1. Great Paragraph Writing
Tips, formulas and tricks to reinforce what you know or to get you started.

2. Format of a body paragraph (version 1)
Topic sentence
Explanation
Evidence
Closing Sentence

3. Format of a body paragraph (version 2)
Topic sentence
Evidence
Explanation
Closing Sentence

4. Format of a body paragraph (version 3)
Topic Sentence
Explanation
Evidence (quote)
Concluding Sentence

5. How do I correctly use quotations in an essay?
TLQ
How do I correctly use
quotations in an essay?

6. Evidence/Quotations
Quotations are used as evidence because they come directly from the book.
Topic Sentence
Explanation
Evidence (quote)
Concluding Sentence

7. T stands for TRANSITION
For example,
For instance,
Another example is
In addition,
Moreover,
Transitions should be used before any piece of evidence/quote.

8. L stands for LEAD-IN
Lead-ins give the reader information about the “scene” from where the quote is extracted. It should contain both
Speaker
Situation
For example, when Rainsford returns to Zaroff’s home, he says,

9. Q stands for QUOTE
Your evidence is a quote—anything from the text, regardless of if it has been “spoken” by a character or not. However, quotes should support the topic you are writing about.
For example, when Rainsford returns to Zaroff’s home, he says, “I am still a beast at bay.” (103).

10. What follows a quote?
Add one to two sentences of explanation that shows the importance of the quote/situation as related to your topic.
For example, when Zaroff suggested that Rainsford go hunting he gave him no alternative but to play when he said, “There’s always Ivan” (100). This shows that Rainsford was acting in self-defense when he accepted the terms of the game. If he didn’t agree to be hunted, Ivan would have torn him to shreds.

11. Example #1
Rainsford is guilty of murder because he went to General Zarroff ‘s home and confronted him after the “game” ended. For example, when Zaroff congratulated him on winning, Rainsford says, “I am still a beast at bay.” (103) This shows that even though the game was over Rainsford wanted to kill General Zarroff.