1. Paragraph Parts TOPIC SENTENCE: this is what you must prove!
Make a statement:
In Chapter 5, Jane Yolen characterizes Yitzchak as .

2. Paragraph Parts Context: Set the scene for the reader.
What is happening in the scene when your quotation takes place?
Provide 2-4 sentences.

3. In this student example, notice how this context helps set up the quotation that follows.
Ponyboy’s perception of Dally changed in the story. Ponyboy walks into the house, all sad that Johnny died. Steve, Soda, Darry and Two-Bit started to get emotional. Darry gets a phone call from Dally saying he robbed a grocery store and the cops are after him. When they meet up with him, Dally pulls out a gun without any bullets and gets shot by the cop. Pony says, “Nobody would write editorials praising Dally” (Hinton 154). He also says, “But I remember Dally pulling Johnny through the window of the burning church; Dally giving us his gun, although it could mean jail time for him; Dally risking his life for us, trying to keep Johnny out of trouble” (Hinton 154).

4. Paragraph Parts Textual evidence: Deliver a perfect quote.
What piece of text can you show that proves (supports) your topic sentence statement?
TAG, COMMA, QUOTE, HEAD ON A SWIVEL, CITATION, PERIOD.

5. Paragraph Parts ANALYSIS/COMMENTARY/REASONING:
Make your connection as a writer.
What is characterization? Did you provide an example of direct or indirect characterization? Why does Yitzchak say the things he does? How do other people respond to this character? How does your quotation support what you’re proving?
Refer back to a keyword in your topic sentence to keep your paragraph focused.

6. Ponyboy’s perception of Dally changed in the story.
He also says, “But I remember Dally pulling Johnny through the window of the burning church; Dally giving us his gun, although it could mean jail time for him; Dally risking his life for us, trying to keep Johnny out of trouble” (Hinton 154). Early in the story, Pony would describe Dally as being mean, cold and tough. But we can see here that Pony has changed his mind about Dally. Dally had a breaking point. Realizing that Johnny is dead, he storms out of the hospital and robs a store. Pony’s perception of Dally would be helping the gang, especially Johnny, and care for them until he died. Pony even says that he will not be remembered by others, but he would be remembered by the people that cared for him and got him out of trouble.
In this student example, notice how this commentary gives the big picture of what the topic sentence states and refers back to the keyword in the topic sentence.

7. Be A Big Person Writer
Double check to make sure you’ve spelled ALL NAMES CORRECTLY!
Have you varied your sentence structure?
Go back and read your paragraph and think to yourself, “What does this sound like to the reader?”