FIRST SENTENCE=TOPIC SENTENCE Your topic sentence should reference the author, the context of the passage, and the central idea. Needs author, context, and main idea Example: In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses the young lovers to suggest that intense emotions can inhibit logical thinking. 3 (21)
SECOND SENTENCE= EXAMPLE Your second sentence should offer a transition word or phrase (for example, for instance, such as, in particular, chiefly, namely, etc.) and a specific example to support your topic sentence. Provide necessary context if needed. 3 min (24)
EXPLANATON/ANALYSIS OF THE EXAMPLE After you provide a specific example, you should explain HOW your example supports the theme stated in the topic sentence. Questions to consider: What is the author’s purpose for including this quote or detail? How does the quote or detail further the author’s argument? Why is this quote essential to the main idea/theme?
EXAMPLE 1: For example, as they fight, Romeo yells at Tybalt, “Oh I am fortune’s fool!” Romeo’s outburst highlights his feeling that fate has been especially and unnecessarily cruel to him. He has had no control over his own destiny and is simply a “fool” manipulated by the hands of fate. 1 (25)
EXAMPLE 1: For example, as they fight, Romeo yells at Tybalt, “Oh I am fortune’s fool!” Romeo’s outburst highlights his feeling that fate has been especially and unnecessarily cruel to him. He has had no control over his own destiny and is simply a “fool” manipulated by the hands of fate. 1 (25)
EXAMPLE 2: Telling Romeo to forget about Rosaline, Benvolio argues that “one fire burns out another’s burning; / One pain is less’ned by another’s anguish” (I.ii.46- 47) suggesting that Benvolio knows Romeo is playing a game. If falling in love is easy, Benvolio seems to be saying, then so is falling out of love. (26)
EXAMPLE 2: Telling Romeo to forget about Rosaline, Benvolio argues that “one fire burns out another’s burning; / One pain is less’ned by another’s anguish” (I.ii.46-47). This statement suggests that Benvolio knows Romeo is playing a game. If falling in love is easy, Benvolio seems to be saying, then so is falling out of love. (26)
THEN, REPEAT WITH ADDITONAL EXAMPLES AND ANALYSIS
CONCLUDING SENTENCE Without repeating word-for-word what the topic sentence (theme) states, your final sentence should reflect the main idea of the paragraph and offer some additional insight into the discussed theme. Answer the questions: so what? Why does this information matter? EXAMPLE: By emphasizing the intense emotions of the young lovers and their detrimental effects, Shakespeare reminds the reader that one should strive for balance between emotions and reason.