1. The Seven Step Paragraph Based on a handout from Thomas Haney Secondary School Step 1. Before you begin writing you must ask yourself: - Who is it for? - What do I want it to do? * This helps you choose the best words and to say what you want to say in the best way.

2. The Seven Step Paragraph Based on a handout from Thomas Haney Secondary School Step 2. Make a thesis. A thesis is your opinion stated in one to three sentences. It cannot be a fact and it cannot be a question. It must be something you can argue about. Don’t try to write about a topic; make a thesis about the topic.

3. The Seven Step Paragraph Based on a handout from Thomas Haney Secondary School Step Two Continued: Example Topic: Bob in the position of captain of the basketball team. Example Thesis: Bob is not the best person to be captain of the basketball team.

4. The Seven Step Paragraph Based on a handout from Thomas Haney Secondary School Step Three: Write three points that help prove your opinion. Step Four: Write one example for each point. Step Five: Support each example with a “So What”. This is a sentence that tells what your example has to do with your thesis.

5. The Seven Step Paragraph Based on a handout from Thomas Haney Secondary School Step Six: Write a conclusion. Never begin with “In conclusion”. Use a suggestion, a prophesy, or a profound observation.

6. The Seven Step Paragraph Based on a handout from Thomas Haney Secondary School Step Seven: Add transition words (linking words) example: but, like, although, in fact, still, later, soon, also, for instance, …

7. The Seven Step Paragraph Based on a handout from Thomas Haney Secondary School Here is an example of an actual paragraph put together by using this seven step model.

8. The Seven Step Paragraph Based on a handout from Thomas Haney Secondary School Outline Thesis: Bob is not the person for the position of captain of the school’s basketball team. Point #1: He has poor judgment. Example: Just last week he made a crude joke in front of coaches from Maple Ridge Elementary School. So What? Our captain must be a good example at all times.

9. The Seven Step Paragraph Based on a handout from Thomas Haney Secondary School Point #2: His attitude is always negative. Example: When we were practicing yesterday he said we couldn’t beat a kindergarten class. So what? Encouraging other members of the team is an important part of a captain’s job. Being negative only causes insecurity and then the team will start losing instead of winning.

10. The Seven Step Paragraph Based on a handout from Thomas Haney Secondary School Point #3: His language leaves much to be desired. Example: He swore at a referee during the tournament at Garibaldi. So What? As a result, he got a technical foul at a crucial point in the game. Instead of helping the team he hurt it.

11. The Seven Step Paragraph Based on a handout from Thomas Haney Secondary School Conclusion: Suggestion: We need to appoint someone else as captain. Prophesy: If we continue with Bob as the captain the remaining players will get discouraged and quit. Profound Observation: I can’t think of anyone worse for the position of captain of our team.

12. The Seven Step Paragraph Based on a handout from Thomas Haney Secondary School Last: You may find that your paragraph sounds a bit choppy. While you are putting your good copy together, you may add what are called transition words. We have underlined these in the good copy so you can see them and see how they are used.

13. The Seven Step Paragraph Based on a handout from Thomas Haney Secondary School Note: This model can work for all paragraphs except the narrative, story telling type of paragraph. From now on, in all your subjects, you should use this model whenever possible to produce your paragraphs.

14. The Seven Step Paragraph Based on a handout from Thomas Haney Secondary School Once you have finished the outline, remove the headings such as “Thesis”, “Point”, “Example”, “So What?”, and you pretty well have a finished paragraph. What follows is the finished paragraph using the outline. We have underlined the transition words.

15. The Seven Step Paragraph Based on a handout from Thomas Haney Secondary School Bob is not the person for the position of captain of the school’s basketball team. One reason is that he has poor judgment. Just last week he made a crude joke in front of the coaches from Maple Ridge Elementary School. Our captain must be a good example at all times. Another reason he is unsuitable is that his attitude is always negative. When we were practicing yesterday he said we couldn’t beat a kindergarten class. Encouraging other members of the team is an important part of a captain’s job. Being negative only causes insecurity and then the team will start losing instead of winning. His language also leaves much to be desired. He swore at the referee during the tournament at Garibaldi. As a result he got a technical foul at a crucial point in the game. …..

16. The Seven Step Paragraph Based on a handout from Thomas Haney Secondary School Now can you apply the same outline to a paragraph of your own? Outline: Topic - Thesis - Point 1 - Example - So What? - Point 2 - Example - So What? - Point 3 - Example - So What? - Conclusion - Write your paragraph with this information, using transition words to join your thoughts up where it’s appropriate. Don’t forget to edit and proofread your paragraph!