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
- Choose one of the topic sentences below or make adjustments to the authors and topic according to your own divisions.
- 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
- 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.
- Transition: Using sample paragraph in I&C as model, move from one writer to the next. Commonly used phrases include
- Archibold also addresses the importance of reading.
- The writers of “Tough,” like Kantrowitz and Wingert, believe higher standards would improve education.
- Gest is another writer who writes about the problems of overcrowding.
- 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.
- Using the sample paragraph in I&C as a model, write a sentence to wrap up your paragraph.
- 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.