1. Three sentences

2. A Note on organization
The order that you present your topics in your introduction should match the order in which you write about your topics

3. Each body paragraph should have:
A topic sentence/transitional sentence
A frame of reference
A quotation
The quotations should support your theme
YOUR OWN CONNECTIONS/THOUGHTS/IDEAS
A concluding statement

4. It introduces the reader to the topic It’s the first sentence.
Topic Sentence
The topic sentence is the central idea around which a paragraph is developed.
It introduces the reader to the topic
It’s the first sentence.
It tells you what the rest of the paragraph will be about.

5. After this sentence you need to support what you have said
Topic Sentences
After this sentence you need to support what you have said
This means giving evidence which justifies what you said in your topic sentence

6. Example: Remember my introduction paragraph?
A hero is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird’s fictional town of Maycomb, heroes walk amongst the citizens. Atticus defends a black man even though the majority of the town is against him. Link Deas supports Helen Robinson, not conforming to the town’s norms. Mr. Underwood risks his business in order to force the town to recognize their racism. By using ordinary men fighting for what is right in To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee proves that any person can become a hero.

7. Example:
We will now ADD our first body paragraph which will transition the reader to the first body paragraph
Sample topic sentence:
All of Maycomb County believes that Tom Robinson is guilty of raping a white woman—all but Atticus Finch.

8. This helps you set up what you will prove!
Frame of Reference
Tells the reader of the paper (me) what is going on in the novel before you put your quotation in.
This helps you set up what you will prove!

9. “…Before I can live with other folks, I’ve got to live with myself
“…Before I can live with other folks, I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience” (140).

10. Frame of Reference
Tells the reader of the paper (me) what is going on in the novel before you put your quotation in.
This helps you set up what you will prove!
For example:
Atticus Finch is assigned to defend a black man accused of a crime he did not commit. People in this town are harassing Scout and Jem about their father’s decision.

11. Lead in
Find a way to smoothly insert your quotation into your paragraph.
My example:
When Scout asks her father why he chooses to help Tom when it risks his stature in town, Atticus replies, “…Before I can live with other folks, I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience” (140).

12. Explaining the significance
At least 3 sentences.
How does your quotation reveal your theme?
Atticus knows that helping Tom is the right thing to do. He recognizes that his morals conflict with those of the town, and that he needs to do what he believes is correct. Atticus chooses to place himself beneath the town’s ridicule because he knows that the only person he needs to answer to is himself. Atticus can justify his decisions; he does not allow the town’s approval to affect the way he treats others.

13. Concluding Sentence
This sentence wraps up what your paragraph was about
HINT: This sentence will be a statement on how your choice proves your theme/what lesson the character(s) learn(s)
It’s the main point you want to get across on your topic.
EX: He will help Tom because he knows the man is innocent, and that is more important than his popularity amongst his peers. This is what makes him noble.

14. Sample Body Paragraph
All of Maycomb County believes that Tom Robinson is guilty of raping a white woman—all but Atticus Finch. Atticus is assigned to defend a black man accused of a crime he did not commit. People in this racist town are harassing Scout and Jem about their father’s decision. When Scout asks her father why he chooses to help Tom when it risks his stature in town, Atticus replies, “…Before I can live with other folks, I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience” (140). Atticus knows that helping Tom is the right thing to do. He recognizes that his morals conflict with those of the town, and that he needs to do what he believes is correct. He chooses to place himself beneath the town’s ridicule because he knows that the only person he needs to answer to is himself. Atticus can justify his decisions; he does not allow the town’s approval to affect the way he treats others. He will help Tom because he knows the man is innocent, and that is more important than his popularity amongst his peers. This is what makes him noble.

15. Transitions
When we move from one area to another, we need to use a transitional phrase so that the writing does not become disjointed and the reader does not get confused.
Transitions signal relationships between ideas.
To create a transition from one area to the next, we will use a TRANSITIONAL WORD/PHRASE and connect it to our topic sentence.

16. Use your Transitions Handout to Help
Figure out what kind of relationship you want to show between your paragraphs and use the corresponding examples to help you.
Just as the Scout’s father combats the town’s usual disease of racism, her neighbor, Link Deas, fights for the safety of Helen Robinson.