Writing

Paragraph Writing
Remember, the purpose of writing is to communicate. The more clearly you say something, the easier it is to follow your ideas. You therefore need a CLEAR structure for the reader to follow.

Let's start with the paragraph. See below model...



 * Well-written Paragraphs Should Contain: **
 * One Controlling Idea
 * Precise Vocabulary
 * Specific Details that support the main idea
 * Focused topic sentence
 * Closing sentence (simile/ metaphor?)

THINK FIRST...THEN PLAN....THEN WRITE!!

Remember P-E-E
**Point**: The main idea of the paragraph **Evidence**: The facts/ details (PROVE YOUR POINT)- dates, names, events, etc that support your point. **Explanation** (the SO WHAT of the facts), where you CONNECT the facts to your point. WHY are you telling me all of these facts...what's their significance to your main idea

For paragraph writing: Editing Tips/ Consider:

 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Is your point/ topic sentence clear and specific?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Do your points relate to your topic sentence?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Did you PROVE your assertion (point)? Is your evidence specific? Do you include historical facts (proper nouns or numbers) or reference to primary source documents?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Do you explain your evidence (the SO WHAT) and how it connects to your point/ topic sentence?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Do you use transition words to connect, highlight or signal change of direction?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Does your closing sentence restate your main idea and summarize your points
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Do you capitalize all proper nouns? (e.g. china --> China)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Do you join sentences correctly? (e.g. Semicolon [;], conjunction or transition)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Do you use the simple past tense for events?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Do you spell key words correctly?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Do your subjects and verbs agree? (e.g. The merchants was --> the merchants were)

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Documents to help
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">1. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">2. (see also below)

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">1. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">2. for compare/ contrast writing
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">For Compare/ Contrast Writing: **

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Helpful Websites
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">1. Purdue University's [|great writing site]: Use this site for instructions on MLA and APA citations:

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Rubric for Writing a Paragraph:


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