Cultural Event Paragraph Content Format
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The following directions are format directions and content “idea starters”.
Follow the formatting directions!!
Include four to eight sentences in each paragraph, and organize your ideas.
Use some of the idea starters as a guide to write your essay. Use only those that apply.
Paragraph 1: Introduction and Prior Knowledge/Bias
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Start with a hook (an exciting moment or interesting anecdote) to interest your reader.
Next, explain why you chose to attend or view this event (besides its being required),
and what your expectations were before you attended the event.
End this paragraph with a claim that defines the event and summarizes all that you will
say in this essay. The claim gives the place, type, name, and opinion words about the
topic (event). Example: Attending the performance of Wicked at the Paramount
Theatre was both an entertaining and memorable event.
Paragraph 2: Favorite part
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Start this paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the whole paragraph and
relates to the claim.
Give a one sentence summary of the event.
Use strong visuals to describe 1-3 highlights of the event, but NOT the entire show.
(examples: sweat on the conductor’s face as the orchestra reaches a crescendo,
emotional bow from the cast of a play, song performed that touched your heart or
made you laugh, painting at a museum that grabbed your attention—and why)
Paragraph 3: Reaction/Reflection
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Start this paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the whole paragraph and
relates back to the claim.
Your feelings when it was over, reactions from others
Compare professional reviews of the event with your views, or compare your
preconceptions (ideas beforehand) with your views after the event
Compare the event/performance to anything you have experienced previously- a book,
a character in a book, a person in your life. (include only if this applies)
Paragraph 4: Conclusion and Closing Device
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Begin this paragraph with a restatement of your claim (re-write your claim using
different words).
 Closing device: your recommendation based on opinion. Be honest and use mature
adjectives like: interesting, educational, different, poorly acted. Etc. (the word boring
is a dead word!).
 Use a highlight of the event that would exemplify this recommendation.
Refer to your yellow Community Experience Project sheet for the grading rubric and due dates.
When you get your papers back, correct teachers edits and SAVE your hard and electronic copies of
corrected versions for your culminating project (poster, power point or scrapbook). Do not turn in,
but SAVE: brochures, flyers, programs, tickets, pictures, etc. to include in your culminating project.