8 Step Method Paragraph Writing
Think-It-Through
Before You Draft
Before you begin drafting/writing a paragraph, you must gather the details you will use.
This process is called prewriting.
When you are in the prewriting stage for an 8 Step Method body paragraph, you must decide on certain items before you
can use them in the paragraph:
The order that you make decisions about the information to include in the paragraph is NOT the same as the order that the
information will appear in your body paragraph.
1. What is the topic?
In some cases, the topic may be pre-selected by the teacher.
In other cases, you may be asked to choose the topic yourself.
In either case, make sure you understand the topic, and make sure that your topic is clear and specific.
2. What evidence will you use?
In one 8 Step Method body paragraph, you are required to use a minimum of two direct quotations from the text
as evidence to support the topic.
These two direct quotations should be different. Do not repeat the same evidence twice.
These two direct quotations should be examples in the support of the topic.
You must copy the direct quotations word-for-word from the text. Use correct punctuation.
3. Where in the text did you find the evidence?
You will need to describe what action was taking place (for fiction) or what general idea the author was
writing about (for nonfiction) in the text in the specific section where you found your direct quotations.
This is called context.
Summarize the context of each quotation, but be sure use specific details so your reader will be able to
understand.
4. Who is the source of each direct quotation?
You will need to identify who said or wrote each direct quotation.
This could be a specific character, the narrator, the speaker of the poem, or even the author him/herself.
5. On what page in the text did you find the direct quotations?
You will need to cite the page number for each direct quotation. Use correct MLA formatting.
STOP! This is important! Now that you have gathered SOME of the information that you
need, you are ready to begin drafting... but the information does NOT get used in the exact
order listed above. Pay attention to the directions and use the correct format of the 8 Step
Method!
Rough Draft
Drafting is when you put your ideas and information into sentences in the general order they will stay as you
continue to work on your paragraphs. Drafting is NOT the final step in the process.
When you are in the drafting stage for an 8 Step Method paragraph, begin writing, following these steps:
For Direct Quotation #1:
1. Write a topic sentence. (Step 1 = Topic)
 The topic sentence tells your reader what the entire paragraph will be about.
 All of the details you include in your paragraph must prove the idea you stated in the topic sentence.
 The topic sentence must be a grammatically correct, complete sentence.
2. Use a transition word or phrase. (Step 2 = Transition)
 A transition word or phrase helps move the reader from the topic sentence towards your first piece of evidence.
3. Describe the context of your first piece of evidence. (Step 3 = Context)
 After the transition, describe the section of the text you are using as evidence.
 Do NOT immediately insert the direct quotation: that comes later.
 The transition word or phrase and the description of the context should work together to form one grammatically
correct, complete sentence.
 ---- Depending on your writing style, you can make the sentence even longer, but this requires skill.
4. Identify the source of the direct quotation. (Step 4 = Source (+verb))
 As you begin the next sentence, make sure you include who is responsible for the piece of evidence (the direct
quotation) that you are about to include.
 The source by itself is not enough for a sentence. You will need to include a verb to link the source to the
evidence and documentation (which follow in the next steps).
5. Include the direct quotation. (Step 5 = Evidence)
 Using correct quotation marks and other punctuation, add to your source and verb a word-for-word quotation that
supports your topic.
 The direct quotation should be part of a grammatically correct, complete sentence.
 Do NOT use the direct quotation as a sentence all by itself.
6. Document the evidence. (Step 6 = Documentation)
 Use correct parenthetical documentation format to provide the page number for the direct quotation. Depending
on the content of your essay, MLA format may require more than just the page number.
7. Explain the relevance. (Step 7 = Relevance)
 This is information that you did NOT gather when prewriting. These sentences represent your own
thoughts/ideas!
 Here you must write two complete sentences to explain why the direct quotation is important to the idea in
your topic sentence.
 You should be very specific and use details from the text as you explain the importance of the quotation.
STOP! This is important! At this point you have drafted 5 complete sentences, but your
paragraph is not finished yet! You still need to include your second piece of evidence (the
other direct quotation you prepared during the prewriting). You must keep going!
Notice that you do NOT repeat Step 1. You only need one topic sentence per paragraph.
For Direct Quotation #2:
2. Use a transition word or phrase.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Describe the context of your first piece of evidence.
Identify the source of the direct quotation.
Include the direct quotation (evidence).
Document the evidence.
Explain the relevance.
Revising
You should now have a rough draft paragraph that contains 9 complete sentences.
During revising, you are looking at the ideas/content and organization of your paragraph.
Make sure that the information you have used makes sense and that it is all about the topic described in your topic
sentence. Make sure that your two pieces of evidence are distinctly different; they should each make a unique point about
your topic sentence.
Editing/Proofreading
Finally, you are on Step 8 of the 8 Step Method.
8. Double check your paragraph(s) for accuracy. (Step 8 = Proofread)
 Make sure that you have copied word-for-word the direct quotations.
 Make sure that you have identified the correct source for each quotation.
 Make sure you have used quotation marks and other punctuation correctly.
 Make sure you have use proper parenthetical documentation format for the page numbers.
 Double check all sentences for spelling, punctuation, and other grammar/mechanics issues.
Final Draft
Once you are certain you have followed all of the steps and have checked and double-checked
your work, copy out your final draft in ink using your best handwriting/printing.