Paragraphs

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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] A century marked by its consumerism and materialism, the 80s were a decade of bold style and permed hair, coining it as one of the most eclectic decades of fashion. Along with this idea of individual expression shining vicariously through puffed sleeves and electric colors there were also upheld ideals of political conservatism. For many people the symbol of the decade was the “yuppie”: a baby boomer with a college education, good paying job, and expensive taste. Many people brushed off yuppies as materialistic and self centered. Surveys indeed have shown that these people were in fact more concerned with making money and purchasing consumer goods compared to their parents and grandparents. This is not an indication that yuppies were in fact shallow and superficial, they were a part of a generation of young men and women who were burdened with anxiety and self doubt. Yes they were “successful” but they were unsure if they were happy.

Query Based (Question that brings the reader to the topic - avoid second person POV “you”) Ex. What were the 80s known for? 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 80s were known for their political conservatism creating the “yuppie. ” Fact (empirically verifiable but often difficult to argue extensively about - better used as evidence to support a claim)

Ex. Yuppies were more concerned with making money and buying consumer goods than past generations. Opinion (personal position on a topic) Ex. Yuppies were often misjudged.

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. Yuppies were a social construct spurring the development of ideals that would affect later generations.

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. Political conservatism always results in the creation of some kind of social construct. Document Based (cites a specific source, author, and position on a topic)

Ex. InThe 1980s, History.com authors suggested yuppiedom wasn’t as shallow and superficial as it appeared. Theory (a statement that can be tested and potentially proven often answers a research question) Ex. Political conservatism has negative effects on later generations.

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. History.com writers expand on this claim by examining various elements, such as a survey of young urban professionals across the country that indeed showed that they were more concerned with making money and buying consumer goods than their parents and grandparents.

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. Additionally, multiple sources indicate that a yuppie was a material person. Presenting Evidence from Quotations (quotes should NEVER be used as individual sentences – quotes should be embedded within sentences) Ex. Several sources agree that yuppies were “stereotypical… [and] obsessed with material objects and financial success according to oxford languages. 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. PARAPHRASE – Yuppies were focused on financial gains in order to purchase material things according to oxford languages. 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 – Yuppies were materialistic. 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. We wouldn’t have such high expectations for success without 1980s political conservatism. Concrete Examples (actual examples that do refer to a source – useful for enhancing your analysis of the quote) According to wikipedia, “in Western culture, conservatives seek to preserve a range of institutions such as organized religion, parliamentary government, and property rights. ”

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)

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 of the subject show the upheld misconceptions of yuppies.

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 the 1980s political conservatism didn’t create the yuppie we would have different standards of success today. Statement(s) of Extension (extending the consequences of disregarding the implications of the thesis – could be one or more sentences) Ex. As such, the ideals of having expensive taste, a well paying job, and a college education were derived from the yuppie. Reestablishing the Significance of the Thesis (could be one or more sentences) Ex. Thus, as the prevalence of past actions such as the political conservatism of the 1980s is shown by the proving that it is ingrained in our society, by being instilled in our standards of success. 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…) Ex. Given the application of all the standards we derived from the 1980s political conservatism, maybe yuppies weren’t so happy after all…

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