Introduction to Writing Paragraphs Ms. Catsos World History

A good paragraph is like a good cheeseburger…. TOP BUN TOP BUN Lettuce Lettuce Tomato Tomato Ketchup Ketchup Onion Onion Cheese Cheese Hamburger (or veggie burger ) Hamburger (or veggie burger ) BOTTOM BUN BOTTOM BUN

The top and bottom bun hold the cheeseburger together. The topic sentence is like the top bun. The topic sentence is like the top bun. The lettuce, cheese, and burger are the supporting details. The lettuce, cheese, and burger are the supporting details. The concluding sentence is like the bottom bun. The concluding sentence is like the bottom bun.

The topic sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph. The success of the earliest people in Greece, the Minoans, was based on trade, not conquest. Minoan traders set up outposts throughout the Aegean world. From their island home in the eastern Mediterranean, they crossed the seas to the Nile Valley and the Middle East. Through contact with Egypt and Mesopotamia, they acquired ideas and technology that they adapted to their own culture. Trade and collaboration with various groups allowed the Minoans to prosper. The success of the earliest people in Greece, the Minoans, was based on trade, not conquest. Minoan traders set up outposts throughout the Aegean world. From their island home in the eastern Mediterranean, they crossed the seas to the Nile Valley and the Middle East. Through contact with Egypt and Mesopotamia, they acquired ideas and technology that they adapted to their own culture. Trade and collaboration with various groups allowed the Minoans to prosper. -World History: Connections to Today, p. 102 (Adapted)

The supporting details explain the topic sentence and provide details. The success of the Minoans was based on trade, not conquest. Minoan traders set up outposts throughout the Aegean world. From their island home in the eastern Mediterranean, they crossed the seas to the Nile Valley and the Middle East. Through contact with Egypt and Mesopotamia, they acquired ideas and technology that they adapted to their own culture. Trade and collaboration with various groups allowed the Minoans to prosper. The success of the Minoans was based on trade, not conquest. Minoan traders set up outposts throughout the Aegean world. From their island home in the eastern Mediterranean, they crossed the seas to the Nile Valley and the Middle East. Through contact with Egypt and Mesopotamia, they acquired ideas and technology that they adapted to their own culture. Trade and collaboration with various groups allowed the Minoans to prosper. -World History: Connections to Today, p. 102 (Adapted)

The concluding sentence summarizes the paragraph. The success of the Minoans was based on trade, not conquest. Minoan traders set up outposts throughout the Aegean world. From their island home in the eastern Mediterranean, they crossed the seas to the Nile Valley and the Middle East. Through contact with Egypt and Mesopotamia, they acquired ideas and technology that they adapted to their own culture. Trade and collaboration with various groups allowed the Minoans to prosper. The success of the Minoans was based on trade, not conquest. Minoan traders set up outposts throughout the Aegean world. From their island home in the eastern Mediterranean, they crossed the seas to the Nile Valley and the Middle East. Through contact with Egypt and Mesopotamia, they acquired ideas and technology that they adapted to their own culture. Trade and collaboration with various groups allowed the Minoans to prosper. -World History: Connections to Today, p. 102 (Adapted)

What’s missing? These two epic poems were written by Homer, a famous poet. The Iliad is historians’ best record of the Trojan War, and the Odyssey provides valuable facts about early Greek religion. Both tales reveal Greek values of honor and courage. Although we may never know how accurate they are, the Odyssey and the Iliad are still one of our best sources of information about life in early Greece. These two epic poems were written by Homer, a famous poet. The Iliad is historians’ best record of the Trojan War, and the Odyssey provides valuable facts about early Greek religion. Both tales reveal Greek values of honor and courage. Although we may never know how accurate they are, the Odyssey and the Iliad are still one of our best sources of information about life in early Greece.

Choose the best topic sentence for this paragraph: These two epic poems were written by Homer, a famous poet. The Iliad is historians’ best record of the Trojan War, and the Odyssey provides valuable facts about early Greek religion. Both tales reveal Greek values of honor and courage. Although we may never know how accurate they are, the Odyssey and the Iliad are still one of our best sources of information about life in early Greece. These two epic poems were written by Homer, a famous poet. The Iliad is historians’ best record of the Trojan War, and the Odyssey provides valuable facts about early Greek religion. Both tales reveal Greek values of honor and courage. Although we may never know how accurate they are, the Odyssey and the Iliad are still one of our best sources of information about life in early Greece. A. Homer was a blind poet who traveled from village to village. B. The Odyssey and the Iliad tell us many things about life in Ancient Greece. C. Oral tradition is not trustworthy.

How many sentences? On average, a complete paragraph should have five to eight sentences. On average, a complete paragraph should have five to eight sentences.

Practice Answer the following question in one complete paragraph: Answer the following question in one complete paragraph: How was life in Ancient Greece affected by geography? How was life in Ancient Greece affected by geography?