1. Athens/Sparta Paragraph

2. Prompt:
Question word!
Write a paragraph telling me which of the two city-states (Athens or Sparta) you would rather live in. Include at least three fact-based reasons from your notes.
Topic Sentence: States the main idea.
Concluding Sentence: Re-states the main idea.
Detail Sentences: Include all the information requested.

3. Topic Sentence
I would rather live in _____ than in _____ for three reasons: _____, _____ and _____.

4. Organization secret: BUCKETS!!!

5. Organize your facts (bucketing):
Reason
Bucket
Fact
Reason
Bucket
Fact
Reason

6. Concluding Sentence:
So, because of _____, _____ and _____, I would rather live in _____.

7. Example Topic Sentence:
I would rather live in _____ than in _____ for three reasons: _____, _____ and _____.

8. Example Topic Sentence:
I would rather live in Florida than in New York for three reasons: _____, _____ and _____.

9. Organize your facts (bucketing):
Reason
Bucket
Fact
Reason
Bucket
Fact
Reason

10. Start with the facts: Bucket It snows in NY. Reason Bucket
Income tax in NY
Reason
Bucket
FL has beaches
Reason

11. Why do the facts matter:
Bucket
It snows in NY.
I don’t like to shovel snow.
Bucket
Income tax in NY
I keep more $$
Bucket
FL has beaches
I like to go to the beach

12. I don’t like to shovel snow.
Label your buckets:
Weather
It snows in NY.
I don’t like to shovel snow.
Taxes
Income tax in NY
I keep more $$
Beaches
FL has beaches
I like to go to the beach

13. Example Topic Sentence:
I would rather live in Florida than in New York for three reasons: _____, _____ and _____.

14. Example Topic Sentence:
I would rather live in Florida than in New York for three reasons: weather, taxes and beaches.

15. Back to the buckets for details:
Weather
It snows in NY.
I don’t like to shovel snow.
Taxes
Income tax in NY
I keep more $$
Beaches
FL has beaches
I like to go to the beach

16. Example detail sentences:
My first reason is the weather. It snows in New York, and I don’t like to shovel snow. My second reason is taxes. New York has a state income tax, and Florida does not. I would prefer to keep more of my paycheck. Finally, my third reason is the beaches. Florida has more beaches than New York, and I like to go to the beach.

17. Concluding Sentence:
So, because of _____, _____ and _____, I would rather live in _____.

18. Concluding Sentence:
So, because of the weather, taxes and the beaches, I would rather live in Florida.