Paragraphs

Paragraphs – a group of sentences that together convey a shared purpose structured around the same topic.

Introductory Paragraphs (Introductions)

Hook (Lead / Opening Statement) – can begin with the title Anecdotal (Brief story to set the mood and lead the reader into the topic) People can express themselves in a variety of different ways. Art, being one of them, gives people a diverse spectrum of possibilities they can create. Anybody can create art with the correct given materials. Art isn’t just painting on a canvas, which is what a lot of people assume. You can basically create anything your heart desires as your own form of art. Query Based (Question that brings the reader to the topic - avoid second person POV “you”) Does art influence children positively or negatively? Thesis Statements (the purpose of a piece of writing – usually one sentence in length, but can be longer depending on the purpose – must be something that is arguable) Assertion (claim - a subject + a “so what” about the subject) Art has been proven to enhance children’s learning ability, so more kids should be exposed to art. Fact (empirically verifiable but often difficult to argue extensively about - better used as evidence to support a claim) Art supplies can sometimes be expensive. Opinion (personal position on a topic) Art is a great stress and anxiety reliever. Belief (social, religious, or political in nature – an opinion held by many to be a fact, though it is not necessarily factual – often involves a judgement) Art should not be censored just because it upsets a certain group of people. Generalization (uses absolute or statistical pronouns: all, always, every, never, none, most, half – avoid using this type of thesis statement unless citing the source of the data) Art should never be used to harm anyone. Document Based (cites a specific source, author, and position on a topic) In Art news, Kenna discusses how she likes to display her favorite art pieces, in order to represent her relationship with art.

Theory (a statement that can be tested and potentially proven - often answers a research question)

Art can be used to relieve the symptoms of stress and anxiety among all age

groups.

Clarification/Expansion of Thesis (could extend the thesis, preview the evidence supporting the thesis, give the purpose of thesis, establish the importance or significance of examining the intricacies of the thesis – this could be several sentences long) Theories about the connection between art and mental health leads to art therapy used to treat mental illnesses.

Body Paragraphs (must have echoes of the thesis in each AND present evidence to support or expand on the thesis)

Topic Sentences (must specifically indicate the topic of the paragraph and focus on one subject and/or area of evidence or support – could start with a “Transition of Logic” that connects to the previous paragraph to give context) There are multiple sources that show the relationship between art and your mental health. (Now every sentence in this paragraph must be related to the connection between fast food and health) Presenting Evidence from Quotations (quotes should NEVER be used as individual sentences – quotes should be embedded within sentences)

Ralph Waldo Emerson says,“In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine.” Examining the Evidence Paraphrasing (rewording of a quote into other words of the same length without quotation marks, but still citing the source - useful for examining the quote and transitioning to your analysis of the quote) You can create whatever your heart desires with art (Ralph Waldo Wmerson). Summarizing (condensing larger quotes or sections - useful for closing the examination of the quote/evidence and transitioning to your analysis of the quote)

You can create anything with art.

Abstract Examples (hypothetical, “what if” examples that do not refer to a source –

AVOID

USING THEM AS EVIDENCE – but useful for examining the quote) Painting can help calm a person when they are stressed. Concrete Examples (actual examples that do refer to a source – useful for enhancing your analysis of the quote) Studies show that using your hands to create something creates new neural pathways in your brain that improve your overall mental health. Closing Sentences (must end the discussion of the topic within the paragraph with a transitional or culminating word – possibly an adverb – and should echo the thesis of the essay)

Clearly, art can influence positive factors of people and overall improve your mental health.

Closing Paragraphs (Conclusions – should not be mere summaries of the previous paragraphs of your essay)

Consequences of Disregarding the Thesis (establishing the potential consequences of disregarding the implications of the thesis – CREATING A COUNTERARGUMENT – could be one or more sentences) If art is used more often during therapy, a lot of people would have an easier time communicating their feelings. Statement(s) of Extension (extending the consequences of disregarding the implications of the thesis – could be one or more sentences) Kids usually have a harder time dealing with mental illness because they struggle with communicating their feelings, and art can be a solution to this problem. Reestablishing the Significance of the Thesis (could be one or more sentences) Therefore, art can not only be used by talented artists, but by anyone from age groups starting from little kids all the way to elders. Final Sentence (closing statement that connects to the hook and finishes the essay (finish your argument) – the “Smoky the Bear”/”Drop the mic”/dot dot dot moment…) So if painting can be used as a stress reliever, maybe other forms of art can also help people improve their mental illnesses.