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2. 2 Before writing anything a student must know the assignment - clearly read the PROMPT. Typical prompts ask students to…  Respond to Literature  Discuss what was learned in relation to a specific topic - expository  Persuade - Convince a reader to believe/support a certain way of thinking

3. 3 THE BUILDING BLOCK OF WRITING - How to write an effective paragraph Each paragraph will include the following: A Topic Sentence (TS) Concrete Details (CD) Commentary Sentences (CM) Concluding Sentences (CS)

4. 4  The topic sentence is the first sentence of the paragraph.  It proclaims the main idea and contains an opinion. Usually a mildly controversial statement- something that you have to prove. It can be as brief as three words.

5. 5 In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig was very wise.

6. 6  CDs = Support for your TS. (facts, quotes, statistics, examples, paraphrases etc. from the text or research.)  CDs can’t be argued with - a CD is evidence that supports your point  CDs can be direct quotes or paraphrased information  CDs include the “stuff from the story, reading, article, etc.”

7. 7 For example, he remembered his mother’s warning about a wolf, and built his house out of sturdy brick.

8. 8 CMs = your analysis, interpretation, inferences, opinion, explanation or insight. CMs = the “so what?” CMs = the stuff from your head

9. 9 The frustrated wolf gave up extremely easily after a half-hearted attempt to blow down the sturdy and intimidating brick house. This shows that the third pig was much more intelligent than his brothers, who were devoured by the wolf.

10. 10 A CS wraps up the paragraph. It brings the reader back to the original topic without repeating the same words or summarizing.

11. 11 The third pig of the legendary fable outsmarts not only his brothers but the “big, bad” wolf as well.

12. 12 In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig was very wise. For example, he remembered his mother’s warning about a wolf and built his house out of sturdy brick. The frustrated wolf gave up extremely easily after a half- hearted attempt to blow down the sturdy and intimidating brick house. This shows that the third pig was much more intelligent than his brothers, who were devoured by the wolf. The third pig of the legendary fable outsmarts not only his brothers but the “big bad” wolf as well. Putting it all together!

13.  “In life, the best way to play your cards is to lay them face up on the table.” ◦ Do you think ‘Stargirl’ follows this “life” advice? Provide examples from the text (**Chapter 14 will be helpful**) 13