Unity & DevelopmentUnity & Development

OrOr

How to Write a Decent How to Write a Decent ParagraphParagraph

Virtue #1: UnityVirtue #1: Unity

Virtue #1: UnityVirtue #1: UnityEverything supports one Everything supports one opinionopinion..

Everything supports one Everything supports one opinionopinion..

►Everything in the essay supports theEverything in the essay supports the signal termsignal term (opinion)(opinion) in its thesis statementin its thesis statement..

►Everything in each paragraph supports theEverything in each paragraph supports the signal signal term (opinion)term (opinion) in its topic sentencein its topic sentence..

► IOW—STAY ON TOPIC all the time!IOW—STAY ON TOPIC all the time!

Virtue #2: DevelopmentVirtue #2: Development

Virtue #2: DevelopmentVirtue #2: DevelopmentTheThe opinion in the thesis is supported by clear opinion in the thesis is supported by clear

explanationexplanation and and evidenceevidence..

Actual evidence is the Actual evidence is the onlyonly way to way to persuade.persuade.

Actual evidence is the Actual evidence is the onlyonly way to way to persuade.persuade.

•Base this paper on actual

evidence from the work…

Unity/DevelopmentUnity/DevelopmentUse only facts that support the Use only facts that support the

thesis!thesis!Thesis: I deserve my own room. Thesis: I deserve my own room. Which facts support that thesis?Which facts support that thesis?

►Last night Kenny was playing with his trucks so Last night Kenny was playing with his trucks so loudly that I could hardly do my homework.loudly that I could hardly do my homework.►Both Kenny and I like to watch the same TV Both Kenny and I like to watch the same TV programs.programs.►This morning I couldn’t find my Batman shirt This morning I couldn’t find my Batman shirt because Kenny had worn it and lost it on Tuesday.because Kenny had worn it and lost it on Tuesday.

Evidence = Evidence = facts & detailsfacts & details

► Odysseus and his men took the boat and ran away Odysseus and his men took the boat and ran away while the Cyclops screamed and threw stuff at them.while the Cyclops screamed and threw stuff at them.

► No—this is too general (and it’s blah!).No—this is too general (and it’s blah!).► Odysseus and his men escaped under the bellies of Odysseus and his men escaped under the bellies of

Cyclops’ sheep. Driving the sheep aboard the ship, Cyclops’ sheep. Driving the sheep aboard the ship, the men set sail. However, upon discovery, Cyclops the men set sail. However, upon discovery, Cyclops retaliated, “breaking a hilltop in his hands and retaliated, “breaking a hilltop in his hands and heaving it after” them (ll. 420-1).heaving it after” them (ll. 420-1).

► Yes—it’s a fact and detailed—and it’s from the text Yes—it’s a fact and detailed—and it’s from the text (cited) (and much more interesting for your teacher to (cited) (and much more interesting for your teacher to read!read!).).

Let’s look a developmental paragraph.Let’s look a developmental paragraph.

Developmental ParagraphDevelopmental Paragraph

►TTopic sentenceopic sentence

►EExplanationxplanation

►EEvidencevidence

Developmental ParagraphDevelopmental Paragraph

►TTopic sentenceopic sentence

►EExplanationxplanation

►EEvidencevidence

My dog is great at learning tricks.

He can teach himself new ones quickly.

For instance, one day when I came home from school he ran to my room, grabbed a tennis ball from my closet, and chargedback. Then he sat up on his hind legsfor the first time, whining to go play. Laughing, I took him outside, and his success made that trick an instant habit which he repeated every day from then on. I could tell many stories like that.

Example Developmental Paragraph Example Developmental Paragraph for a Paper on the Odysseyfor a Paper on the Odyssey

►TTopic sentenceopic sentence

►EExplanationxplanation

►EEvidencevidence

Although courageous, Odysseus wasalso aware of his weakness before temptation.Not only was he aware of this flaw, buthe also took preventative measures toovercome a tempter’s snare.

For example, Odysseus, warned by Circeof the sirens, was also instructed to “alonelisten to their song” (l.531). Thoughdesirous to follow her instructions, healso knew his weakness. Thus, herequested that the men tie him to the mast.Though the “lovely voices in ardor” appealed to him, his wisdom saved him from succumbing to the lure (l.582).

Bad writers may include opinions Bad writers may include opinions and explanations in their paragraphs, and explanations in their paragraphs,

but they nearly always neglect but they nearly always neglect evidence.evidence.

Quiz Definitions:Quiz Definitions:

Virtue #1: UnityVirtue #1: Unity

Everything in the essay supports the Everything in the essay supports the signal termsignal term in its thesis statement, and everything in each in its thesis statement, and everything in each paragraph supports the paragraph supports the signal termsignal term in its topic in its topic

sentence.sentence.

Virtue #2: DevelopmentVirtue #2: Development

Every Every topic sentencetopic sentence rests on clear rests on clear explanationexplanation supported by supported by evidenceevidence..

Now it’s time to plan your Now it’s time to plan your essay.essay.

Remember these ridiculous commands?Remember these ridiculous commands?

Ready, fire, aim!Ready, fire, aim!

They are as ridiculous as not PLANNING your They are as ridiculous as not PLANNING your essay before writing.essay before writing.

Not planning is like Not planning is like swinging the bat . . .swinging the bat . . .

and looking at the ball and looking at the ball afterwards.afterwards.

So if you So if you planplan each essay each essay in college classes, you will in college classes, you will

beat the majority of beat the majority of students who don’t.students who don’t.

HomeworkHomework

1.1. Using your previous assignment Using your previous assignment (thesis statement and funnel (thesis statement and funnel introduction), write an introduction), write an outlineoutline for for your essay.your essay.

2.2. Based on the outline, write a Based on the outline, write a first first draftdraft of your essay. of your essay.