Asserting your topic. Providing evidence. Coming to conclusions.

A Power Paragraph is an 11-sentence paragraph which is very focused on a specific topic. It provides evidence from literature, connects that evidence to the topic, and then closes with a summarizing concluding statement.

Sentence 1 The first sentence in a Power Paragraph is a topic sentence. It answers the prompt or question… …or it asserts your thesis statement.

Sentences 2, 5, & 8 These sentences include concrete details which you directly quote from your sources—either your research or the piece of literature you are using. They “prove” your topic sentence or thesis statement Always include your source and/or page numbers in parentheses at the end of these sentences.

Sentences 3-4, 6-7, & 9-10 These sentences are commentary sentences that you write to make the connection between your thesis or answer and the concrete detail clear. This is where your opinion is defended. These sentences need to work together in pairs.

Sentence 11 This is your concluding sentence that wraps up your ideas. It should echo or restate your first sentence.

Outline/Graphic Organizer Topic Sentence/Answer to question/Thesis statement Concrete Detail 1 Commentary/Connecting Sentence A Commentary/Connecting Sentence B Concrete Detail 2 Commentary/Connecting Sentence C Commentary/Connecting Sentence D Concrete Detail 3 Commentary/Connecting Sentence E Commentary/Connecting Sentence F Concluding Sentence

How to Use This in Your Research Paper (Body Paragraphs)? Sentence #1: Argument – what you’re trying to prove in this paragraph Sentence #2: Supporting Statement 1 – the first point that supports your argument Sentence #3: Example – a quote or specific example that proves sentence 2 Sentence #4: Explanation – explain how the above example proves sentence 2 Sentence #5: Supporting Statement 2 – the second point that supports your argument Sentence #6: Example – a quote or specific example that proves sentence 5 Sentence #7: Explanation – explain how the above example proves sentence 5 Sentence #8: Supporting Statement 2 – the second point that supports your argument Sentence #9: Example – a quote or specific example that proves sentence 5 Sentence #10: Explanation – explain how the above example proves sentence 5 Sentence #11: Conclusion – wrap up your supporting argument (sentence #1) by rewording sentence #1 with a twist (be creative…make it different)

Sentence 1 Stephen Crane’s “An Episode of War” portrays the characteristics of Realism, for although he wrote the story a number of years after the Civil War had already taken place, Crane wished to capture the harsh realities facing soldiers during this tumultuous period of great pain and suffering.

Sentences 2, 3, & 4 For instance, Crane uses historical details from the time period of the Civil War, such as a soldier trying “to sheathe a sword held by the left hand, at the middle of the blade, in a scabbard hung at the left hip,” to make the story believable (Crane 477). During the Civil War, the use of swords was common. This is a detail which brings a sense of Realism to a story from this era.

Sentences 5, 6, & 7 Furthermore, a description of a wounded lieutenant shows that the soldier “hung his head, feeling, in this presence, that he did not know how to be correctly wounded” (Crane 480). This gives the reader a glimpse into the true feeling of what being wounded may actually be like for a soldier who has had such an experience. The wound may not be a sign of heroic glory, as many might assume, but it might instead be a badge of confusion and shame.

Sentences 8, 9, & 10 Finally, Crane depicts a realistic setting with “a dispute of some kind raging on the steps of the schoolhouse” and a man resting “with his back against a tree…serenely smoking a corncob pipe” (480). Realistically, every event that happens during wartime may not necessarily be as one depicted in a painting or a scene from a movie where all soldiers are engaged in bloody battle against the enemy. There may in fact be various events occurring simultaneously, such as the ones here in which people are arguing and some are even resting.

Sentence 11 Thus, Stephen Crane’s “An Episode of War” successfully illustrates the qualities of Realism, which seeks to portray the harsh and true realities of everyday life.

Characteristics of Realism in Stephen Crane’s “An Episode of War” Stephen Crane’s “An Episode of War” portrays the characteristics of Realism, for although he wrote the story a number of years after the Civil War had already taken place, Crane wished to capture the harsh realities facing soldiers during this tumultuous period of great pain and suffering. For instance, Crane uses historical details from the time period of the Civil War, such as a soldier trying “to sheathe a sword held by the left hand, at the middle of the blade, in a scabbard hung at the left hip,” to make the story believable (Crane 477). During the Civil War, the use of swords was common, and this is a detail which brings a sense of Realism to a story from this era. Furthermore, a description of a wounded lieutenant shows that the soldier “hung his head, feeling, in this presence, that he did not know how to be correctly wounded” (Crane 480). This gives the reader a glimpse into the true feeling of what being wounded may actually be like for a soldier who has had such an experience; the wound may not be a sign of heroic glory, as many might assume, but it might instead be a badge of confusion and shame. Finally, Crane depicts a realistic setting with “a dispute of some kind raging on the steps of the schoolhouse” and a man resting “with his back against a tree…serenely smoking a corncob pipe” (480). Realistically, every event that happens during wartime may not necessarily be as one depicted in a painting or a scene from a movie where all soldiers are engaged in bloody battle against the enemy. There may in fact be various events occurring simultaneously, such as the ones here in which people are arguing and some are even resting. Thus, Stephen Crane’s “An Episode of War” successfully illustrates the qualities of Realism, which seeks to portray the harsh and true realities of everyday life.

Characteristics of Realism in Stephen Crane’s “An Episode of War” Stephen Crane’s “An Episode of War” portrays the characteristics of Realism, for although he wrote the story a number of years after the Civil War had already taken place, Crane wished to capture the harsh realities facing soldiers during this tumultuous period of great pain and suffering. For instance, Crane uses historical details from the time period of the Civil War, such as a soldier trying “to sheathe a sword held by the left hand, at the middle of the blade, in a scabbard hung at the left hip,” to make the story believable (Crane 477). During the Civil War, the use of swords was common. This is a detail which brings a sense of Realism to a story from this era. Furthermore, a description of a wounded lieutenant shows that the soldier “hung his head, feeling, in this presence, that he did not know how to be correctly wounded” (Crane 480). This gives the reader a glimpse into the true feeling of what being wounded may actually be like for a soldier who has had such an experience. The wound may not be a sign of heroic glory, as many might assume, but it might instead be a badge of confusion and shame. Finally, Crane depicts a realistic setting with “a dispute of some kind raging on the steps of the schoolhouse” and a man resting “with his back against a tree…serenely smoking a corncob pipe” (480). Realistically, every event that happens during wartime may not necessarily be as one depicted in a painting or a scene from a movie where all soldiers are engaged in bloody battle against the enemy. There may in fact be various events occurring simultaneously, such as the ones here in which people are arguing and some are even resting. Thus, Stephen Crane’s “An Episode of War” successfully illustrates the qualities of Realism, which seeks to portray the harsh and true realities of everyday life. Example

Class Example With a partner, write two Power Paragraphs How are the characteristics of Realism and Naturalism displayed in one of the characters from “Little Women”? How are the characteristics of Realism and Naturalism displayed through either the setting, conflicts, or resolution of “Little Women”?