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Paragraphs
Paragraphs – a group of sentences that together convey a shared purpose structured around the same topic.
Introductory Paragraphs (Introductions)
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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. A young child born to Mexican immigrants navigates the American education system. Richard Rodriguez tells the story of his experience as he attends school while only knowing a few English words. In the household, the only language spoken between members of the family is spanish. As Richard grows older English begins to be his dominant language and loses his Spanish. Rodriguez takes his readers through his journey from being a child to becoming a successful man. Query Based (Question that brings the reader to the topic - avoid second person POV “you”)
Ex. Should a person’s public language be more important than their private one? 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. Richard Rodriguez is a very controversial person because of the opinions discussed in this book. Fact (empirically verifiable but often difficult to argue extensively about - better used as evidence to support a claim) Ex. Rodriguez’s journey provided him with many opportunities. Opinion (personal position on a topic) Ex. The bilingual education program allows for children to grow comfortable with being in a new education system. 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. Rodriguez’s resentment against the affirmative action program makes him a traitor, turning his back on his 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) 21 Ex. Minorities are always being discriminated against.
Document Based (cites a specific source, author, and position on a topic) Ex. In Hunger of Memory, Richard Rodriguez explains the role education has played in his life and how learning the public language would allow for him to not feel socially disadvantaged.
Theory (a statement that can be tested and potentially proven - often answers a research question) Ex. Language is not what holds a family together but instead it is intimacy. 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. Rodriguez expands on his claim by expressing his opinion on the affirmative action Program, mentioning how he has turned down many people jobs to teach minorities, saying instead of having this program, the government should put money into the schools so everyone is at the same level.
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. Rodriguez explains how education and catholicism played a role
his coming of age. Presenting Evidence from Quotations (quotes should NEVER be used as individual sentences – quotes should be embedded within sentences) ORIGINAL QUOTE – “But well before then, from my first day of school, I was a student of language. Obsessed by the way it determined my public identity.” Ex. “I never forgot that schooling had irretrievably changed my family's life. That knowledge, however, did not weaken ambition. Instead, it strengthened resolve. ” Ex. “It is education that has altered my life. Carried me far. ” Ex. “If, because of my schooling, I had grown culturally separated from my parents, my education finally had given me ways of speaking and caring about that fact. ” Ex. “A primary reason for my success in the classroom was that I couldn't forget that schooling was changing me and separating me from the life I enjoyed before becoming a student. ” Ex. “The boy who first entered a classroom barely able to speak English, twenty years later concluded his studies in the stately quie of the reading room in the British Museum.
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)
ORIGINAL QUOTE –“The boy who first entered a classroom barely able to speak
English, twenty years later concluded his studies in the stately quiet of
reading room in the British Museum.
” Ex. PARAPHRASE – As a child, Rodriguez had trouble with English but now he is a college graduate who spends his leisure time reading.
Summarizing (condensing larger quotes or sections - useful for closing the examination of the quote/evidence and transitioning to your analysis of the quote)
ORIGINAL QUOTE –“My parents would say something to me and I would feel embraced by the sounds of their words. Those sounds said: I am speaking with ease in Spanish. I am addressing you in words I never use with los gringos.
recognize you as someone special, close, like no one outside. You belong
with
us. In the family.
” Ex. SUMMARY – Rodriguez felt comfort when spoken to in Spanish fro his parents because it felt like their private language.
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. Private language should only be spoken at home and when outsid the public language should be used.
Concrete Examples (actual examples that do refer to a source – useful for enhancing your analysis of the quote) Ex. A website known as Hiplatina.com shows numerous times where people have been looked down upon due to them speaking Spanish in America, where English is the dominant language.
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. People believe others to be socially disadvantaged due to the fact that they do not know how to speak the dominant language in that area.
Closing Paragraphs (Conclusions – should not be mere summaries of the previous paragraphs of your essay)
C o o f ns d e i q s u r e e n g c a e r s di o n f g D t i h s e re i g m a p r l d i i c n a g ti t o h n e s T o h f es t i h s e ( t e h s e t s a i b s li –sh C i R n E g AT t I h N e G p A ot C e O n U t N i T a E l RA c R o G n U s M e E q N u T en –ce 23s could be one or more sentences) Ex. If speaking a private language in public was not looked down
Statement(s) of Extension (extending the consequences of disregarding the implications of the thesis – could be one or more sentences) Ex. People begin to lose the side of themselves that they show at home due to the fact that they feel they can’t reveal that side to the public.
Ex. Learning more than one language is extremely difficult and people who don’t know a language should not be frowned upon because of it.
Final Sentence (closing statement that connects to the hook and finishes the essay (finish your argument) – the “Smokey the Bear”/”Drop the mic”/dot dot dot moment…) Ex. It is important for people to be more open and realize there are different types of people around the world that don’t speak the way they do.
