Paragraph Structure
How many sentences do you need for a good paragraph?
Around 5 - 8 sentences
How many paragraphs are in a 5-paragraph essay?
5
What two things do we need to make a complete sentence?
Subject (noun) and a verb
If I start a sentence with a subordinator (when, because, if, after), do you need a comma before the main clause?
Yes :)
True or false: when writing in English, it's important to write a lot of fancy words, even if it doesn't say much.
False! Be specific, get to the point!
What is the first sentence in a body paragraph called?
Topic sentence
How many body paragraphs does a 5-paragraph essay have?
3
True or false: we need a comma before "and" in this sentence:
I went to school and then studied in the library.
False--we have "and" but the second part of the sentence does not have a main clause (subject and verb).
What is an example of a word we use to start an adjective clause?
who, whom, which, that, whose, 0
You can use these words to add more meaning to your sentences and make them more academic.
"Magic words" / sentence transitions (or an example of transition words)
What is the last sentence of a body paragraph called?
Conclusion / concluding sentence
What is the sentence in an essay that tells the main idea of the whole essay?
Thesis statement
What are some examples of words that are conjunctions?
FANBOYS
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
If I want to talk about an activity (a verb) but I want it to be the subject of a sentence (a noun), how can I change the grammar to make a verb into a noun?
Make it a gerund or infinitive -- to verb or verb + ing
True or false: long sentences are better than short sentences.
False! It's good to have a mix of different types of sentences, and both short and long.
How many topics should you talk about in one (body) paragraph?
Only one!
Where is the thesis statement usually located in an essay?
Last sentence of the first paragraph (introduction)
What are the three types of sentences?
Simple, compound, and complex
Why did Mrs. D want you to practice using gerunds and infinitives for your hobby paragraphs?
Hobbies are activities, so you will use gerunds and infinitives often to describe them (ex: listening to music, playing basketball, watching movies)
Give an example of why ChatGPT doesn't always make good paragraphs.
Doesn't have specific examples, doesn't have your personal experience, your writing style and voice~
What can you do for supporting sentences in a paragraph?
Give a clear and detailed example, tell a story, 5Ws
What is one of the "SOAPY" strategies for writing a good conclusion paragraph?
S: suggestion
O: opinion
A: action
P: prediction
Y: why the topic is important
Give an example of a word that begins a dependent clause (subordinator).
So many! Because, if, since, when...(look in your "magic words" list!)
What is a comma splice?
"Comma drama," or a comma in a place where either a period (full stop) or a "magic word" would connect the two sentence parts.
(I went to the store, I bought some juice. = I went to the store, and I bought some juice.)
True or false: you should use a combination of all three sentence types.
Yes! Using different kinds of sentences and transitions makes your writing more interesting.