9 minute read
★ Section 5: Paragraphs
Paragraphs – a group of sentences that together convey a shared purpose structured around the same topic.
Introductory paragraphs
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Hook (Lead / Opening Statement) – can begin with the title ● Anecdotal (Brief story to set the mood and lead the reader into the topic)
Ex. People have a mistaken perception of happiness. Oftentimes, people believe that in order to be happy, they must work hard to achieve great success; for many, success is synonymous with happiness. People fail to consider that in order to be able to work hard and achieve great success, they must first be happy. Although it may not seem like it, the pursuit of happiness is quite simple.
● Query Based (Question that brings the reader to the topic - avoid second person POV “you”)
Ex. What is the reality of happiness? Ex. How to pursue happiness? Ex. What is the secret to happiness?
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)
Ex. The pursuit of happiness begins with one; one must want to be happy in order to fix one’s attitude and detrimental habits that make the pursuit of happiness challenging.
● Fact (empirically verifiable but often difficult to argue extensively about - better used as evidence to support a claim)
Ex. Random acts of kindness improve happiness.
● Opinion (personal position on a topic)
Ex. The toxic productivity culture greatly contributes to people’s unhappiness.
● 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)
Ex. If one does not believe in a higher being, then one is more likely to be unhappy.
Paragraphs – a group of sentences that together convey a shared purpose structured around the same topic.
Introductory paragraphs
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) ● 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)
Ex. Although everyone struggles with happiness at some point in their lives, happiness is simple to achieve.
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) ● Document Based (cites a specific source, author, and position on a topic)
Ex. In The Pursuit of Happiness:
Want Nothing + Do anything =
Have Everything, Neil Pasricha asserts that people are unhappy because of their attitude, habits, and beliefs by drawing comparisons between folks with positive attitudes, good habits, and modern beliefs on life versus folks with bad attitudes, bad habits, and outdated beliefs on life.
● Theory (a statement that can be tested and potentially proven - often answers a research question)
Ex. Fixing one’s attitude and bad habits from a young age may make the pursuit of happiness easier.
Paragraphs – a group of sentences that together convey a shared purpose structured around the same topic.
Introductory paragraphs
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)
Ex. (preview of evidence) Pasricha shares nine secrets to facilitate the pursuit of happiness in order for people to be able to fix their attitude, habits, and beliefs. Each secret is accompanied by multiple anecdotes, diagrams, and research that prove the effectiveness of the particular secret.
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)
Ex. (purpose of thesis) Amongst many outdated beliefs the author examines, the belief that retirement is what people dream of stands out in particular; the author examines the negative effects of retirement in order to encourage people to never stop doing something, but rather do something they love.
Ex. (establishing the importance or significance of the thesis) The relationship between a negative attitude, bad habits, and outdated beliefs may lead readers to fix their attitudes and habits and to diverge from outdated beliefs that are deeply rooted in their minds.
Paragraphs – a group of sentences that together convey a shared purpose structured around the same topic.
Body paragraphs
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)
Ex. Multiple studies indicate that having an ikigai, or reason to wake up in the morning, not only increases longevity, but improves a person’s quality of life, more specifically their happiness.
Presenting Evidence from Quotations (quotes should NEVER be used as individual sentences – quotes should be embedded within sentences)
Ex. Researcher Toshimasa Sone and his colleagues from Tohoku University Graduate school of Medicine agree, “Participants reporting an ikigai at the beginning of the study were more likely to be married, educated, and employed. They had higher levels of self-rated heat and lower levels of stress… 95% of folks with an Ikigai were alive! Only 83% of those without an ikigai made it that long” (Pasricha 102).
Paragraphs – a group of sentences that together convey a shared purpose structured around the same topic.
Body paragraphs
Presenting Evidence from Quotations (quotes should NEVER be used as individual sentences – quotes should be embedded within sentences)
Ex. “Participants reporting an ikigai at the beginning of the study were more likely to be married, educated, and employed. They had higher levels of self-rated heat and lower levels of stress… 95% of folks with an Ikigai were alive! Only 83% of those without an ikigai made it that long,” according to researcher Toshimasa Sone and his colleagues from Tohoku University Graduate school of Medicine (Pasricha 102).
Ex. Fortunately for those seeking to live a long and happy life,“Participants reporting an ikigai at the beginning of the study were more likely to be married, educated, and employed. They had higher levels of self-rated heat and lower levels of stress… 95% of folks with an Ikigai were alive! Only 83% of those without an ikigai made it that long,” according to researcher Toshimasa Sone and his colleagues from Tohoku University Graduate school of Medicine (Pasricha 102).
Ex. Fortunately for those seeking to live a long and happy life,“Participants reporting an ikigai at the beginning of the study were more likely to be married, educated, and employed. They had higher levels of self-rated heat and lower levels of stress. What about at the end of the seven-year study? 95% of folks with an Ikigai were alive [in comparison to] 83% of [folks] without an Ikigai [that] made it that long” (Pasricha 102).
Ex. Fortunately for those seeking to live a long and happy life,“... at the end of the seven-year study[,] 95% of folks with an Ikigai were alive [in comparison to] 83% of [folks] without an Ikigai [that] made it that long” (Pasricha 102).
Paragraphs – a group of sentences that together convey a shared purpose structured around the same topic.
Body paragraphs
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)
Ex. People that have a set motive to live life versus those that do not have a longer life expectancy and a better quality of life.
Summarizing (condensing larger quotes or sections - useful for closing the examination of the quote/evidence and transitioning to your analysis of the quote)
Ex. SUMMARY - An ikigai, or motive to live, has been found to prolong life and improve well being.
Abstract Examples (hypothetical, “what if” examples that do not refer to a source – AVOID USING THEM AS EVIDENCE – but useful for examining the quote)
Ex. People might be happier if they find a reason to live everyday because they are more likely to live life to the fullest and not fret about inconveniences; people with a reason to live are less likely to focus on things that make them unhappy because focusing on such things would take time and energy away from what is truly important in their life.
Concrete Examples (actual examples that do refer to a source – useful for enhancing your analysis of the quote)
Ex. A study by researchers from National Geographic found that people in Okinawa live on average seven years more than Americans as a result of their diet, social environment, and most importantly their outlook on life.
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)
Ex. Clearly, valid authorities on the subject of ikigai agree about its positive impact on the longevity and quality of life of individuals; people are able to fix their attitude and bad habits by having an ikigai, or set life goal, that involves the commitment of time and belief because they are prompted to develop habits that get them closer to exercise their purpose in life and prompts them to have positive attitudes when faced with adversities.
Paragraphs – a group of sentences that together convey a shared purpose structured around the same topic.
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)
Ex. If bad habits, bad attitude, and outdated beliefs would spark joy, there probably would not be anyone that is unhappy.
Statement(s) of Extension (extending the consequences of disregarding the implications of the thesis – could be one or more sentences)
Ex. As such, unhappiness seems closely related to people’s unwillingness to change their attitude, habits, and outdated beliefs.
Reestablishing the Significance of the Thesis (could be one or more sentences)
Ex. Thus, as the prevalence of academic research indicates, ikigai is an addition one can make to one’s life in order to live a long and happy life; ikigai is more than just a reason to wake up every morning and go about one’s day, on the contrary, an ikigai is an impetus to adopt a positive attitude towards life and correct bad habits that are stopping one from enjoying life to the fullest.
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…)
