WRITING:
PARAGRAPHS
English 9
The Basics
Topic Sentence:
~In general, the topic sentence should be your FIRST
sentence.
~It is the introduction to the topic you will talk about in
that paragraph.
~It should not contain too many details: that is what
your supporting sentences are for.

The Basics
Supporting Sentences
~Your support sentences do just that—support and
explain your topic sentence.
~add detail
~provide evidence or proof of your argument
 Concluding sentence
~Your concluding sentence is similar to your topic
sentence, and it wraps-up and summarizes the point
you are making in that paragraph.

Paragraphs = Hamburgers
Top bun:
Topic sentence
 Meat & condiments:
details (make it flavorful)
 Bottom bun:
Concluding sentence

IMPORTANT
Academic writing is very logical. It
follows a very easy and specific
formula. Every paragraph should
follow the same format.
MAKE SURE EACH SENTENCE WITHIN
YOUR PARAGRAPH RELATES BACK
TO THE TOPIC SENTENCE!!
3 IMPORTANT Words to Remember…
Assertion
Evidence
Commentary

Assertion
Statement of opinion, interpretation, or
judgment that supports the thesis
 Your assertion will be your topic sentence.

Example:
Mrs. Nicholson’s ninth grade students are
the best students at Washington High
School.

Evidence

Statistics, examples, paraphrased information,
facts, details, and/or direct quotes that provide
specific support for the assertion.
Example:
Each student comes to class every day with a smile on
his or her face. Students actively participate in class
each day, and no one comes to class without having
done his or her homework. A report in Fake News
Journal even noted that “students came to Mrs.
Nicholson’s class with an eagerness to learn” (Fake 22).

Commentary
Explain and/or interpret evidence.
 Make the connection between evidence
and assertion and/or thesis statement.
 Use your own words.
 This is the most important part of the
paragraph! It demonstrates your critical
thinking.

Commentary Example
While it is important that students attend class, unless
they are willing to participate in the learning
experience there is not much the teacher can do. It is
the eagerness of Mrs. Nicholson’s students that sets
them apart from other students within the school. For
these reasons, it is evident that Mrs. Nicholson has the
best students at WHS.
Final Example
Mrs. Nicholson’s ninth grade students are the best students
at Washington High School. Each student comes to class
every day with a smile on his or her face. Students
actively participate in class each day, and no one comes
to class without having done his or her homework. A
report in Fake News Journal even noted that “students
came to Mrs. Nicholson’s class with an eagerness to learn”
(Fake 22). While it is important that students attend class,
unless they are willing to participate in the learning experience
there is not much the teacher can do. It is the eagerness of Mrs.
Nicholson’s students that sets them apart from other students
within the school. For these reasons, it is evident that Mrs.
Nicholson has the best students at WHS.
In-text Citations: All You Need to Know
(For Now)

1.
2.
3.
When you are quoting a text (article, story, novel,
etc.) you need to include a citation for the source
you are using.
Your quotation should begin with…QUOTATION
MARKS 
You need to introduce the quotation. You can’t just
throw in a quotation.
Finish with a citation.
Citations
Either 1) state the author’s name in your
introduction to the quotation, or 2) include the
author’s last name in the citation.
For example:
Willa considered the change in town after the mines
closed realizing “the silence was so strong it
sometimes hurt her ears” (Laskas 47).

Practice Makes Perfect
Using what you know about
paragraphs, write one paragraph
(at least 5-7 sentences) about the
following topic.
Prompt: What one adjective best
describes Willa Lowell?