Writing Body Paragraph
#1
Using the Chunking
Method
Chunking
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Topic Sentence
Concrete Detail
Commentary
Commentary
Concrete Detail
Commentary
Commentary
Closing Sentence
Topic Sentence
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Must Reflect First Point in Thesis!
One Sentence Long
Must support the task (answer prompt)
Use a transition to indicate a meaningful
arrangement (ex: why did you choose
this point to go first?)
Organization
• Logical/Meaningful Arrangement of
ideas (points from thesis)
• Chronological order, sequential order,
compare/contrast, time, consequence
and result, emphasis, etc.
• Look at thesis statement and decide
(you may have to revise the order)
Example
Even though General Zaroff invites
his opponent as a guest to play the game,
he uses an unfair advantage throughout
the entire three days the game is played.
Concrete Detail
• Fact from the text
• Detail that supports the topic sentence
(proves your point with clear facts
from the text)
• Quote or summary in your own words
• Must cite the page number
• “Fact” (12).
Use Transitions
• For example,
• In particular,
• For instance,
• Specifically,
• It is evident in the text that
…when…
Example Concrete Detail
• It is evident in the text that General
Zaroff plays the game with an unfair
advantage when preparing for a game
because he supplies Rainsford, his
opponent, with hunting clothes, food, a
knife, and moccasins, but General Zaroff
uses a pistol to play the game (12).
Commentary
• Your own ideas about the fact
you gave
• Your response to the detail
• Your reaction
• Your explanation of the detail
• Do not introduce new facts in
the commentary
Commentary
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Use transitions!
This shows that…
This is significant because…
This means that…
Clearly,
It is obvious,
NEVER write “I THINK…” OR “I
BELIEVE”
Commentary One
Example
• Clearly, by giving Rainsford a knife
as his only weapon to defend
himself against the jungle terrain
and General Zaroff’s weapon,
Rainsford stands no chance in
defeating General Zaroff at his own
game.
Commentary Two
• Furthermore, the pistol that General Zaroff
uses gives him unfair advantage because
the range of a gun has a greater distance
than the range of a knife; if Rainsford
would have any chance, he would have to
be extremely close to General Zaroff, and
even then, a pistol would definitely be
more resourceful in killing than a knife.
Repeat
• Find another concrete detail that
supports the topic sentence
• I would probably provide a quote about
General Zaroff knowing about the
terrain of the island especially in the
dark whereas Rainsford knows nothing
about the plants, animals, landscape,
and dangers of the island which give
General Zaroff an unfair advantage
Repeat
• Give two more responses
(pieces of commentary) to the
new fact
• Remember commentary
cannot introduce NEW facts!
Closing Sentence
• Never end with “and that is why…”
• REALLY DRAW YOUR OWN
CONCLUSION BASED OFF OF ALL OF
YOUR EVIDENCE!
• Use a transition! (Try to avoid in
conclusion,)
• MUST BE DIFFERENT FROM TOPIC
SENTENCE!!
Closing Sentence
Example
• Since General Zaroff invented the game and
set up the rules himself, he obviously gives
himself the advantage of winning the game
by providing himself with more powerful
weapons and knowing the island inside and
out, yet Rainsford is given poor weaponry
and does not know the terrain of the island
at all.
All Together Now!
Even though General Zaroff invites his opponent as a guest to play the
game, he uses an unfair advantage throughout the entire three days the game is
played. It is evident in the text that General Zaroff plays the game with an unfair
advantage when preparing for a game because he supplies Rainsford, his opponent,
with hunting clothes, food, a knife, and moccasins, but General Zaroff uses a pistol
to play the game (12). Clearly, by giving Rainsford a knife as his only weapon to
defend himself against the jungle terrain and General Zaroff’s weapon, Rainsford
stands no chance in defeating General Zaroff at his own game. Furthermore, the
pistol that General Zaroff uses gives him unfair advantage because the range of a gun
has a greater distance than the range of a knife; if Rainsford would have any chance,
he would have to be extremely close to General Zaroff, and even then, a pistol would
definitely be more resourceful in killing than a knife. Another example of General
Zaroff having an unfair advantage is when he ecplains to Rainsford, “I suggest too
that you avoid a big swamp in the southeast corner of the island. We call it Death
Swamp. There’s quicksand there” (22). This shows that General Zaroff is familiar with
the landscape of the island since he has lived there and hunted on the island for
many years, but Rainsford does not the dangerous obstacles that the island will give
him. Also, Rainsford does not know whether or not General Zaroff is withholding any
other dangers located on the island, so this give General Zaroff an unfair advantage
throughout the entire game which sets Rainsford up for failure. Since General Zaroff
invented the game and set up the rules himself, he obviously gives himself the
advantage of winning the game by providing himself with more powerful weapons
and knowing the island inside and out, yet Rainsford is given poor weaponry and
does not know the terrain of the island at all.