The Eight-Sentence Paragraph

A Framework for Paragraph Writing

Your teacher gives you a prompt.

“Write about your favorite pet.”

What do you do???

Don’t panic.

Follow this plan…

(Watch for the color-coding, it will help you

organize your ideas.)

You ONLY Need Three Ideas!

� What is your main idea or topic? (repeat key words from the prompt)

� What are three reasons that “show”

your topic sentence is true? (Be sure to

“show” not “tell”.)

� That’s all you need for a great

paragraph!!!

Use Correct Paragraph Form

A paragraph includes:

� Topic Sentence

� Three “Showing” Examples (reason

sentence and detail sentence--six total)

� Conclusion

No paragraph should be less

than eight sentences.

Eight-Sentence Paragraph• Introduction or Topic SentenceIntroduction or Topic Sentence (Uses (Uses

key words from the prompt)key words from the prompt)

•First Subtopic First Subtopic (A (A “Showing” Example) “Showing” Example) (reason and one of these: explanation, evidence, (reason and one of these: explanation, evidence, example, elaboration, experience)example, elaboration, experience)

•Second Subtopic Second Subtopic (A (A “Showing” Example) “Showing” Example) (reason and one of these: explanation, evidence, example, (reason and one of these: explanation, evidence, example, elaboration, experience)elaboration, experience)

•Third Sentence Third Sentence (A (A “Showing” Example) “Showing” Example) (reason and one of these: explanation, evidence, (reason and one of these: explanation, evidence, example, elaboration, experience)example, elaboration, experience)

• ConclusionConclusion (Restates Introduction)(Restates Introduction)

Start with a topic sentence that uses the Start with a topic sentence that uses the

key words from the prompt.key words from the prompt.

“Write about your favorite pet.”

My My favorite petfavorite pet is my dog, is my dog, Romeo. Romeo.

Introduction or Topic Sentence

(Your First Sentence)

Then write three reasons for the topic sentence Then write three reasons for the topic sentence being true:being true:

He is beautiful and easy to He is beautiful and easy to care for.care for.Playing with him is Playing with him is lots of fun.lots of fun. He always He always takes care of me.takes care of me.

Three Examples

Then Then write more detailwrite more detail for each of the three reasons for each of the three reasons for for the topic sentence being true the topic sentence being true explanation, evidence, explanation, evidence, example, elaboration, experienceexample, elaboration, experience : :

He is beautiful and easy to care for; He is beautiful and easy to care for; his his medium white fur needs no extra medium white fur needs no extra brushingbrushing. . Playing with him is lots of Playing with him is lots of fun; fun; I throw a tennis ball and he I throw a tennis ball and he bounces off to retrieve itbounces off to retrieve it.. He always He always takes care of me; takes care of me; he prances up to me he prances up to me whenever I say,whenever I say,”Ow!” and licks my ”Ow!” and licks my faceface..

Three Examples

Now end your paragraph with a conclusion:

Remember, each paragraph must have a Remember, each paragraph must have a

concluding sentence. Finish with a concluding sentence. Finish with a

sentence that restates your topic sentence sentence that restates your topic sentence

using different words.using different words.

Romeo is the best pet anyone Romeo is the best pet anyone could ever have.could ever have.

The Completed Paragraph My favorite pet is my dog, My favorite pet is my dog,

Romeo.Romeo. He is beautiful and easy to care He is beautiful and easy to care for; his medium white fur needs no extra for; his medium white fur needs no extra brushing. brushing. Playing with him is lots of fun; Playing with him is lots of fun; I throw a tennis ball and he bounces off I throw a tennis ball and he bounces off to retrieve it.to retrieve it. He always takes care of He always takes care of me; he prances up to me whenever I me; he prances up to me whenever I say,say,”Ow!” and licks my face”Ow!” and licks my face. . Romeo is Romeo is the best pet anyone could ever the best pet anyone could ever have.have.

Start with a topic sentence that uses the Start with a topic sentence that uses the

key words from the prompt.key words from the prompt.

“Write about your favorite place.”

My My favorite placefavorite place is Cresent is Cresent Bay. Bay. (do not add BECAUSE)(do not add BECAUSE)

Introduction or Topic Sentence

(Your First Sentence)

Then write three reasons for the topic sentence Then write three reasons for the topic sentence being true:being true:

The lake laps quietly onto The lake laps quietly onto the shore.the shore.Sticks drift Sticks drift onshore for Pooka to fetch.onshore for Pooka to fetch. The roads and hills provide The roads and hills provide hiking fun.hiking fun.

Three Examples

Then Then write more detailwrite more detail for each of the three reasons for each of the three reasons for for the topic sentence being true the topic sentence being true explanation, evidence, explanation, evidence, example, elaboration, experienceexample, elaboration, experience : :

The lake laps quietly onto the shore. The lake laps quietly onto the shore. I watch I watch the carp swim and ducks dive for foodthe carp swim and ducks dive for food. . Sticks Sticks drift onshore for Pooka to fetch.drift onshore for Pooka to fetch.We play for We play for hours winter and summer along the shore.hours winter and summer along the shore. The The roads and hills provide hiking fun; roads and hills provide hiking fun; Pooka and I Pooka and I walk there almost every day, looking for deer, walk there almost every day, looking for deer, wildflowers, and eagles.wildflowers, and eagles.

Three Examples

Now end your paragraph with a conclusion:

Remember, each paragraph must have a Remember, each paragraph must have a

concluding sentence. Finish with a sentence concluding sentence. Finish with a sentence

that restates your topic sentence using different that restates your topic sentence using different

words.words.

Cresent Bay is the best for Cresent Bay is the best for watching wildlife, hiking hills, watching wildlife, hiking hills, and playing with Pooka.and playing with Pooka.

The Completed Paragraph My My favorite placefavorite place is Cresent Bay. is Cresent Bay. The lake The lake

laps quietly onto the shore. laps quietly onto the shore. I watch the carp I watch the carp swim and ducks dive for foodswim and ducks dive for food. . Sticks drift Sticks drift onshore for Pooka to fetch.onshore for Pooka to fetch.We play for hours We play for hours winter and summer along the shore.winter and summer along the shore. The roads The roads and hills provide hiking fun; and hills provide hiking fun; Pooka and I walk Pooka and I walk there almost every day, looking for deer, there almost every day, looking for deer, wildflowers, and eagles.wildflowers, and eagles. Cresent Bay is the best Cresent Bay is the best for watching wildlife, hiking hills, and playing for watching wildlife, hiking hills, and playing with Pooka.with Pooka.

The Completed Paragraph--revised for names and 5ws

My My favorite placefavorite place is Cresent Bay is Cresent Bay on Lake Roosevelt on Lake Roosevelt behind Grand Coulee Dam.behind Grand Coulee Dam. The The glacialglacial lake laps quietly lake laps quietly onto the shore, onto the shore, which is both rocky and sandy in placeswhich is both rocky and sandy in places . . I watch the carp swim I watch the carp swim in the evening in the evening and ducks dive for and ducks dive for food food in the early morningin the early morning. . Sticks Sticks from storms upriver from storms upriver drift onshore for Pooka to fetch.drift onshore for Pooka to fetch.We play for hours winter We play for hours winter and summer along the shore, and summer along the shore, usually taking quick dip in usually taking quick dip in the cold water on hot summer daysthe cold water on hot summer days.. The The gravelgravel roads and roads and manymany hills provide hiking fun hills provide hiking fun with beautiful views of the with beautiful views of the lake and the damlake and the dam; ; Pooka and I walk there almost every Pooka and I walk there almost every day, looking for deer, wildflowers, and eagles. day, looking for deer, wildflowers, and eagles. WouldnWouldn’t ’t you love to glance up to a gliding eagle, watching it dive you love to glance up to a gliding eagle, watching it dive fast to snatch the carp in its talons?fast to snatch the carp in its talons? Cresent Bay is the Cresent Bay is the best for watching wildlife, hiking hills, and playing with best for watching wildlife, hiking hills, and playing with Pooka.Pooka.

There you have it!

It’s easy to write a

paragraph.

All you need is

a topic,

three ideas and evidence

for each,

and a conclusion!

Assignment Prompt 1:

Write on the topic

“My Favorite Place”

Remember to prewrite, draft, revise,

edit for these steps:

•Topic sentence-favorite place•3 reasons why + evidence•Conclusion sentence-favorite place

Topic Sentence:

� Idea 1

� Idea 2

� Idea 3

� Detail 1a

� Detail 2a

� Detail 3a

Concluding Sentence:

Assignment Prompts-2Choose one� My favorite place� My favorite sport� My favorite song� My favorite candy� My favorite food� My favorite shoes� My favorite team� My favorite hobby� Field trips are great� Gonzaga is the best place to go.� Fishing is fun� Hunting is fun� TV is important to me

Assignment Prompt 3:

Write on the topic

“I am _____(insert adjective)”

Remember to prewrite, draft, revise,

edit:

•Topic sentence-I am _____•3 reasons why + evidence•Conclusion sentence-I am ____________