1. How to Write an Effective Paragraph
a la Jane Schaffer
Adapted from Hollie Gustke

2. PROMPT
Describe a positive characteristic of one of the pig brothers from the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs.”

3. Step 6: A Whole Paragraph
In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig is very wise. For example, remembering his mother’s warning about “a wolf who will eat little pigs,” he builds his house out of “sturdy brick.” The wolf is unable to blow down the brick house. This shows that the third pig is smarter than his brothers, who were both eaten by the wolf. In conclusion, the third pig outsmarts not only the “big, bad” wolf but his brothers as well.

4. The Prompt
Before writing anything, know your assignment.
What are you being asked to do?
(hint: READ THE PROMPT!)
Literary Response requires a careful, critical look at the reading.

5. Color matters! Materials: blue, red, and green pens
Blue is for topic sentences (TS)
and concluding sentences (CS).
Red is for concrete details (CD).
Green is for commentary sentences
(CM).

6. Step 1: Topic Sentence (TS)
The TS is the top bun of the hamburger.
first sentence of the paragraph
shows the main idea
usually mildly controversial
something the writer has to prove

7. Topic Sentence (TS) (model)
In the fairy tale “The Three
Little Pigs,” the third pig is
very wise.

8. Step 2: Concrete Details (CDs)
Concrete Details - meat of the hamburger
CDs - support for your TS (facts, quotes, examples, etc. from text)
CDs can’t be argued - a CD is evidence that supports your point!

9. Concrete Detail (CD) (model)
For example, remembering his mother’s warning about a wolf, he builds his house out of sturdy brick.

10. Step 3: Commentary (Yes! Here is where YOU speak!)
Commentary sentences (CMs) - “extras” on the hamburger - the tomato, cheese, lettuce, mayo - they make it delicious!
CMs = your analysis, interpretation, explanation, or insight into the text

11. Commentary Sentences (CMs) Model
The wolf is unable to blow down the brick house. This shows that the third pig is smarter than his brothers, who were both eaten by the wolf.

12. Step 4: Concluding Sentence(CS)
A CS is the bottom bun of the hamburger.
A CS wraps up the paragraph and rephrases the main idea.

13. Concluding Sentence (CS) (model)
In conclusion, the third pig outsmarts not only the “big, bad” wolf but his brothers as well.

14. TS (CD, CM) CS - What?
We call this combination of CDs and CMs “chunking.”
For a literary response, we will use a “chunk” that has a “ratio” of 1:2. That is, for every 1 CD, you will have 2 CMs.

15. One Chunk: 1 CD + 2 CM
For example, remembering his mother’s warning about a wolf, he builds his house out of sturdy brick. The wolf is unable to blow down the brick house. This shows that the third pig is smarter than his brothers, who were both eaten by the wolf.
Ratio = 1:2

16. Transitions
A good paragraph will also use transition words. These are words or phrases that help readers connect your ideas.
Example transitions:
In summary,
For example,
Thus,
Hence,
For instance,
Because of this,
Therefore,
Consequently,
As a result,

17. Now you know how to write a one- chunk paragraph…

18. Step 6: A Whole Paragraph
In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig is very wise. For example, remembering his mother’s warning about a wolf, he builds his house out of sturdy brick. The wolf is unable to blow down the brick house. This shows that the third pig is smarter than his brothers, who were both eaten by the wolf. In conclusion, the third pig outsmarts not only the “big, bad” wolf but his brothers as well.