Paragraphs ....... PG

[YOUR] BOOK OF WRITING SECTION 5 TEMPLATE AND GUIDELINES

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) Ex. Often throughout the past 50 years when children have earned it, their parents treat them to McDonalds. Rewarding them with Happy Meals when they do well at school, for example, young people develop a strong and lifelong connection to fast food. The better they do at school, the more their smiles widen and, sadly, the more the nation’s waistlines and the health outcomes associated with them expand. As children, they may have no idea why, but the adults in their lives should. Query Based (Question that brings the reader to the topic avoid second person POV “you”) Ex. Does the consumption of fast food really have a negative impact on a person’s health? 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. Fast food provides very little nutritional content and should be avoided. Fact (empirically verifiable but often difficult to argue extensively about - better used as evidence to support a claim) Ex. Fast food is comparatively inexpensive. Opinion (personal position on a topic) Ex. McDonald’s makes absolutely the best fast food. 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. Indulging in the temptation of fast food is sinfully wrong.

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. Everything sold at fast food restaurants horribly harms a person’s health.

Document Based (cites a specific source, author, and position on a topic) Ex. In Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser argues that the fast food industry has excruciatingly deep effects on people’s health outcomes by illustrating the unsanitary nature of many fast food preparation tactics.

Theory (a statement that can be tested and potentially proven - often answers a research question)

Ex. Fast food can systematically lead to health problems in young people.

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. Schlosser expands on his claim by examining the various elements, such as advertising and marketing schemes, that can hook people on fast food, particularly at an early age, along with reports about the negative health impacts of consuming processed foods. (preview of evidence)

Ex. The author examines the often-disturbing state of meat production in order to discourage people from consuming so much fast food. (purpose of thesis)

Ex. This information about the connection between fast food and potential health outcomes might lead to crucial reforms in the food industry. (establishing the importance or significance of thesis) 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 the consumption of fast food has a dramatic impact on health. (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 –“Fast food can have adverse effects on people’s health” (Schlosser 73).

Ex. Several researchers agree, “Fast food can have adverse effects on people’s health” (Schlosser 73).

Ex. “Fast food can have adverse effects on people’s health,” according to several researchers (Schlosser 73).

“Fast food can have adverse effects on people’s health, ” according to several researchers (Schlosser 73).

Ex. Unfortunately for patrons, “Fast food can have [horribly] adverse effects on people’s health” (Schlosser 73).

Ex. Unfortunately for patrons, “Fast food … [a]ffects … people’s health” (Schlosser 73). 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 –“Fast food can have adverse effects on people’s health” (Schlosser 73).

Ex. PARAPHRASE – People’s health may be negatively impacted by fast food (Schlosser 73). 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 –“Fast food can have adverse effects on people’s health” (Schlosser 73). Ex. SUMMARY – Fast food can be unhealthy.

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 lose weight if they stopped eating fast food. Concrete Examples (actual examples that do refer to a source – useful for enhancing your analysis of the quote) Ex. A study in the November 2011 New England Journal of Medicine shows that the average person stands to lose 12 pounds in any given year that they eliminate fast food from their regular diet. 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 fast food agree about its often startling and consistently negative health effects.

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 mass consumption of fast food was truly safe for people’s health, there probably would not be such an abundance of obesity plaguing the nation. Statement(s) of Extension (extending the consequences of disregarding the implications of the thesis – could be one or more sentences) Ex. As such, the national epidemic of obesity seems closely connected with the abundance of fast food available to consumers in every corner of America. -29-

Reestablishing the Significance of the Thesis (could be one or more sentences) Ex. Thus, as the prevalence of academic research indicates, fast food consumers carry out more than just the contents of a McDonalds’ paper bag – they carry out the potential for both illness and premature death. 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. So given all the health problems associated with fast food, maybe the meals children receive as rewards are not so happy after all…