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)

Ex. Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult- once we truly understand and accept it- then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.

Query Based (Question that brings the reader to the topic - avoid second person POV “you”)

Ex. How can we teach ourselves to make life less difficult?

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)

Discipline is the basic set of tools we require to solve lifeś problems

Fact (empirically verifiable but often difficult to argue extensively about - better used as evidence to support a claim)

It is through the pain of confronting and resolving problems that we learn

Opinion (personal position on a topic)

Most of us are not so wise. Fearing the pain involved, almost all of us, to a greater or lesser degree, attempt to avoid problems.

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)

It is only because of problems that we grow mentally and spiritually.

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)

Many will then attempt to avoid this pain and this problem in turn.

Document Based (cites a specific source, author, and position on a topic)

Benjamin Franklin, ¨Those things that hurt, instruct¨

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

Most of us are mentally ill to a greater or lesser degree, lacking complete mental health

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)

It is for this reason that wise people learn not to dread but actually to welcome problems and actually to welcome the pain of problems. 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)

Delaying gratification is a process of scheduling the pain and pleasure of life in such a way as to enhance the pleasure by meeting and experiencing the pain first and getting it over with. It is the only decent way to live.

Presenting Evidence from Quotations (quotes should NEVER be used as individual sentences – quotes should be embedded within sentences)

In the succinctly elegant words of Carl Jung, ¨Neurosis is always a substitute for legitimate suffering.¨

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)

The neurosis itself becomes the biggest problem ess

Summarizing (condensing larger quotes or sections - useful for closing the examination of the quote/evidence and transitioning to your analysis of the quote)

Teach children the necessity for suffering

Abstract Examples (hypothetical, “what if” examples that do not refer to a source – AVOID USING THEM AS EVIDENCE – but useful for examining the

quote)

And without healing, the human spirit begins to shrivel.

Concrete Examples (actual examples that do refer to a source – useful for enhancing your analysis of the quote)

This discipline has been well described by the theologian Sam Keen in To a Dancing God: (quotes entire paragraph)

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)

Self-discipline is a self-enlarging proc

Consequences of Disregarding the Thesis (establishing the potential consequences of disregarding the implications of the thesis – CREATING A COUNTER ARGUMENT – could be one or more sentences)

There are many people I know who possess a vision of evolution yet seem to lack the will for it.

Statement(s) of Extension (extending the consequences of disregarding the implications of the thesis – could be one or more sentences)

They are unable to acknowledge that they are still children and face the painful fact that they must start at the beginning and go through the middle

Reestablishing the Significance of the Thesis (could be one or more sentences)

Discipline has been defined as a system of techniques of dealing constructively with the pain of problem-solving- instead of avoiding pain- in such a way that all of life's problems can be solved.

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…)

The basic techniques herein described, of practiced unceasingly and genuinely, are alone sufficient to enable the practitioner of discipline, or ¨disciple¨, to evolve to spiritually higher levels.