Step Up to Step Up to WritingWriting

A Student’s GuideA Student’s Guide

Expository ParagraphsExpository ParagraphsExplain, Show, Inform or Explain, Show, Inform or

ProveProve Need a TitleNeed a Title

Have a topic sentenceHave a topic sentence

Use transitionsUse transitions

Explain and give examplesExplain and give examples

Have a conclusionHave a conclusion

Accordion Accordion ParagraphsParagraphs

GreenGreen

YellowYellow

RedRed

GreenGreen

Go!Go! Write a topic sentence.Write a topic sentence.

Slow Down!Slow Down! Give a reason, detail, Give a reason, detail,

or fact. Use a or fact. Use a transition.transition.

Stop!Stop! Explain. Give an Explain. Give an

example.example. Go Back!Go Back!

Remind the reader of Remind the reader of your topicyour topic

T-ChartT-Chart

Topic:

RDF (Reason, Detail, or Fact)

Explain

RDF

RDF

Explain

Explain

Expanding the T-ChartExpanding the T-Chart8-Sentence Accordion 8-Sentence Accordion

ParagraphParagraphCreate an Accordion FoldCreate an Accordion Fold

FrontFront Back Back

Topic Sentence

Reason, Detail or Fact

Explanation or Example

Reason, Detail or Fact

Conclusion

Explanation or Example

Reason, Detail or Fact

Explanation or Example

Topic SentencesTopic Sentences

After Even though Until

Before Although When

As Whenever While

Since Unless If

When students write paragraphs, they must start with strong topic sentences.

If you want to write a good, clear paragraph, try using the accordion paragraph method.

Topic Sentences

Power StatementsPower Statements

List how many reasons your are going to cover to List how many reasons your are going to cover to support your topic.support your topic.

Everyone knew SEVERAL things about writing Everyone knew SEVERAL things about writing paragraphs.paragraphs.

There are THREE reasons why Dan, the protagonist in There are THREE reasons why Dan, the protagonist in “Quiet Hills,” by Sandra Lee, is a dynamic “Quiet Hills,” by Sandra Lee, is a dynamic character.character.

Two Several Some

Three A number of A few

Four A couple Many

A myriad A plethora Numerous

And, But, Or And, But, Or StatementsStatements

Use these conjunctions to help you write Use these conjunctions to help you write your topic sentence.your topic sentence.

The characters in the story were all dynamic, The characters in the story were all dynamic, but only one was round.but only one was round.

Kurt Vonnegut Jr. did a great job making his Kurt Vonnegut Jr. did a great job making his characters come to life, but he relied on characters come to life, but he relied on many flat charactersmany flat characters

And But Or

Nor Yet So

Where or When + What’s Where or When + What’s HappeningHappening

In the short storyIn the short story ++ there are two dynamic charactersthere are two dynamic characters

SometimesSometimes ++ authors use stereotypes in their authors use stereotypes in their novelsnovels

Where + What’s Happening

When + What’s Happening

Question and StatementQuestion and StatementTopic SentencesTopic Sentences

Reason, Detail or Fact Statements need Reason, Detail or Fact Statements need transitions.transitions.

Transitions help your writing flow and keep you Transitions help your writing flow and keep you organized.organized.

One way Another wayOne way Another way The first The The first The secondsecond

One example Another example One AlsoOne example Another example One Also

First of all Second LastFirst of all Second Last

First In addition Equally important First In addition Equally important

Transitions

The E’s

Go back to your topicGo back to your topic

Find your key wordsFind your key words

Use synonymsUse synonyms

SummarizeSummarize information, information, encourageencourage readers, readers, convinceconvince the audience or the audience or challengechallenge them to them to thinkthink

The final statement is important!!!The final statement is important!!!

Conclusions

In fact Obviously Clearly

Certainly Definitely Truly

All in all To sum up Surely