Understanding Organization Nonfiction Writing Organization Structure

Where will I see this organization? Essays Newspaper articles Chapters in a book or reports Subsections in a text (social studies book, science book, article, Scope Magazine) AND MORE!

Big Picture Organization In any nonfiction text the entire piece will be organized in this way: Introduction paragraph Body paragraphs (usually 2-4) Conclusion paragraph

Introduction Paragraph Starts with a hook Provides important background information about the topic States the claim End in a road map sentence

Introduction Paragraph Glossary of Terms Hook: first sentence or two in your introduction paragraph; this hints at the writer’s main topic grabs your reader’s attention Background information: the basic facts/overview of the paper’s main topic

Introduction Paragraph Glossary of Terms Claim: The statement an author is trying to prove/show is true This is usually a debatable statement Road map: The last sentence of the introduction paragraph which introduces the topics of the body paragraphs to come

Can you find the parts of the paragraph in this example introduction? In the real world, people are often portrayed by how they dress, how they generally look, and just the way they physically appear. Books are no different and, in Matilda by Roald Dahl, one of the primary method of characterization is the character’s physical appearance. In Matilda, the author does this to the characters to symbolize their personality and traits. In particular, Mrs. Wormwood, Ms. Honey and the Trunchbull all have personalities that match the description of their physical appearance.

In the real world, people are often portrayed by how they dress, how they generally look, and just the way they physically appear. Books are no different and, in Matilda by Roald Dahl, one of the primary method of characterization is the character’s physical appearance. In Matilda, the author does this to the characters to symbolize their personality and traits. In particular, Mrs. Wormwood, Ms. Honey and the Trunchbull all have personalities that match the description of their physical appearance.

What makes a body paragraph a body paragraph? Each body paragraph introduces a new supporting idea/example/subtopic which supports the writer’s claim.

Body Paragraph Glossary Topic Sentence: The first sentence or two of a body paragraph. This sentence tells the reader the topic/main idea of the paragraph. What is this paragraph mostly about?

Body Paragraph Glossary – The Evidence Context for Evidence: This is one-two sentences which come before your evidence. In the writer’s own words, he/she explains what was happening around the evidence that is being introduced. Evidence: Quote or paraphrased parts of the text that support the writer’s claim

Highlight the context for the evidence in this paragraph. The concept of paranioa is evident in the overarching conflict of the story: Four is from the planet Lorien and is being hunted by the Mogadorians who took over his planet. They are trying to kill Four to ensure that Lorics are extinct. Due to this, there is a constant fear that the Mogadorians know where Four, Henri and the others are. One example of this is on page 252 when Four says, “‘ Who is there?’ …. ‘They said they’d be watching. That they knew someone might be coming.’”

The concept of paranioa is evident in the overarching conflict of the story: Four is from the planet Lorien and is being hunted by the Mogadorians who took over his planet. They are trying to kill Four to ensure that Lorics are extinct. Due to this, there is a constant fear that the Mogadorians know where Four, Henri and the others are. One example of this is on page 252 when Four says, “‘ Who is there?’ …. ‘They said they’d be watching. That they knew someone might be coming.’”

Body Paragraph Glossary Analysis: Your own ideas that explain/show why the evidence supports the claim Transitional concluding sentence: restates or wraps-up the main points of the paragraph and starts to move the reader into the next body paragraph’s topic.

Conclusion Paragraph Reviews the writer’s most important points made in the body paragraphs Restates the claim in an interesting and unique way DOES NOT introduce any new ideas or evidence