1. R.A.C.E.S
SENTENCE STARTERS

2. RESTATE THE PROMPT…& ANSWER THE RESTATEMENT
(use for the “R & A” in RACES -- These should be done together…
These two items become your “CLAIM” and are usually combined
EXAMPLE:
PROMPT: In the story, The Three Little Pigs, which of the pigs is the smartest?
R&A In the story, The Three Little Pigs, the third little pig was the smartest

3. COMMENTARY SENTENCE STARTERS (use this for the “E” in RACES)
CITE TEXT EVIDENCE SENTENCE STARTERS
(use for the “C” in RACES)
On page #4 it stated
The author wrote
The graphic showed
According to my memory
My experience shows
An example is
In the text it said
COMMENTARY SENTENCE STARTERS
(use this for the “E” in RACES)
This means
The evidencs shows
This highlights
The evidence illustrates
This reveals
The evidence suggests
SUMMARY SENTENCE STARTERS
(use this for the “S” in RACES)
To sum things up
In conclusion
As you can see
To wrap up

4. WHAT IS A THESIS STATEMENT
Focuses your ideas into one or two sentences.
Presents topic of paper
Makes a comment about your position in relation to your topic.
Should tell your reader what the paper is about  
WHAT IS A TOPIC SENTENCE
States the main idea of a paragraph
Belongs at the start of each paragraph