Well-Written Paragraphs

1. Well-Written Paragraphs

2. A well-written paragraph has a many similar qualities to a well-crafted hamburger.

3. The bun works to hold the hamburger together and give it shape. The topic sentence and concluding sentence work to hold the paragraph together and give it shape.

4. Inside the hamburger as all the juicy toppings that make up the soul of the hamburger.Inside a paragraph are juicy details that provide interest and engage a reader in your ideas.

5. The juicy details inside your paragraphs should be arranged like a beginning, middle and end of a story. • However, instead of telling a story for this paragraph, we are focusing on explaining the impact a defining moment had on our personal identity.

6. While there are many moments in my life that define me today, one that sticks out in my mind is the time that I was able to lift my father above my head. As a young boy, I would often disagree with my dad on many topics. However, I never won any arguments, because my dad would always end them in one of two ways: cauliflower ears or poke-the-chest-until-you-give-in torture. This also meant that I struggled to communicate with my dad, because I never felt like he listened to me. This all changed when I was 17. I had been working out regularly for two years by then, and I had earned a starting position on the football team. One day, in the middle of the football season, my father and I got into another argument (to this day, I’m not sure what it was about). The argument went along, until my dad moved towards his usual finishing argument; this time it was cauliflower ears. However, his plan did not turn out like he expected. Instead of submitting to his forceful ways, this time I turned the tables on my dad. I lifted him up over my head and held his knees to my shoulders while his torso hung down my back. I then suspended him over the stairs until he gave in to my point of view. This defining moment changed my relationship with my father. We still argued after that, but my dad no longer resorted to his torturous, physical argument-enders. Instead, we learned to talk things out and find consensus or compromise as too adults. The skills I learned talking (and arguing) with my father have helped me to communicate better today. I still look back at that moment as an important step towards becoming the person I am now.

7. Topic sentence – introduces the main idea of the paragraph; should be similar but not the same as, the concluding sentence

8. Topic Sentence example: While there are many moments in my life that define me today, one that sticks out in my mind is the time that I was able to lift my father above my head.

9. Because we are focused on ideas rather than sentences, the question, “how many sentences should this paragraph be?” shouldn’t apply. • However, it is safe to assume that each idea will need a minimum of 2 sentences to be effective, and, particularly Idea #2, might need more.

10. Idea #1 – The beginning: this idea sets up the defining moment; provides details about what life was like before the moment; let’s a reader know what is going to change.

11. Idea #1 - Example As a young boy, I would often disagree with my dad on many topics. However, I never won any arguments, because my dad would always end them in one of two ways: cauliflower ears or poke-the-chest-until-you-give-in torture. This also meant that I struggled to communicate with my dad, because I never felt like he listened to me. This all changed when I was 17.

12. Idea #2 – The middle: this idea is focused on the defining moment; provides essential details to for the reader; makes sure the reader trusts this moment was real

13. Idea #2 - Example I had been working out regularly for two years by then, and I had earned a starting position on the football team. One day, in the middle of the football season, my father and I got into another argument (to this day, I’m not sure what it was about). The argument went along, until my dad moved towards his usual finishing argument; this time it was cauliflower ears. However, his plan did not turn out like he expected. Instead of submitting to his forceful ways, this time I turned the tables on my dad. I lifted him up over my head and held his knees to my shoulders while his torso hung down my back. I then suspended him over the stairs until he gave in to my point of view.

14. Idea #3- The end: this idea reflects back on your personal identity and the impact of the defining moment; answers how this moment continues to be important today

15. Idea #3 - Example This defining moment changed my relationship with my father. We still argued after that, but my dad no longer resorted to his torturous, physical argument-enders. Instead, we learned to talk things out and find consensus or compromise as two adults. The skills I learned talking (and arguing) with my father have helped me to communicate better today.

16. Concluding sentence – wraps up the ideas of the paragraph by returning to main point of the paragraph; similar but not the same as the topic sentence.

17. Concluding Sentence example: I still look back at that moment as an important step towards becoming the person I am now.