Paragraph Writing
1-0-1
Step 1: Topic Sentence
1. The topic sentence MUST be one sentence in
length and present the central argument of
the paragraph. It must be professional and
incorporate the language from the question
being asked. When in an essay, it must show
a direct transition from the previous
statement to itself.
Sample Topic Sentences: One of
these sentences is not like the
other: One of these sentences
works.
1. Not only do Americans continue to strive for the
past, like Gatsby, in “boats against the current,
borne back ceaselessly into the past,” but
people throughout time have sought.
2. No because his characteristics of lying and
cheating blemished his greatness.
3. If offered the chance to recommend The Great
Gatsby to a friend, I would certainly recommend
the text because of its excellent illustration of
how obsessing over the past can only lead to
pain and suffering.
Step 2: Proof
1. The proof must be specific, to the point, and not
extremely long.
2. You should only quote what you can’t say any
better.
3. Mixing paraphrasing with quotations is a great
technique. A sentence where 50-60% is you
and the rest is the quote makes a strong
statement and keeps you from quoting too
much.
4. The proof should be feasible from the beginning.
Proof Samples: Which one(s)
works?
1. “After Gatsby’s death the East was haunted for me like
that . . .”
2. Not only do Americans continue to strive for the past, like
Gatsby, in “boats against the current, borne back
ceaselessly into the past,” but people throughout time
have sought.
3. Throughout the text, Gatsby is constantly longing for the
one thing he cannot possibly possess, the past. His
unwillingness to look beyond the past is best illustrated
when he responds to Nick Caraway’s claim that you can’t
repeat the past with “‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried
incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’”
Step 3: Explanation
1. As simple as it is, this step is the one that
seems to be the most difficult to master.
2. You must completely explain how the
quotation proves the point you are making in
your topic sentence.
3. No assumptions; no thinking you’ve already
done it. You have not explained it completely
until you’ve completely explained it.
Explanation Samples:
Which one(s) work
1. Even Nick was terribly affected by Gatsby’s death, and he
barely knew him. With all the years Gatsby has loved Daisy,
and then suddenly losing her, he will go into depression.
2. It’s why you see civilizations attempt to recreate and
conserve the norm, to revert the change they don’t like.
They strive to live in the past and end up missing the future.
3. With this simple response to Nick’s proclamation that the
past cannot be recaptured, Gatsby demonstrates his one
fatal flaw, an inability to live beyond the past. This flaw is
one that eventually consumes Gatsby and destroys him.
Through Gatsby’s tragic death, audiences are able to gain an
understanding of how important it is to move beyond the
past, to live life to the fullest. For this simple reason, I feel
this book should be recommended to other people.
If offered the chance to recommend The Great Gatsby to
a friend, I would recommend the text because of its
illustration of how obsessing over the past can only lead to
pain and suffering. Throughout the text, Gatsby is constantly
longing for the one thing he cannot possibly possess, the past.
His unwillingness to look beyond the past is best illustrated
when he responds to Nick Caraway’s claim that you can’t
repeat the past with “‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried
incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’” With this simple
response to Nick’s proclamation that the past cannot be
recaptured, Gatsby demonstrates his one fatal flaw, an
inability to live beyond the past. This flaw is one that
eventually consumes Gatsby and destroys him. Through
Gatsby’s tragic death, audiences are able to gain an
understanding of how important it is to move beyond the past
and to live life to the fullest lest they become consumed, too.
For this simple yet important lesson, I feel this book should be
recommended to other people.
Your Practice Rules
1. You will write and submit one paragraph on Wednesday,
Thursday, and Friday.
2. Each paragraph must analyze one the logos employed in
Plato’s Symposium and how that logos helps to convey
Plato’s perspective on love.
3. The paragraph must have all of the required parts – A – P
– E completely represented or the work will be returned. I
will not accept less that a complete attempt because if
each part is worth 33 points, only having two parts
complete will not allow you to earn an 80 or higher.
Moreover, this assignment is not busy work; I am going to
help destroy your one weakness; therefore, I expect the
assignment completed each night. Failure to comply will
result in a returned assignment with no comments.
Your Practice Rules
1. We will have another multiple choice test at the end of
the six weeks, but until that time, your tests will be largely
essay based. On Friday of this week, you will write a
complete, timed essay.
2. You will be required to write a paragraph over the reading
every night until the end of the six weeks, and I will have
pop quiz essay assignments in class.
3. Again, I’m not trying to be cruel. My desire is to finally
help you master writing, so you never, ever have a
structural issue that keeps you from success.
4. Finally, you will not pass this six weeks without mastering
the writing craft. I’m sorry, but it’s time you lose your one
weakness and emerge strong scholars.
The Plan
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Today, you will read the first ten pages of Symposium (through the
line “for Agathon and Socrates are the only ones left.”).
You will write one paragraph analyzing the use of logos in the
selection you read. Keep it focused to one topic sentence, one
proof, and one explanation.
Tomorrow’s Assignment will take you through page 18 (through
the line “or anything else which you please.”). You will write
again, one paragraph analyzing the logos of the selection.
Finally, Thursdays assignment will have you finish the text and
repeat the exercise one final time.
On Friday, I will call upon you to complete a timed writing over
Symposium. This time, you will write a rhetorical analysis of the
piece that focuses on either pathos or ethos (I’ll reveal the
selection on Friday).