Do Now  What is a “hook”?  What do you think should be included in each paragraph of an informative or expository paper?

C.A.S.T. 8 th Grade Language Arts

What is C.A.S.T.?  C.A.S.T. is an acronym used to remind writers how writing should be formatted

C Stands for Claim  Claim: a single sentence that reveals the one focus of the entire paragraph

A Stands for Add  Add: one or two sentences that add to the claim’s meaning or importance

S Stands for Support and Elaboration  Support and Elaboration: evidence that supports the claim, along with elaboration that explains how the evidence reveals the claim’s truth

T Stands for Tie-Back or Transition  Tie-Back/Transition: this single sentence should refer back to your claim, while also acting as a transition to your next paragraph

What C.A.S.T. looks like…  For the prompt: “What pet is the best for the elderly?” we wrote this thesis statement:  Dogs make the best pets for the elderly because they offer companionship, provide protection and encourage people to exercise.  Now, let’s see what the first paragraph would look like.

Claim Dogs offer companionship to their owners, especially the elderly.

Add People that own dogs often refer to their pets as their best friends. Furthermore, some dog owners, even refer to their dogs as their children.

Support In many studies, dog owners were more emotionally stable than non-pet owners. According to doctors, “The interaction with and love received from a dog can also help people stay positive. Even the mere act of looking at your pet increases the amount of Oxytocin, the “feel good” chemical, in the brain.” Having a constant friend, who is always available, has a positive effect on elderly people.

Tie-back/Transition Dogs not only offer friendship to elderly people, but also can protect them during many different types of emergency.

All together… Dogs offer companionship to their owners, especially the elderly. People that own dogs often refer to their pets as their best friends. Furthermore, some dog owners even refer to their dogs as their children. In many studies, dog owners were more emotionally stable than non-pet owners. According to doctors, “The interaction with and love received from a dog can also help people stay positive. Even the mere act of looking at your pet increases the amount of Oxytocin, the “feel good” chemical, in the brain.” Having a constant friend, who is always available, has a positive effect on elderly people. Dogs not only offer friendship to elderly people, but also can protect them during many different types of emergency.

On your own…  Read each of your paragraphs.  Identify the Claim, Add, Support and Transition.  If you can not identify each aspect of C.A.S.T., revise your paragraphs.