1. Transitional Paragraphs
English II—Academic

2. Transitional Paragraph
What is it?
A paragraph giving good background information about the topic.
Where is it located?
Second paragraph—right after introduction
Why do I need it?
Gives your audience the information they need.
Establishes your credibility.

3. Topic Sentence The umbrella for your transitional paragraph.
Everything else in the paragraph should fit under your topic sentence.
Piggyback (or continue from) the background information you included in your introduction.
If you used a summarizing statistic, begin with a definition. If you used a definition, begin with a summarizing statistic.

4. Transitional Paragraph
Year-round schooling is a modified school schedule for elementary, middle school, and high school students.

5. Information Your “A” and “B” from your outline:
Two or more pieces of background information that relate to your topic.
These pieces of background information should relate specifically to your opinion.

6. Information
In year-round schools, terms last forty-five to sixty days. After these forty-five to sixty day terms, students take a two to three week break.

7. Address the Opposition/ Make a Bold Claim
Give me a a phrase/sentence that addresses the other side of your argument.
Follow that phrase/sentence with a solid statement reinforcing your opinion.
Many times this will start with the word “although”

8. Address Opposition/ Make Bold Claim
Although many people think that year-round schooling prevents kids from really being kids, this is not true. Year-round schooling helps kids become better students; it does not stop them from having fun.

9. Hint at a Call to Action Your “A” from your conclusion (V).
This is only a hint
Do not make this a command—make it a suggestion.
A good tip is to start with the word “if”

10. Hint at Call to Action
If year-round schooling were implemented, students could more frequent breaks and reap the benefits of a continuous educational system.

11. Whole Paragraph
Year-round schooling is a modified school schedule for elementary, middle school, and high school students. In year-round schools, terms last forty-five to sixty days. After these forty-five to sixty day terms, students take a two to three week break. Although many people think year-round schooling prevents kids from really being kids, this is not true. Year-round schooling helps kids become better students; it does not stop them from having fun. If year-round schooling were implemented, students could enjoy more frequent breaks while reaping the benefits of a continuous educational system.