AEC Paragraph Guidelines

Assertion A sentence that states a point/main idea This statement should always be your first sentence. Make sure it relates to the topic and is written concisely.

Assertion Example By the end of the novel, Scout shows she has learned to be a compassionate person.

Evidence (EV) Direct examples from the text including narration and dialogue Evidence should be quoted directly from the text, documented in parentheses with a page number, and punctuated correctly. In addition, you should use transitions and introduce quotations correctly.

Evidence Example For example, after Scout walks Boo home, she states, “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough” (279).

Commentary (CM) Commentary should connect the evidence (EV) to the assertion. You should always write two pieces of Commentary (CM) for each piece of Evidence (EV).

Commentary (CM) Write one sentence to explain what is happening in the story. Write a second sentence to connect your Evidence to your Commentary.

Commentary (CM) Remember to use transitions in order to make your paragraph flow smoothly. Also, avoid using too many pronouns; be specific about whom you are talking.

At this point in the novel, Scout is standing on the Radley porch reflecting on the important events that have taken place during the past three years. This statement shows that Scout is compassionate because she reminisces about her life through Boo’s eyes, not her own.

Conclusion A concluding sentence that restates you assertion in different words

Conclusion Example Therefore, Scout’s narration proves that she knows the true meaning of compassion.

Point of View Always use 3rd person unless you are directly quoting from the text. Avoid using I, me, my, we, you, etc.

Tense Write in present tense . . . unless you are quoting directly from the text or you are referring to an event that happened in the character’s past.