Figurative Language
"I am as hungry as a bear!" The kind of figurative language used here?
Simile
Does it focus on a single point?
Paragraphs always work best when they explore a single idea and your topic sentence should reflect that.
What is point of view?
The vantage point of position from which the story is told.
Seated on his throne, King Midas wore a golden crown. He had golden rings on each finger and held a golden scepter. His vest was embroidered with golden thread and even his shoes had golden ornaments. He had a golden box filled with gold coins. He named his daughter Marigold.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
King Midas loved gold.
The main job of a conjunction is to _____ two parts of a sentence.
Join
A comparison between 2 unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'.
Metaphor
Is it linked to the previous paragraph?
If the topic sentence creates an abrupt turn in the direction of the piece, then you'll need to add in appropriate transitions (either on this topic sentence or the previous paragraph) to maintain the flow.
In what point of view does a character within the story retell his or her experiences or impressions from their own perspective?
First Person
Some people say that the White House has ghosts. The most famous ghost is Abraham Lincoln. He is often seen standing in his room looking out the window. Even Eleanor Roosevelt said that she saw him. There is a legend that old Abe walks back and forth all night before something terrible is about to happen. This paragraph mainly tells:
What Lincoln's ghost is like.
Which of the following is a "compound" conjunction?
as long as
"The last day of school is like a day at the beach-easy and relaxing." The kind of figurative language used here?
Simile
Is it relevant to your main thesis?
The relevance of your topic sentence to the bigger picture in the piece should be clear to the reader. If it isn't, rewrite it.
In what point of view is the story written from the perspective of "you?"
Second Person
Jenny visited her grandmother in the hospital. She saw how kind and helpful the nurses were to her grandmother. Now she wants to be a nurse when she grows up. She wants to help sick people get well.
What is the main idea?
Jenny wants to be a nurse.
Which type of conjunction joins two parts of a sentence that are grammatically equal?
coordinating
What's the meaning of this simile?
"My mom can be as fiery as a volcano when I don't do my chores on time."
She gets really angry.
How well does it further your argument?
Make sure your topic sentence is interesting enough to push your argument forward. If it doesn't, your paper will just stall.
In what point of view does the narrator have unlimited knowledge and can describe every character’s thoughts and interpret their behaviors?
Third Person Omniscient
Many people have not heard giraffes make noises. Giraffes do not use sounds to “talk” with each other. When hurt, giraffes make a low moo, something like a cow. When frightened, they make a short, high sound.
What is the main idea?
Giraffes do make noises.
The word "although" can be used to join a dependent clause to a
Main Clause
What's the meaning of this personification?
"The camera loves me!"
Photos of me are always really good.
Does it point your paragraph in the direction you want it to go?
The reader should have an idea of where your paragraph is going after reading the topic sentence. If they won't, then you need to incorporate that direction into it.
In what point of view does the narrator use pronouns such as 'I' and 'me?'
First Person
Dolphins are very smart animals. They even have their own language. They talk to each other with clicks, whistles, and grunts. Scientists have been studying this dolphin language. They hope that in the future, people and dolphins will be able to talk to each other.This paragraph mainly tells:
How smart dolphins are.
Coordinating conjunctions always come _____ the words or clauses that they join.
Between