Transcript The Perfect Paragraph

The Perfect
Paragraph
How long?
 7+ sentences
 Topic sentence
 5+ support sentences
 Concluding sentence
Sample Perfect Paragraph
 Look at the sample paragraph. Are there 7+ sentences?
What’s a topic sentence?
 Sets the topic for the reader
Focus
 Answers the question: What are you writing about?
Purpose
 Keep the purpose (persuade, inform, define, etc.) in mind
Sample Perfect Paragraph
 On the sample paragraph, underline the topic sentence with
red. Does it meet the F and P requirements?
Sample Characterization
Paragraph
“May the force be with you”
Luke Skywalker, the protagonist of the original Star Wars trilogy, is an
extremely determined person. First of all, when Luke is confronted with
undertaking the task of becoming a Jedi, he perseveres. Although he
has just discovered that his aunt and uncle are dead on the planet
Tatooine, Luke proceeds with his training. Furthermore, Luke continues
his training even after his teacher and friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi, is killed
by the evil Darth Vader. After this happens, Luke feels very much alone
because he believes that he is the only Jedi left in the universe;
however, Luke continues on his mission in spite of this feeling. As the
trilogy continues, Luke is faced with numerous obstacles that test his will
to go on. In the final episode, Luke must kill Darth Vader. Although he
discovers that Darth Vader is his father, Luke knows that he must return
to the Death Star to engage Darth Vader in a light saber battle that will
finally declare a winner in the battle of good and evil. Without Luke’s
determination, the universe would have succumbed to the wrath of the
dark side.
Sample Characterization
Paragraph
“May the force be with you”
Luke Skywalker, the protagonist of the original Star Wars trilogy, is an
extremely determined person. First of all, when Luke is confronted with
undertaking the task of becoming a Jedi, he perseveres. Although he
has just discovered that his aunt and uncle are dead on the planet
Tatooine, Luke proceeds with his training. Furthermore, Luke continues
his training even after his teacher and friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi, is killed
by the evil Darth Vader. After this happens, Luke feels very much alone
because he believes that he is the only Jedi left in the universe;
however, Luke continues on his mission in spite of this feeling. As the
trilogy continues, Luke is faced with numerous obstacles that test his will
to go on. In the final episode, Luke must kill Darth Vader. Although he
discovers that Darth Vader is his father, Luke knows that he must return
to the Death Star to engage Darth Vader in a light saber battle that will
finally declare a winner in the battle of good and evil. Without Luke’s
determination, the universe would have succumbed to the wrath of the
dark side.
5+ supporting sentences?!
Organization
 Stick with one organizational pattern
Development
 Make sure you truly support your position with SPECIFIC examples
from the text
Using quotations
 Use 1 quotation per paragraph
 Your quotation must be introduced with a lead-in (tells who
said it and what the context was)
 Cite your quotations like this:
 “This is my quote” (52).
 No punctuation at the end of the quotation (unless an ! or ?)
 Page number in ( ). Do not put p. or page in front of it!
 Period after the ( ).
 Every quotation must be explained to show what it proves
about the topic sentence.
Sample Perfect Paragraph
 On the sample paragraph underline the support sentences in
blue. Do they meet the O and D requirements? Does the
paragraph use a quotation?
Sample Characterization
Paragraph
“May the force be with you”
Luke Skywalker, the protagonist of the original Star Wars trilogy, is an
extremely determined person. First of all, when Luke is confronted with
undertaking the task of becoming a Jedi, he perseveres. Although he
has just discovered that his aunt and uncle are dead on the planet
Tatooine, Luke proceeds with his training. Furthermore, Luke continues
his training even after his teacher and friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi, is killed
by the evil Darth Vader. After this happens, Luke feels very much alone
because he believes that he is the only Jedi left in the universe;
however, Luke continues on his mission in spite of this feeling. As the
trilogy continues, Luke is faced with numerous obstacles that test his will
to go on. In the final episode, Luke must kill Darth Vader. Although he
discovers that Darth Vader is his father, Luke knows that he must return
to the Death Star to engage Darth Vader in a light saber battle that will
finally declare a winner in the battle of good and evil. Without Luke’s
determination, the universe would have succumbed to the wrath of the
dark side.
Sample Characterization
Paragraph
“May the force be with you”
Luke Skywalker, the protagonist of the original Star Wars trilogy, is an
extremely determined person. First of all, when Luke is confronted with
undertaking the task of becoming a Jedi, he perseveres. Although he
has just discovered that his aunt and uncle are dead on the planet
Tatooine, Luke proceeds with his training. Furthermore, Luke continues
his training even after his teacher and friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi, is killed
by the evil Darth Vader. After this happens, Luke feels very much alone
because he believes that he is the only Jedi left in the universe;
however, Luke continues on his mission in spite of this feeling. As the
trilogy continues, Luke is faced with numerous obstacles that test his will
to go on. In the final episode, Luke must kill Darth Vader. Although he
discovers that Darth Vader is his father, Luke knows that he must return
to the Death Star to engage Darth Vader in a light saber battle that will
finally declare a winner in the battle of good and evil. Without Luke’s
determination, the universe would have succumbed to the wrath of the
dark side.
Finally, we wrap it up!
 Restates the topic sentence
 Don’t just cut and paste the topic sentence
 Summarizes the main points
Sample Perfect Paragraph
 On the sample paragraph, underline the concluding sentence
with green. Does it meet the requirements of a concluding
sentence?
Sample Characterization
Paragraph
“May the force be with you”
Luke Skywalker, the protagonist of the original Star Wars trilogy, is an
extremely determined person. First of all, when Luke is confronted with
undertaking the task of becoming a Jedi, he perseveres. Although he
has just discovered that his aunt and uncle are dead on the planet
Tatooine, Luke proceeds with his training. Furthermore, Luke continues
his training even after his teacher and friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi, is killed
by the evil Darth Vader. After this happens, Luke feels very much alone
because he believes that he is the only Jedi left in the universe;
however, Luke continues on his mission in spite of this feeling. As the
trilogy continues, Luke is faced with numerous obstacles that test his will
to go on. In the final episode, Luke must kill Darth Vader. Although he
discovers that Darth Vader is his father, Luke knows that he must return
to the Death Star to engage Darth Vader in a light saber battle that will
finally declare a winner in the battle of good and evil. Without Luke’s
determination, the universe would have succumbed to the wrath of the
dark side.
Sample Characterization
Paragraph
“May the force be with you”
Luke Skywalker, the protagonist of the original Star Wars trilogy, is an
extremely determined person. First of all, when Luke is confronted with
undertaking the task of becoming a Jedi, he perseveres. Although he
has just discovered that his aunt and uncle are dead on the planet
Tatooine, Luke proceeds with his training. Furthermore, Luke continues
his training even after his teacher and friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi, is killed
by the evil Darth Vader. After this happens, Luke feels very much alone
because he believes that he is the only Jedi left in the universe;
however, Luke continues on his mission in spite of this feeling. As the
trilogy continues, Luke is faced with numerous obstacles that test his will
to go on. In the final episode, Luke must kill Darth Vader. Although he
discovers that Darth Vader is his father, Luke knows that he must return
to the Death Star to engage Darth Vader in a light saber battle that will
finally declare a winner in the battle of good and evil. Without Luke’s
determination, the universe would have succumbed to the wrath of the
dark side.
Overall
 Remember that, overall, the paragraph as a whole needs to
meet the F-POD requirements.
Your Turn
Now that you have the requirements of a perfect
characterization paragraph, you will be writing your own
perfect paragraph that characterizes Madame Loisel from
“The Necklace.” Please keep F-POD in mind as you write.