Unit 2: Writing Powerful Paragraphs

1. Unit 2:Writing Powerful Paragraphs Objectives: To write a variety of paragraphs suited to different purposes To write in a voice and style appropriate to audience and purpose To organize ideas in writing to ensure coherence, logical progression, and support for ideas

2. 1. Paragraph Structure Paragraph--one or more related sentences that present and develop one main idea.

3. Most large caves have three distinct zones, and each zone is home to a different kind of natural life. In the innermost part of the cave, the darkness is complete, and the temperature never varies. Without light, green plants cannot live and animals have no need for eyes. The next zone, although still dark and moist, has a variable temperature. Animals that otherwise live outside inhabit this zone seasonally. The third zone, called the twilight zone, begins wherever light from the cave entrance can first be seen. A few green plants can grow in this zone. Most of the animals in this zone use the cave as shelter from the outdoors. In each zone the plants and animals adapt to the meager resources of their home.

4. Most large caves have three distinct zones, and each zone is home to a different kind of natural life. In the innermost part of the cave, the darkness is complete, and the temperature never varies. Without light, green plants cannot live and animals have no need for eyes. The next zone, although still dark and moist, has a variable temperature. Animals that otherwise live outside inhabit this zone seasonally. The third zone, called the twilight zone, begins wherever light from the cave entrance can first be seen. A few green plants can grow in this zone. Most of the animals in this zone use the cave as shelter from the outdoors. In each zone the plants and animals adapt to the meager resources of their home.

5. Write a brief outline that includes topic sentence, supporting details, and concluding sentence. I. (topic) II. (support) A. B. Etc. Most large caves have three distinct zones, and each zone is home to a different kind of natural life. In the innermost part of the cave, the darkness is complete, and the temperature never varies. Without light, green plants cannot live and animals have no need for eyes. The next zone, although still dark and moist, has a variable temperature. Animals that otherwise live outside inhabit this zone seasonally. The third zone, called the twilight zone, begins wherever light from the cave entrance can first be seen. A few green plants can grow in this zone. Most of the animals in this zone use the cave as shelter from the outdoors. In each zone the plants and animals adapt to the meager resources of their home.

6. Three Parts of a Paragraph

7. 1. Topic Sentence • States the main idea of the paragraph • Focuses the limited subject on one main point that can be adequately covered in the paragraph • Is more general than the sentences that develop it

8. 2. Supporting Sentences • Form the body of the paragraph • Explain the topic sentence • Provide specific details, facts, examples, incidents, or reasons

9. 3. Concluding Sentence • Recalls the main idea in a fresh way • Adds a strong ending to a paragraph • Often called clinchers

10. Weak Concluding Sentence Whether a mammal dreams or not depends in part on whether it is predator or prey. In a dream state, sleep is very deep, and an animal does not know what is going on around it. The dream state is safer for predator than for prey because a predator does not have to worry about sudden attack. A prey animal, in contrast, needs to be able to make a quick getaway. As you can see, dreams depend on whether a mammal is predator or prey.

11. Strong Concluding Sentence Whether a mammal dreams or not depends in part on whether it is predator or prey. In a dream state, sleep is very deep, and an animal does not know what is going on around it. The dream state is safer for predator than for prey because a predator does not have to worry about sudden attack. A prey animal, in contrast, needs to be able to make a quick getaway. Experiments show that predators dream but prey sleep in a shallow dreamless state.