 Concrete Detail (CD): Stuff from the story. This can be a direct quotation or a paraphrasing of events. Synonyms for a CD are facts, specifics, examples, descriptions, illustration, support, proof, evidence, quotations, paraphrasing

 Commentary (CM): Stuff from your head. This is your opinion or comment about something. In a sense, you are answering “so what?” Synonyms for a CM are opinion, insight, analysis, interpretation, personal response, inference, evaluation

 Topic Sentence (TS): The first sentence of a body paragraph.  This must have a subject and an opinion (CM)  Your TS is your body paragraph’s argument –everything you write in your body paragraph will work to prove your TS correct

 Ratio: The amount of CD:CM in a body paragraph  In Language Arts the ratio is 1:2+  Chunk: 1 sentence of CD & 2 sentences of CM (the smallest unified group of thoughts you can write)

 In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry is a champion to many of the more insecure students at Hogwarts. For example, when Malfoy takes Neville’s Rememberall, Harry takes a broom and gets it back. He cannot stand someone who picks on others. Harry is now a hero to those less fortunate.

 Sentence #1 TS – Topic Sentence  Sentence #2 CD – starts with “For example”  Sentence #3 CM – (This shows that)  Sentence #4 CM – (This also shows that; This is because; This is important because)

 Used when the concrete details are closely related to avoid repetition.  Has the basic of Topic Sentence at the beginning and a Concluding Sentence (CS) at the end.  Includes two CD, CM, CM, structures with a transition between.

TS CD CM CD CM CS