Thursday's class: The Pearl Topic Sentences and Supporting Details

1. Today in class, we are going to help each other find details to use to support our topic sentence conclusions.

For example,

Kino's journey towards prosperity (wealth) actually robs him of everything important to him.  

Kino's journey is a hero's journey.

START by writing your topic sentences at the top of three sheets of binder paper.

Highlight the key words that demand SHOWING details.

Brainstorm a few places where you might be able to find a quotation or paraphrase to use.

Pass the papers clockwise and, looking very carefully at the highlighted words, suggest a few places where he/she might look for examples or details to use.

2. After you have found key details to use in your paragraph, you will need to pay careful attention to how you will use them to support your topic sentence.

For example,

Kino's journey towards prosperity actually robs him of everything important to him.  In the beginning, a poor native finds himself with a beautiful object; it's a pearl, one that seems of great wealth, yet he becomes an beserk animal out of greed and fear. "greedy fingers went through his clothes, frantic fingers searched him, and the pearl, knocked from his hand" (59). 

Do you see how the above quotation is abruptly stuck into in the paragraph and is a bit confusing?
This writer needs to transition from his topic sentence to the quote.  Here is how you fix it:

Kino's journey towards prosperity actually robs him of everything important to him.  In the beginning, a poor native finds himself with a beautiful object; it's a pearl, one that seems of great wealth, yet he becomes an beserk animal out of greed and fear. After Kino rejects the pearl merchants fraudulent offers for the pearl,"greedy fingers went through his clothes, frantic fingers searched him, and the pearl, knocked from his hand" (59). This quotation shows......


That part before the quotation is called CONTEXT.  Always introduce who is speaking or who is acting or place your quote in the plot arc for your reader.

Don't forget to add COMMENTARY after the quotation.  This is where you tell me what is important about your quotation and what it shows (hopefully your highlighted word in your topic sentence.)

Thursday's class: Sentence Frames to help you with your paragraphs

Today we started with Intervention or Enrichment for Vocabulary Lesson 4.

Then, we continued work on "Analyzing Across Texts."  Students decided on a comparative question to use to focus their paragraph, then began filling out the chart, looking for key details that either show a difference or a similarity between the two writers (Powell and Montessori).

Once students were ready to write, I gave them a few frames for support:

1.  BEGINNING YOUR PARAGRAPH:

The difference (or similarity) between Powell and Montessori is_____________________________.

OR

The examples Powell and Montessori use demonstrate one big difference in their perspective on childhood development: ________________________________________________________________________.



2.   Using details.  You have a choice here.  

   You can Paraphrase:
                            According to Montessori, adults push children into behaviors without paying any attention to their desires, interests, or capabilities (30-31).  

OR

Use a Direct Quotation:
                           According to Montessori, "we try to force them to follow us without regard to their special needs"(30-31).

Don't forget to include analysis (another word for this is commentary) about the details you have chosen. 


3. Transitioning between writers/ texts:      

Powell is clearly saying here _____________________________. In contrast, Montessori is _________________________________.                                                                                                        
            
Paragraphs are due at the end of the period on Friday.

Don't forget to bring your OUTSIDE READING books to class tomorrow, along with your 4 night journal sheet!  

Paragraph Writing Workshop

How to Write a Body Paragraph