Paragraphs


 * The Hamburger Paragraph Model **




 * A sample paragraph:**


 * My hometown, Wheaton, is famous for several amazing natural features. First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful. On either side of this river, which is 175 feet wide, are many willow trees which have long branches that can move gracefully in the wind. In autumn the leaves of these trees fall and cover the riverbanks like golden snow. Also, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual and striking. Even though it is steep, climbing this hill is not dangerous, because there are some firm rocks along the sides that can be used as stairs. There are no trees around this hill, so it stands clearly against the sky and can be seen from many miles away. The third amazing feature is the Big Old Tree. This tree stands two hundred feet tall and is probably about six hundred years old. Everyone in Wheaton knows the Big Old Tree. These three landmarks are truly amazing and make Wheaton a famous place. ||
 * Supporting** **Sentences: more information**

Good supporting sentences use the PEE model:
 * P = Point** (make a point that backs up your topic sentence)
 * E = Evidence** (give some evidence or an example of your point)
 * E = Explanation** (explain how the evidence backs up your point, or why your point is important)

Look at this slideshow for a longer explanation and more examples.

**The process of writing a good paragraph**


 * 1. Think and make a mindmap **


 * 2. Write an outline **

 a. Topic sentence

 b. First supporting idea  i. Point  ii. Example  iii. Evidence

 c. Second supporting idea  i. Point  ii. Example  iii. Evidence

 d. Closing sentence

3. Draft your paragraph (print out and turn in)

**Analytical Paragraph Practice topics**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Please write a plan (topic sentence + bullet points + closing sentence) for each of the following prompts: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Choose ONE of the above plans and use it to write a complete, beautiful analytical paragraph. Remember: ANALYSIS = not just telling what happened (that is description) but telling WHY an author did something and what EFFECT it has on the reader
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Discuss the theme of "Monkey's Paw"
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Discuss the setting in "The Most Dangerous Game." Consider Connell's use of personification and foreshadowing.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Discuss the characters in "The Most Dangerous Game"


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Paragraph review **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Choose one paragraph from English or History (or a new paragraph from the list above) and color-code it to show: Topic Sentence, Supporting Sentences (with PEE) and Closing Sentence.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**More resources**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> An [|explanation] with some exercises <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another [|sample] paragraph