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) If dogs are known as “Man's Best Friend” then cats are known to be “Man's Best Frenemy”. Though it may seem baffling for dog lovers, cats are known to be the world’s most popular pet, they’re passive aggressive, emotionally unavailable, and known for their chilly independence. However these personalities have led to the assumption that their aloofness demonstrates an inability to connect and bond with people. Query Based (Question that brings the reader to the topic - avoid second person POV “you”) Why do you think cats are good pets? Thesis Statements (the purpose of a piece of writing – usually one sentence in length, but can be longer depending on the purpose – must be arguable) Assertion (claim - a subject + a “so what” about the subject) Cats keep unwanted pests out of your house. Fact (empirically verifiable but often difficult to argue extensively about -

better used as

evidence to support a claim) Cats are easy to house-train Opinion (personal position on a topic) Cats can bring unconditional love and companionship to your life as a dog

can.

Belief (social, religious, or political – an opinion held by many to be a fact, though it is not necessarily factual – often involves a judgment) Cats can be seen as messengers of good omens. 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)

Cats are always independent Document-Based (cites a specific source, author, and position on a topic) William S. Burroughs, the author of “The Cat Inside” compares cats and dogs to illustrate the benefits that can be received when owning a cat.

Theory (a statement that can be tested and potentially proven - often

answers a

research question) Having a feline friend can help to relieve stress and improve your heart

health. Clarification/Expansion of Thesis (could extend the thesis, preview the evidence supporting the thesis, give the purpose of the thesis, establish the importance or significance of examining the intricacies of the thesis – this could be several sentences long) William S. Burroughs explains how his life had been wary and gloomy until he had adopted his ginger cat. He claims that his cat had taught him compassion and love, and helped him see the light in the world. He had also claimed the psychic powers that cats appear to have because they always sense when their loved ones are feeling sad or depressed.

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) Cat owners do have better psychological health than people without pets. (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) ORIGINAL QUOTE – “Perhaps one reason we are fascinated by cats is that such a small animal can contain so much independence, dignity, and freedom of spirit. Unlike the dog, the cat’s personality is never bet on a human’s. He demands acceptance on his terms.”(Lloyd Alexander). -Cats are not as trusting as dogs which makes them keen and resilient. Cats appear to be like humans because we always need to gain trust to accept the person into our lives. So when you gain the acceptance of a cat, it becomes an unbreakable bond. 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 – “Like all pure creatures, cats are practical” (William S. Burroughs).

PARAPHRASE – Cats can provide many benefits to humans. 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 –“A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.” (Hemingway). SUMMARY – Cats never show fear in showing how they are. They don’t worry about how society sees them as most people do. Abstract Examples (hypothetical, “what if” examples that do not refer to a source –

AVOID

USING THEM AS EVIDENCE – but useful for examining the quote) There would become a decrease in depression with the benefits of having a cat. Concrete Examples (actual examples that do refer to a source – useful for enhancing

your

analysis of the quote) According to the research at Oregon State University, cats display distinct attachment styles towards human caregivers and share social traits once attributed to dogs and humans. 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)

So as the saying “man's best friend” is still reserved for dogs, this study supports the idea that cats are just as affectionate. 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 cats were to disappear from the world, our agricultural systems would collapse, with disease rampant, and food scarce, people would have to forage for scraps, like rats. Statement(s) of Extension (extending the consequences of disregarding the implications of the thesis – could be one or more sentences) There would be an increase in rats, who are responsible for 40 percent and 60 percent of all seabird and reptile extinctions. Reestablishing the Significance of the Thesis (could be one or more sentences) Therefore cats have been shown to help people cope with emotional pain. Despite their animals, they serve as a social support during very difficult times. Cats in particular also lower your stress levels, since they don’t require much effort as dogs. It was found that cat owners were 30 percent less likely to suffer from a heart attack or stroke than non-cat owners. Final Sentence (a 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…) Given these reasons on why cats make such good pets, I hope it has influenced your mind about these mysterious felines…