How to write one – structure, format, language Formal Literary Paragraph

What does it mean by formal? Language – word choice and mechanics are important No personal pronouns – I, we, us you are not used No contractions – can’t becomes can not, it’s becomes it is Avoid slang and cliches – kids is slang, therefore use children You take the attitude you are talking with someone important and not your friends

Word Choice Verb tense (the action of doing something) is something that is happening now – every time the book is opened, it is alive now Keep verb tense in the present tense – i.e. He says, NOT he said

Structure Topic sentence Point Context and proof Explanation Concluding sentence

Closer look at structure - topic Topic sentence When writing only one paragraph introduce author, title of play (in italics), points to be examined in a complete essay, the topic sentence will introduce the ideas/points to be discussed in the paragraph A topic is the material that is under examination in the written work

Structure - point Point – explains the what A finer look at where in the work studied that the topic is examined Consider using a variety of areas in the text from beginning to end to support the particular topic Following the point, it is supported and linked further to a specific example Marked under a knowledge category

Structure – context/proof Context – giving the reader an idea what is going on in the text when the proof is provided Proof – a direct example quoted from the text to provide evidence for your point Citation of quote in brackets behind quotation mark but before period author’s name the first time you refer to the work and number of page in a book (Golding 55) In Shakespeare act, scene, line (Shakespeare ) Context/proof is one sentence linked together with appropriate punctuation – a comma in instances where “he says,” or a semi colon when the pause is longer Marked as both knowledge (understands what is going on), and thinking (chooses the most appropriate quote to support point) Explains the where and when

Structure - explanation Explanation – also known as link or analysis Explain how and why the proof supports the point Links material that happened earlier in the play or what will happen Offers insight to character or plot development 1 -2 sentences in length Be concise and succinct and thoughtful Marked under a thinking category

Concluding sentence Examining the many units of point/proof/explanation, wrap up what you have written in these 9-12 sentences and link it back to the topic sentence in one sentence Vary word choice (use thesaurus) and sentence structure

Typical paragraph Topic sentence Point #1 Context/proof #1 Explanation #1 Transition word + Point #2 Context/proof #2 Explanation#2 Transition word + Point #3 Context/proof #3 Explanation #3 Concluding sentence

Length More than the amount of words, the proper structure will determine length Topic sentence – 1 sentence Point – 1 sentence Context and proof – “1 sentence” – proof will vary in length, so technically your proof can be more than one sentence from the text, but it is considered as a unit of one sentence Explanation – 1-2 sentences Concluding sentence – 1 sentence A paragraph of three p.p.e. will have sentences Approximately ¾ - 1 page typed, double-spaced, 12 font is the norm

Order of p.p.e. Within a body, 90% of the time the proof will be put in order of appearance in the text Act 1 comes before act 3 then act 5, so the proof will shown accordingly as point/proof 1, then point/proof 2, etc. Though not typical, you can have point/proof/proof/explanation – two proofs can be used to explain one point, and explained together – these are linked together by transition words like similarly, as well as, later

Format quoting one person dialogue When only one person is quoted use the following format When Viola discovers a love triangle has formed, she says, “time, thou must untangle this, not I:/it is too hard a knot for me t’untie” (Shakespeare ). Note that the comma comes before the opening quotation marks, there is a back slash to indicate a line break in Shakespeare, and the period to end the sentence comes after the citation

Format quoting multi dialogue pieces

Transitions Using transitional words and phrases helps papers read more smoothly, and at the same time allows the reader to flow more smoothly from one point to the next. Transitions enhance logical organization and understandability and improve the connections between thoughts. They indicate relations, whether within a sentence, paragraph, or paper. This list illustrates categories of "relationships" between ideas, followed by words and phrases that can make the connections.

Examples of transitional words furthermore therefore subsequently Similarly Conversely Likewise As a result of Moreover For instance Finally Otherwise consequently