Jane Shaffer Paragraph Method

This easy method will help shape paragraphs that will be clear and organized and will

earn top points!

Construct all example paragraphs this way:

1 – Topic Sentence (TS) – this statement should be the main idea of the paragraph and

should be straight to the point.

2 – Concrete Detail (CD) – this sentence is the ‘what’ sentence. It should include facts,

examples or evidence (Issue), paraphrases or citations (Argument) and nothing else.

3 – Commentary (CM) – these sentences contain no facts, only comments from the

writer about the fact just presented in the CD sentence. It is important that the

commentary helps explain how the CD is important to the TS. Opinion goes here!

4 – Concluding or Closing Sentence (CS) – this sentence sums up the main point of the

paragraph and wraps up the TS.

Two Examples:

Argument Essay:

(TS) A prominent flaw in the argument is ambiguous language.

(CD) The author states ‘only a small portion of the land will be used for the

hotel’.

(CM) It is unclear how much of the land is included in the term ‘small’; and it is

unclear what this portion is compared to when called ‘small’. Is it small

compared to an average hotel property?

(CS) Before the town proceeds with the transaction, the author needs to make a

clear statement about the actual land usage for the hotel.

Issue Essay:

(TS) Sometimes citizens need to fight against their own government.

(CD) The American Revolutionary War occurred when the American colonials

decided to overthrow their British leadership because of ‘taxation without

representation’.

(CM) The American revolt against the British shows that subjects of a

government can and will fight back if the government does not support them. This

has been seen time and again throughout history: the success of the American

Revolution led French citizens to start their own revolt against a government that

was failing them.

(CS) Citizens have a right to be represented and a right to fight for that

representation if it is not freely granted.

Please note!

TS and CS should always be only one sentence. CDs should be one sentence, but on

occasion it may take two to include enough detail to make the point of the argument

clear. It is often necessary to include two CMs to make the point or to be sure the CD is

tied to the TS.