1. Writing Informational Paragraphs from Text Sources

2. Basic Parts Topic Sentence Detail Sentences
(At least 3---but use whatever is needed
to do the job correctly and completely!)
Conclusion sentence

3. Introduce your topic with an interesting topic sentence.
Don’t say, “this paragraph is going to be about…”
Remember that every sentence in this paragraph should relate directly back to the this topic sentence.
Feel free to be creative here to hook your reader and create interest in your topic as long as you accomplish the purpose of introducing the topic.
Remember that it is to be sentence, not several. A

4. Work with it to make it as interesting as you can.
Irrigation, “the controlled application of water for agricultural purposes,”
can be done in several ways (Perlman 2016).
Not very interesting!! Think, Think, think! Why do we need irrigation??? Since it is
kind of boring, Should I save the definition for one of the detail sentences?
Since farmers don’t always get enough rain to make their crops grow, irrigation was invented.
Better, but somehow I need to work in that there are many methods because that is what this paragraph Is about
Since farmers can not always depend on getting exactly the amount of rain they need to raise the best crops, a variety of Irrigation Methods have been devised.
don’t really like word devised
Since farmers can not always depend on getting exactly the amount of rain they need to raise the best crops, a variety of Irrigation Methods have been developed.

5. Try it out! On the lined side of the index card, Create an interesting topic sentence for the following.
Supplies one would need to be prepared after an earthquake

6. Which One Rises to the Top???
Accomplishes the purpose of introducing the topic Is the most interesting

7. When adding detail sentences, Remember to…
Use appropriate organizational structure
Use variety
Give credit to your source(s)
Use quotation marks when you copy word-for-word
Don’t quote everything---Paraphrase and summarize too
Let me show you what I mean…..

8. What do you think about the organizational structure of this paragraph?
First, Rinse all shampoo from hair. Next, Pour small amount of conditioner into palm of hand and then massage it gently throughout hair. Follow this, by Wetting hair thoroughly. Then, rinse all conditioner from hair. Next, Pour small amount of shampoo into palm of hand and lather hair thoroughly. Last, Dry hair and style as normal.

9. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how you organize your detail sentences, and sometimes it does!
Cause and effect
Chronological
Steps in a process
Variety of ways, methods, styles, types, etc.
Problem/solution
Comparison/contrast

10. Use variety

11. Give credit to your source(s)
Since farmers can not always depend on getting exactly the amount of rain they need to raise the best crops, a variety of Irrigation Methods have been developed. Irrigation is “the controlled application of water for agricultural purposes” (Perlman, 2016). One irrigation method is gravity irrigation. With this method, the water just flows out and is dispersed by gravity rather than being pumped out (Beetleman, 2016). Another way used by farmers to irrigate is the traveling gun method, where the irrigation is done by “a single large nozzle that rotates and is self-propelled.” It is called this because its base is movable (Jones & Coats, 2015). The sprinkler method is another type of irrigation, where Nozzles or perforated pipes are operated under pressure to apply water in a spray pattern. Yet another type of irrigation is the flood method, “where the entire surface of the soil is covered by ponded water” (Sanders, 2011). the drip method, recommended by Edward James, is where water is applied under low pressure straight to the Root Zone of plants using a variety of different types of applicators, like emitters, perforated pipes, or porous tubing, placed either on or under the ground (2014).

12. APA style: A quick Overview of in-Text Citations
Use author’s last name and year of publication in parentheses as in-text reference/citation.
One Author (Jones, 2016)
Two Authors (Wegener & Petty, 1994)
If no author is given, use the first word or two of the title. (“Irrigation,” 2016)
*** If page numbers are given, APA highly suggests you use them in this manner.
(Jones, 2016, p. 845)
Find more specific information about APA Format here:

13. Basic Rules for Reference List
All lines after the first line of each entry in your reference list should be indented one-half inch from the left margin. This is called hanging indentation.
Authors' names are inverted (last name first); give the last name and initials for all authors of a particular work for up to and including seven authors. If the work has more than seven authors, list the first six authors and then use ellipses after the sixth author's name. After the ellipses, list the last author's name of the work.
Reference list entries should be alphabetized by the last name of the first author of each work.
See OWL Purdue for specific entry formats.

15. Use quotation marks when you copy word-for-word
Since farmers cannot always depend on getting exactly the amount of rain they need to raise the best crops, a variety of irrigation methods have been developed. Irrigation is “the controlled application of water for agricultural purposes” (Perlman 2016). One irrigation method is gravity irrigation. With this method, the water just flows out and is dispersed by gravity rather than being pumped out (Perlman 2016). Another way used by farmers to irrigate is the traveling gun method, where the irrigation is done by “a single large nozzle that rotates and is self-propelled.” It is named this because its base is movable (Jones & Coats 2015). The sprinkler method is another type of irrigation, where perforated pipes or nozzles operated under pressure are used to apply water in a spray pattern. Yet another type of irrigation is the flood method, “where the entire surface of the soil is covered by ponded water” (Sanders 2011). Edward James recommends the drip method where water is applied under low pressure straight to the Plants’ root zones using a variety of different types of applicators, like emitters, perforated pipes, or porous tubing, which are placed either on or under the ground (2014).

16. Use quotation marks when you copy word-for-word
Since farmers cannot always depend on getting exactly the amount of rain they need to raise the best crops, a variety of irrigation methods have been developed. Irrigation is “the controlled application of water for agricultural purposes” (Perlman 2016). One irrigation method is gravity irrigation. With this method, the water just flows out and is dispersed by gravity rather than being pumped out (Perlman 2016). Another way used by farmers to irrigate is the traveling gun method, where the irrigation is done by “a single large nozzle that rotates and is self-propelled.” It is named this because its base is movable (Jones & Coats 2015). The sprinkler method is another type of irrigation, where perforated pipes or nozzles operated under pressure are used to apply water in a spray pattern. Yet another type of irrigation is the flood method, “where the entire surface of the soil is covered by ponded water” (Sanders 2011). Edward James recommends the drip method where water is applied under low pressure straight to the Plants’ root zones using a variety of different types of applicators, like emitters, perforated pipes, or porous tubing, which are placed either on or under the ground (2014).

17. Don’t quote everything---Paraphrase and summarize too.
Original Wording
Drip: A planned irrigation system in which water is applied directly to the Root Zone of plants by means of applicators (orifices, emitters, porous tubing, perforated pipe, etc.) operated under low pressure with the applicators being placed either on or below the surface of the ground.
Paraphrase
Edward James recommends the drip method where water is applied under low pressure straight to the plants’ root zones using a variety of different types of applicators, like emitters, perforated pipes, or porous tubing, placed either on or under the ground (2014).

18. Don’t quote everything---Paraphrase and summarize too.
Original Wording
Sprinkler: A planned irrigation system in which water is applied by means of perforated pipes or nozzles operated under pressure so as to form a spray pattern.
Paraphrase
The sprinkler method is another type of irrigation, where nozzles or perforated pipes are operated under pressure to apply water in a spray pattern.

19. Don’t quote everything---Paraphrase and summarize too.
Original Wording
Traveling Gun: Sprinkler irrigation system consisting of a single large nozzle that rotates and is self-propelled. The name refers to the fact that the base is on wheels and can be moved by the irrigator or affixed to a guide wire.
Paraphrase & Quotation
Another way used by farmers to irrigate is the traveling gun method, where the irrigation is done by “a single large nozzle that rotates and is self-propelled.” It is named this because its base is movable (Jones & Coats 2015).

20. Let’s practice Paraphrasing!
Original Text
Paraphrase
Supplemental: Irrigation to ensure increased crop production in areas where rainfall normally supplies most of the moisture needed.

21. Pair and Compare: Evaluate your partner’s paraphrase
Pair and Compare: Evaluate your partner’s paraphrase Did he/she use more than four of the original words in a row? Did he/she faithfully render the information?

22. Let’s practice Paraphrasing!
Original Text
Paraphrase
Supplemental: Irrigation to ensure increased crop production in areas where rainfall normally supplies most of the moisture needed.
In areas where rain usually provides all the needed water, supplemental irrigation is used to make sure crop production is what it should be.

23. Wrap up the paragraph with a conclusion sentence
Pulls together or summarizes the main idea of the paragraph
Provides a definite ending point for the paragraph
Tries to bring the paragraph “full circle” by referencing the idea used in the topic sentence.

24. Example: A multitude of methods for irrigation have been developed because the unique water needs of farmers varies so significantly.
Pulls together or summarizes the main idea of the paragraph
Provides a definite ending point for the paragraph
Tries to bring the paragraph “full circle” by referencing the idea used in the topic sentence.