis-level)

9. Paragraph: The Component Parts • Body thesis statement (not every paragraph needs one) or topic sentence • Context • Evidence • Analysis • Transitional or concluding sentence • You should also include sentences that connect directly to your so what in your thesis.

10. Paragraph Examples Recognizing a well written paragraph • We are going to read a couple of short paragraphs and look for these elements • Read the thesis & two paragraphs • Write out the answers the questions the on the back • Some of this may be tough to answer, but do your best based on what you know • Discuss at your table groups

11. Paragraph Examples • Thesis – • How – it caused many deaths within the empires and it impacted farming • What – The tsetse fly had the biggest impact on the development of the Mali civilization, as well as Ghana civilization • So what - ultimately causing food shortages and a very weak economy.    • What would you change? • It could be more specific, concise, and a non list

12. Paragraph Examples 2. What is a body thesis statement? • A sub argument that aids in proving one part of the overall argument in your main thesis • Thesis – The tsetse fly had the biggest impact on the development of the Mali civilization, as well as Ghana civilization because it caused many deaths within the empires and it impacted farming, ultimately causing food shortages and a very weak economy.    • BTS 1 – The Mali and Ghana civilizations suffered many deaths, decreasing populations of both humans and cattle, due to being bitten by the tsetse fly. • BTS 2 – The tsetse fly caused cattle populations to greatly decrease, in turn forcing farmers in the Mali and Ghana civilizations to shift from their traditional ways of farming, to new methods that did not require cattle.

13. Paragraph Examples • How to write a great sub argument of you main argument – • Create a mini thesis that is proving a smaller point that aids in proving your overall argument. • Thesis- The Tsetse fly had the greatest impact on the development of the Mali because of the negative impacts it had on Mali society, ultimately destroying the Mali’s ability to grow as a civilization. • BTS 1 – The deaths caused by the Tsetse fly led to a decreased population of Mali, which slowed the Mali’s ability to grow as a civilization by creating a shortage of strong workers.

14. Paragraph Examples 3. What evidence did the author use? • Paragraph 1 – • One ruler of the Mali Empire, named Sundiata II, was bitten by the tsetse fly in 1374, and was later killed due to being affected by the sleeping sickness (Hunt). • Paragraph 2 – • "Cattle from North Africa could not survive below the Sahel because of the tsetse fly." (Willie 67) • Which piece of evidence is better for proving an argument?

15. Paragraph Examples 4. Analysis of evidence • What should analysis do? • Explain your evidence - if needed • Explain why your evidence is proving your argument • Explain how your evidence connects to your argument • You analysis should not… • Restate your evidence • Argue something that isn’t in your thesis/bts • Be someone else's argument (without properly citing it) • How does the essay do these things?

16. Paragraph Examples 5. Paragraph connections – • How well does the analysis of evidence connect it back to the thesis statement? • Easiest way to do this is connect to the so what & to the BTS…

17. Paragraph Examples 6. Transitions/concluding sentences • How well does it transition from paragraph 1 to 2? • It doesn’t because it was modified

18. The Strategy, Analysis Avoid these! • This shows that … • This quote shows … • This evidence proves that … • I think that … • We see that …

19. Words to hesitate and thoughtfully consider before using in formal writing … Words that lead to generalization Words that lead to speculation would could should might  May probably *Use of speculative words is sometimes appropriate in history but never in language arts • many • people • society • similarities • differences • diverse • various • several • Everything

20. Stalinist Propaganda Homework – for Wednesday, October 18th • Based on today’s instruction & what you have learned in the past • Follow ALL the steps on the assignment handout • Final Paragraph due to turnitin.com.