STRUCTURE OF A PARAGRAPH

Order of sentences in an ANALYTICAL paragraph… 6 sentences MINIMUM!!!! 1. Topic Sentence 2. Provide Context 3. Quote 4. Commentary 5. Commentary 6. Concluding Sentence

1. Topic Sentence TS = Topic Sentence A Topic Sentence should start off the paragraph in a general direction By reading the topic sentence, the reader should have an idea about what the paragraph will be about, but should not have too many specifics You don’t want to get too deep into an answer with the TS, save that for later

2. Provide Context PC = Provide Context Quotes cannot simply be placed right after the TS. There needs to be a foundation for the quote, or as this says, some context provided. In this structure PC follow the TS and should get more specific—provide some actual answers to whatever question is posed PC also introduces an idea that will be backed up next with a quote. Therefore PC does two things: It lays the groundwork for the quote, gets more specific about your answer, as well as previews the quote you are about to use

3. Quote Q =Quote Every quote you choose to include in a literary analysis response should be directly applicable to the main point introduced by your TS and especially the more specific example given in your PC Basically, the quote is evidence from the text, and should show exactly what you are trying to say A lot of times you will start by finding a quote, and then beginning your TS and PC. The quote is the main evidence—the rest is explaining what it shows and why that is important

4. Commentary CM = Commentary Another general term you need to know, Commentary means many things: Explanation, analysis, elaboration The reason there is more than one CM in a paragraph is because this is where your real analysis needs to come from Here is where you explain exactly what it is you are trying to say. You are showing how the quote has to do with the PC, which has to do with the TS. Your commentary should clear it all up

5. ANOTHER COMMENTARY SENTENCE For every quote, you need AT LEAST 2 COMMENTARY SENTENCES!!!

6. Concluding Sentence CS = Concluding Sentence The Concluding Sentence should do exactly what it sounds like—wrap the paragraph up Like the topic sentence, the concluding sentence should end the paragraph in a general way, but also be worded in a sophisticated manner. You never end with, “And that is why Esperanza left Mango Street.” The CS should be a summary of the points covered and conclusions you’ve come to. In the body paragraphs of an essay, CS can also be transitionary, leading the reader to the next body paragraph

EXAMPLE- Label each sentence In Chapter One, the Christmas Rolls symbolize Tita’s loss of innocence. When she was young, Tita loved the Christmas Rolls, yet by the end of the chapter, they are hollow. “She felt no relief from the hollow sensation in her stomach. Just the opposite, a wave of nausea flowed over her” (19). Nacha left Tita a roll at the end of the chapter because they were her favorite, and she wanted to cheer Tita up because of her curse as the youngest daughter. But when it is certain Mama Elena has given away Pedro, Tita’s love, Tita has been faced with her first disappointment in life, and doesn’t know how to enjoy the rolls anymore. Just like her childhood is now gone, so is Tita’s love of the symbolic Christmas Rolls.

MODEL WITH TFIOS TS: Although Hazel demonstrates bravery throughout TFIOS, the moment when she kisses Gus in the Anne Frank House shows her true courage. PC: Hazel has resisted responding to Gus as she does not want to hurt him; however, she realizes that she has been hiding from her feelings. Quote: “Augustus Waters,” I said, looking up at him, thinking that you cannot kiss anyone in the Anne Frank House, and then thinking that Anne Frank, after all, kissed someone in the Anne Frank House, and that she would probably like nothing more for her home to have become a place where the young and irreparably broken sink into love.” Commentary: Here Hazel is justifying her feelings for Gus, working up the courage to reach out to him. Commentary :She finally overcomes these fears and pulls him in for a kiss, even through her concern for hurting him and her concern over the inappropriateness of the place. Concluding Sentence: Hazel is able to wrestle with her fears and steps up with courage, finally admitting her love for Gus.

YOU DO- Choose ONE Character and ONE Trait…write an analytical paragraph with this structure!!!! 1. Topic Sentence 2. Provide Context 3. Quote 4. Commentary 5. Commentary 6. Concluding Sentence