Perfect Paragraph Intro

5 Parts of a Perfect Paragraph Topic sentence Main point of paragraph Elaboration of the topic sentence Stretches out/explains the main point Evidence The proof (quotation)—use tag Evidence reinforcement Helps to connect main evidence to topic sentence Conclusion Reinforces main point and wraps things up

In his nonfiction essay “Hunger,” Richard Wright uses personification when describing how hungry he feels. Hunger becomes his enemy that even follows him to bed. Wright states that he “began to wake up at night to find hunger standing at [his] bedside” (1). Instead of being a bully that only tortures him at school, hunger follows him home and harasses him. This personified version of hunger shows the constant feelings of pain and starvation that Wright experienced as a boy.

{1} In his nonfiction essay “Hunger,” Richard Wright uses personification when describing how hungry he feels. {2}Hunger becomes his enemy that even follows him to bed. {3} Wright states, “ I began to wake up at night to find hunger standing at my bedside” (1). {4} Instead of being a bully that only tortures him at school, hunger follows him home and harasses him. {5}This personified version of hunger shows the constant feelings of pain and starvation that Wright experienced as a boy.

Other verbs you can use to introduce a quotation: John Smith, a professor of history, __________ that “Columbus didn’t care about the Tainos” (67). Be sure to use a tag or imbed your quotation. Quotations should not stand alone. Wrong: “Everything is saved in you” (278). claims, explains observes, points out, maintains, suggests, concludes, reveals, reports, writes, thinks, declares, says Correct: When Heinz sees his baby for the first time, he declares, “Everything is saved in you” (278).  include page number like this!

Theme: The overall message(s) of a work

Message Perfect Paragraph “My Name,” by Sandra Cisneros, shows that we must express our authentic identity when we are misunderstood.(1) Esperanza, or should I say ZeZe the X (?), feels as though no one knows the real her because her name does not accurately reflect her true character: witty, fiercely independent, and stubborn. (2) She is named after her great-grandmother, and does not “want to inherit her place by the window”(24). (3) Refusing to settle for a life she doesn’t want, ZeZe the X decides that she can show her classmates, family, and the world who she really is by being reborn with a new name. (4) People must fight to be seen for who they truly are, like Esperanza does in “My Name” when she asserts her true self. (5)

Theme Statements vs. Theme Topics Topics: Choices, regret, journeys, adventure, love, happiness, or empathy Be sure to include the title of the work and the writer in your thesis statement. Theme statements: Regret can stifle a life. Courage can be seen in unlikely people.

Verbs you can use to introduce a theme: Ex: In A Separate Peace, John Knowles portrays jealousy as an element of friendship.  portrays, shows, illustrates, proves, demonstrates, reveals, uses