Paragraph Writing 1-0-1

Step 1: Topic Sentence 1.The topic sentence MUST be one sentence in length and present the central argument of the paragraph. It must be professional and incorporate the language from the question being asked. When in an essay, it must show a direct transition from the previous statement to itself.

Sample Topic Sentences: One of these sentences is not like the other: One of these sentences works. 1.Not only do Americans continue to strive for the past, like Gatsby, in “boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past,” but people throughout time have sought. 2.No because his characteristics of lying and cheating blemished his greatness. 3.If offered the chance to recommend The Great Gatsby to a friend, I would certainly recommend the text because of its excellent illustration of how obsessing over the past can only lead to pain and suffering.

Step 2: Proof 1.The proof must be specific, to the point, and not extremely long. 2.You should only quote what you can’t say any better. 3.Mixing paraphrasing with quotations is a great technique. A sentence where 50-60% is you and the rest is the quote makes a strong statement and keeps you from quoting too much. 4.The proof should be feasible from the beginning.

Proof Samples: Which one(s) works? 1.“After Gatsby’s death the East was haunted for me like that...” 2.Not only do Americans continue to strive for the past, like Gatsby, in “boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past,” but people throughout time have sought. 3.Throughout the text, Gatsby is constantly longing for the one thing he cannot possibly possess, the past. His unwillingness to look beyond the past is best illustrated when he responds to Nick Caraway’s claim that you can’t repeat the past with “‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’”

Step 3: Explanation 1.As simple as it is, this step is the one that seems to be the most difficult to master. 2.You must completely explain how the quotation proves the point you are making in your topic sentence. not 3.No assumptions; no thinking you’ve already done it. You have not explained it completely until you’ve completely explained it.

Explanation Samples: Which one(s) work 1.Even Nick was terribly affected by Gatsby’s death, and he barely knew him. With all the years Gatsby has loved Daisy, and then suddenly losing her, he will go into depression. 2.It’s why you see civilizations attempt to recreate and conserve the norm, to revert the change they don’t like. They strive to live in the past and end up missing the future. 3.With this simple response to Nick’s proclamation that the past cannot be recaptured, Gatsby demonstrates his one fatal flaw, an inability to live beyond the past. This flaw is one that eventually consumes Gatsby and destroys him. Through Gatsby’s tragic death, audiences are able to gain an understanding of how important it is to move beyond the past, to live life to the fullest. For this simple reason, I feel this book should be recommended to other people.

If offered the chance to recommend The Great Gatsby to a friend, I would recommend the text because of its illustration of how obsessing over the past can only lead to pain and suffering. Throughout the text, Gatsby is constantly longing for the one thing he cannot possibly possess, the past. His unwillingness to look beyond the past is best illustrated when he responds to Nick Caraway’s claim that you can’t repeat the past with “‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’” With this simple response to Nick’s proclamation that the past cannot be recaptured, Gatsby demonstrates his one fatal flaw, an inability to live beyond the past. This flaw is one that eventually consumes Gatsby and destroys him. Through Gatsby’s tragic death, audiences are able to gain an understanding of how important it is to move beyond the past and to live life to the fullest lest they become consumed, too. For this simple yet important lesson, I feel this book should be recommended to other people.

Your Practice Rules 1.You will be required to write and submit a paragraph every night until you finish your essay. 2.Again, I’m not trying to be cruel. My desire is to finally help you master writing, so you never, ever have a structural issue that keeps you from success. 3.Finally, you will not pass this six weeks without mastering the writing craft. I’m sorry, but it’s time you lose your one weakness and emerge strong scholars.