Paragraphs

PARAGRAPHS

Paragraphs – a group of sentences that together convey a shared purpose structured around the same topic.

Introductory Paragraphs (Introductions)

Hook (Lead) – can begin with the title Anecdotal (Brief story to set the mood and intro the topic) Ex. The thrill of an exceptional television series is unmatched, especially when it comes to horror. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities, characters, and storylines that keep viewers on their toes. The hit T.V series “American Horror Story” gives a connected timeline to a universe filled with frightening events that’ll make you shiver down your spine. Query Based (Question that brings the reader to the topic) Ex. How does fear and horror teach us valuable lessons and develop us as people?

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) Ex. Horror and fear teaches us about our strengths and weaknesses Fact (empirically verifiable but often difficult to argue extensively about) Ex. Fear is caused by feeling threatened, real or imaginary and can cause anxiety. Opinion (personal position on a topic) Ex. Horror films are the best genre. Belief (social, religious, or political in nature – an opinion held by many to be a fact, though it is not necessarily factual) Ex. Indulging in viewing horror content is sinful. 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. All mom’s do not condone the viewment of horror content. Document Based (cites a specific source and its position on a topic) Ex. In Pop Buzz TV and Film, controversy is circling the triggering of trypophobia in American Horror Story’s 7th season, Cult and has been triggering people’s anxiety Theory (a statement that can be tested and potentially proven - often answers a research question) Ex. Horror content can build a desensitization to your fears.

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.The article expands to say that people discovered their fear of trypophobia by viewing the show and getting anxiety. (preview of evidence) Ex. This means consumers of the show discovered a fear of theirs from viewing the show which can also be viewed as a “weakness” and now have an understanding of what they are frightened of (purpose of thesis) Ex. This information between the connection of viewers discovering new fears can lead to the better understanding of themselves and their “weaknesses” and potentially overcome them now that they have knowledge of their fear. (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 overcoming of phobias and fears is possible. (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 – “People can learn to overcome phobias by gradually facing their fears.” (Kids Health Behavioral Experts).

Ex. Several researchers agree, “People can learn to overcome phobias by gradually facing their fears.” (Kids Health Behavioral Experts). Ex. “People can learn to overcome phobias by gradually facing their fears,” according to several researchers (Kids Health Behavioral Experts). Ex. Fortunately for American Horror Story viewers, “People can learn to overcome phobias by gradually facing their fears,” according to several researchers (Kids Health Behavioral Experts). Ex. Fortunately for AHS viewers , “People can learn to overcome [horrifying] phobias by gradually facing their fears” (Kids Health Behavioral Experts). Ex. Fortunately for AHS viewers , “fear… [a]ffects …overcoming of phobias” (Kids Health Behavioral Experts).

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 – “People can learn to overcome phobias by gradually facing their fears.” (Kids Health Behavioral Experts)

Ex. PARAPHRASE – Overcoming phobias can be accomplished by gradually facing your fears. (Kids Health Behavioral Experts). 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 – “People can learn to overcome phobias by gradually facing their fears.” (Kids Health Behavioral Experts)

Ex. SUMMARY –phobias can be overcome. 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 just overcome their phobias if they watched AHS . Concrete Examples (actual examples that do refer to a source – useful for enhancing your analysis of the quote)

Ex. Researchers can "extinguish" this fear by fear conditioning testing on mice.

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 phobias and fear is that they can be overcome by strengths.

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 viewing of horror media was not in any way helpful to possibly desensitize and overcome fears by first recognizing them there would not be articles of people discovering their phobias and overcoming them. Statement(s) of Extension (extending the consequences of disregarding the implications of the thesis – could be one or more sentences) Ex. As such, the desensitizing of viewers offers less phobias to be overcome.. Reestablishing the Significance of the Thesis (could be one or more sentences) Ex. Thus, as the prevalence of academic research indicates, the viewership of horror helps us better understand and teach our strengths and weaknesses. Final Sentence (connects to the hook and finishes the essay – the “Smoky the Bear”/”Drop the mic”/dot dot dot moment…) Ex. So given all the fear associated with horror content, maybe the frights aren’t so scary after all…