Cypress High School Writing Program Basics for Responses to Literature

The 1 chunk Paragraph

Terms to Know Topic Sentence (TS) – The first sentence in a body paragraph – Must have a subject and a opinion or take a stand on the subject – It is what the paragraph is about

Terms to Know Concrete Detail (CD) – stuff from the story –the what – can be quotation or paraphrase – facts; examples; illustrations; evidence; support; plot references; citations; What really happened in the story? ; play-by-play announcer – It can be more than 1 sentence Old Term: Supporting Detail or Point

Terms to Know Commentary – (CM) – stuff from your head - the “so what?” - words with feelings behind them that you can describe to me analysis; interpretation; a character’s feelings; opinion; inference; insight; reasons; color commentator – Can be more than one sentence. Old terms: Explanation, Detail, Evidence

Terms to Know Closing or Circle sentence (CS) – The last sentence in a body paragraph. – It is all commentary – it does not repeat topic sentence. – Gives a finished feeling to the paragraph.

One-Chunk Body Paragraph Sentence #1 -Topic Sentence – TS Sentence #2 – CD –starts with “For example” Sentence #3 – CM - (This shows that) Sentence #4 – CM – (This also show that; This is because; This is important because) Sentence#8 – Circle Sentence – CS – Sums it up and ties back to the thesis (As a result) TS CD CM CS

Two-Chunk Body Paragraph Sentence #1 -Topic Sentence – TS Sentence #2 – CD –starts with “For example” Sentence #3 – CM - (This shows that) Sentence #4 – CM – (This also show that; This is because; This is important because) Sentence #5 – CD – starts with “In Addition” or “For example” Sentence #6 – CM - (This shows that) Sentence #7 – CM – (This also show that; This is because.... ) Sentence#8 – Circle Sentence – CS – Sums it up and ties back to the thesis (As a result) TS CD CM CS

Sample One Chunk Paragraph In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry is a champion to many of the more insecure students at Hogwarts. For example, when Malfoy takes Neville’s Rememberall, Harry takes a broom and gets it back. He cannot stand someone who picks on others. Harry is now a hero to those less fortunate. He has found a place where he belongs and wants to protect the vulnerable.

Two Chunk Paragraph Used when the concrete details are closely related to avoid repetition. Has the basic of Topic Sentence at the beginning and a Circle Sentence at the end. Includes two CD, CM, CM, structures with a transition between. TS CD CM CD CM CS

Three Chunk Paragraph Used when the concrete details are closely related to avoid repetition. Has the basic of Topic Sentence at the beginning and a Circle Sentence at the end. Includes THREE CD, CM, CM, structures with a transition between. TS CD CM CD CM CD CM CS

More Terms to Know Ratio – the amount of CD:CM in a body paragraph – In English the ratio is 1:2+ Chunk – One sentence of concrete detail (CD) and two + sentences of commentary (CM)