Division Paragraphs

What you'll be doing

Learning how to set up, insert, and cite a quote into your own prose by writing a paragraph on one of your divisions. Repeat for each division and you'll have a rough draft.

Suggested Steps

1. Choose one of the topic sentences below or make adjustments to the authors and topic according to your own divisions.
2. Organize: Using your organized writer's notes (the ones that focus on your divisions) choose quotes from the readings that can be used to support paragraph:
   • Try grouping quotes for each division into two categories:

   i. What do the writers say is a problem, solution, or curriculum idea
   ii. Why do the writers say that is problem, solution, or curriculum idea

3. Set Up Quote: Following the instructions in I&C on Incorporating Quotes, provide a context for the quote (set it up), insert the quote, and then include a citation.
   • Generally, you'll first work with a "What" quote to illustrate the problem, solution or curriculum then move to a "Why" quote to explain why the writer sees it as a problem, solution, or curriculum idea.
4. Transition: Using sample paragraph in I&C as model, move from one writer to the next. Commonly used phrases include
   1. Archibold also addresses the importance of reading.
   2. The writers of “Tough,” like Kantrowitz and Wingert, believe higher standards would improve education.
   3. Gest is another writer who writes about the problems of overcrowding.
5. Set Up Quote: Following the instructions in I&C on Incorporating Quotes, provide a context for the quote (set it up), insert the quote, and then include a citation.
   • Generally, you'll first work with a "What" quote to illustrate the problem, solution or curriculum then move to a "Why" quote to explain why the writer sees it as a problem, solution, or curriculum idea.
6. Using the sample paragraph in I&C as a model, write a sentence to wrap up your paragraph.
7. Raise up your hand so I can check your work when finished.

Sample Topic sentences -- Choose as model and make any necessary changes

Curriculum topic sentence example

• Archibold and McCullough report that reading is crucial to a student's education.
  • ____ and ___ report that ___ is crucial to a student's education.
  • Many writers feel that ____ is crucial to a student's education.

Problem topic sentence example

• Gest and Kantrowitz and Wingert argue that overcrowding is hurting American education.
  • ____ and ____ argue that ____ is hurting American education.
  • Many educational researchers argue that _____ is hurting American education.
• Gest and the writer's of "Tough" believe that low expectations is one of the problems with American education today.
  • ____ and ____ argue that _______ is an essential part of a child's education.
  • Some researchers believe that _______ is an essential part of a child's education.

Solution topic sentence example

• Archibold and the writers of "Tough" feel that increased funding will help improve schools.
  • _____ and ____ feel that _____ will help improve schools.
  • Many of these writers feel that _____ will help improve schools.