1. Do Now/ Quick Write #20:
How many sentences do you think an effective paragraph should have? Why? Give at least one reason to support your answer.
What do our responses reveal about what we know to be the criteria of building an effective paragraph?

2. Choose a suitable pattern of organization Make paragraphs coherent
Aim: How do you build effective paragraphs by focusing on a main point with topic sentences?
Five Keys to an Effective Paragraph
Focus on a main point
Develop the main point
Choose a suitable pattern of organization
Make paragraphs coherent
If necessary, adjust paragraph length

3. Aim: How do you build effective paragraphs by focusing on a main point with topic sentences?
Essay
Intro
Body
Conclusion
Intro
Hook
Purpose
Preview
Body
Topic Sentence
Elaboration
Remark
Concluding

4. Stating the Main Point in a topic sentence:
Aim: How do you build effective paragraphs by focusing on a main point with topic sentences?
Stating the Main Point in a topic sentence:
One sentence summary of the paragraph’s main point
Acts as a sign post in two directions
Like a thesis or controlling idea
Usually comes at the beginning

5. Aim: How do you build effective paragraphs by focusing on a main point with topic sentences?
Looks back to Thesis
Looks ahead to body
Topic
Angle
Sentence

6. Mumia Abul-Jamal was convicted of murdering a police officer in 1981.
Aim: How do you build effective paragraphs by focusing on a main point with topic sentences?
For a paragraph in an essay about US murder convictions, which would work well as a topic sentence?
Mumia Abul-Jamal was convicted of murdering a police officer in 1981.
Mumia Abul-Jamal’s conviction shows us that the US justice system is not always fair and impartial.

7. Many offices generate waste by updating their equipment often.
Aim: How do you build effective paragraphs by focusing on a main point with topic sentences?
2. For a paragraph on a paper about recycling, which version would work better as a topic sentence?
Obsolete computers need to be recycled so they do not leak toxic substances into soil.
Many offices generate waste by updating their equipment often.

8. Cell phones are dramatically improving lives in third world countries.
Aim: How do you build effective paragraphs by focusing on a main point with topic sentences?
3. In a paper on the benefits of cell phones in third world countries, which would work better as a topic sentence?
Cell phones are dramatically improving lives in third world countries.
In India, fishermen and farmers living in areas without a phone are using cell phones to market their products.

9. Would you believe that eating boring food can help you lose weight?
Aim: How do you build effective paragraphs by focusing on a main point with topic sentences?
4. In a paper surveying the study of recent weight loss, which would work better as a topic sentence for a body paragraph?
A recent study suggests that eating the same thing every day can help you lose weight.
Would you believe that eating boring food can help you lose weight?

10. Aim: How do you build effective paragraphs by focusing on a main point with topic sentences?
In a paper about commuting patterns in the U.S., which sentence would work well as a topic sentence?
The 2000 census figures indicates that Americans are willing to accept a commute of an hour or more if moving to a distant area means that they can afford a larger house.
According to 2000 census figures, the average amount of time an American spends commuting to work is twenty-four minutes.

11. Paragraph/Topic Sentence
Aim: How do you build effective paragraphs by focusing on a main point with topic sentences?
Paragraph/Topic Sentence
Reason
Which is the most focused paragraph in the essay?
Which has the most effective topic sentence according to our criteria?
Working with your group, explain why and how the paragraph you chose is the most focused.
Be sure to consider the criteria from today’s lesson.