Paragraphs

Paragraphs – a group of sentences that together convey a shared purpose structured around

Introductory Paragraphs (Introductions) the same topic.

Hook

Function: Lead / Opening Statement) – can begin with the title

a. Anecdotal

Function: Brief story to set the mood and lead the reader into the topic

Example: Spirited Away follows the tale of the fanciful adventures of a ten-year-old girl

named Chihiro, who discovers a secret world when she and her family get lost and venture

through a hillside tunnel. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, Chihiro

must fend for herself as she encounters strange spirits, assorted creatures and a grumpy

sorceress who seeks to prevent her from returning to the human world.

b. Query Based

Function: Question that brings the reader to the topic - avoid second person POV “ you ”

Example: Do personalities affect people’s moral compass?

Function: 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

Thesis Statements

a. Assertion

Function: A claim - a subject + a “so what” about the subject

Example: Personality traits show differences across individuals, which tend to characterize

the person across varying types of situations.

b. Fact

Function: Empirically verifiable but often difficult to argue extensively about - better used

as evidence to support a claim

Example: Personality traits affects people's characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings,

and behaviors.

c. Opinion

Function: A personal position on a topic

Example: There is no such thing as being only “good” or “evil” .

d. Belief

Function: 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)

Example: Morals tend to be driven by personal beliefs and values.

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Paragraphs – a group of sentences that together convey a shared purpose structured around

the same topic.

Introductory Paragraphs (Introductions)

Thesis Statements

Function: 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

e. Generalization

Function: 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

Example: Every moral belief and personality trait dictates the type of person someone

becomes.

f. Document Based

Function: Cites a specific source, author, and position on a topic

Example: In Spirited Away, the film examines the blurred line between good and evil

which is a much more accurate reflection of the real world.

g. Theory

Function: A statement that can be tested and potentially proven - often answers a

research question

Example: Settings and circumstances shape one’s personality and beliefs.

Function: 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

Clarification/Expansion of Thesis

thesis – this could be several sentences long Example: Spirited Away expands on their claim by examining various elements, rather than

making distinct contrasts of good and evil like most films, and create characters who

represent the internal conflict of morality that every human struggles with. (preview of

evidence)

Example: The film examines the a manifestation of fears and anxieties as seen through the

lens of its young lead female character, Chihiro, in order to show every person is a mix of

good and bad qualities and actions. (purpose of the thesis)

Example: This information about the ambiguity of good and evil relates to our initial

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Paragraphs – a group of sentences that together convey a shared purpose structured around

the same topic.

Body Paragraphs

Topic Sentences

Function: 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)

Example: Additionally, multiple sources indicate the ambiguity of good and evil relate to our

initial expectations of people. (Now every sentence in this paragraph must be related to the

connection between morality and first impressions)

Function: Quotes should NEVER be used as individual sentences – quotes should be

embedded within sentences

Presenting Evidence from Quotations

ORIGINAL QUOTE –

“You must see with eyes unclouded by hate. See the good in that which is evil, and the evil in that which is good. Pledge yourself to neither side, but vow instead to preserve the balance that exists between the two. ” (Princess Mononoke. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki).

Example: Numerous Studio Ghibli animators agree, “You must see with eyes unclouded by

hate. See the good in that which is evil, and the evil in that which is good. Pledge yourself to

neither side, but vow instead to preserve the balance that exists between the two. ” (Princess

Mononoke. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki).

Example: “You must see with eyes unclouded by hate. See the good in that which is evil, and

the evil in that which is good. Pledge yourself to neither side, but vow instead to preserve the

balance that exists between the two, ” according to Studio Ghibli (Princess Mononoke.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki).

Example: Unfortunately for storytellers, “You must see with eyes unclouded by hate. See the

good in that which is evil, and the evil in that which is good. Pledge yourself to neither side,

but vow instead to preserve the balance that exists between the two, ” according to Hayao

Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki).

Example: Unfortunately for filmmakers, “You must see with eyes unclouded by hate. See the

good in that which is evil, and the evil in that which is good. Pledge yourself to neither side,

but vow instead to preserve the balance that exists between the two. ” (Princess Mononoke.

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Paragraphs – a group of sentences that together convey a shared purpose structured around

the same topic.

Body Paragraphs

Examining the Evidence

a. Paraphrasing

Function: 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 –

“You must see with eyes unclouded by hate. See the good in that which is evil, and the evil in that which is good. Pledge yourself to neither side, but vow instead to preserve the balance that exists between the two. ” (Princess Mononoke. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki).

Example: PARAPHRASE –“You must see with eyes unclouded ” (Princess Mononoke.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki).

b. Summarizing

Function: Condensing larger quotes or sections - useful for closing the examination of the

quote/evidence and transitioning to your analysis of the quote

ORIGINAL QUOTE –

“You must see with eyes unclouded by hate. See the good in that which is evil, and the evil in that which is good. Pledge yourself to neither side, but vow instead to preserve the balance that exists between the two. ” (Princess Mononoke. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki).

Example: SUMMARY – Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.

c. Abstract Examples

Function: Hypothetical,

“ what if” examples that do not refer to a source – AVOID USING THEM AS EVIDENCE – but useful for examining the quote

Example: The world might be more different if people didn’t judge those by their initial

impression.

Function: 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)

Example: Clearly, researchers on the subject of anthropology agree about its often startling

and consistently negative effects of first impressions.

Closing Sentences

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Paragraphs – a group of sentences that together convey a shared purpose structured around

the same topic.

Closing Paragraphs

Statement(s) of Extension

Reestablishing the Significance of the Thesis

Final Sentence

Function: Extending the consequences of disregarding the implications of the thesis – could

be one or more sentences)

Example: As such, people, each one of us, are naturally good or rather “innocent” , but

ignorant. It is ignorance that leads us into acts that appear to be evil.

Function: Could be one or more sentences

Example: Thus, as the film indicates, the obscurity of right and wrong relates to our initial

expectations of people.

Function: 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…

Example: In the end, evil is not vanquished but pushed aside as characters make choices that

weaken bad influences.