DetailedParagraphStructureandDescription

(forResponsetoLiteratureessays)
Thedifferencebetweenabasicparagraphandadetailedparagraphisthatthelattercontainsmuch
moredetailandsupport.Theoutlinebelowshowsthedifferenttypesofsentencestobeusedandtheir
typicalstructure:

Topic/Reason Sentence (tied to a major point -- or reason given -- in the thesis

statement)
o Support #1 broadly explains your first reason and connects to thesis
Detail / Example provides evidence from the text to prove your
support is true (be sure to introduce the quote!)
Commentary comments on and explains importance of the
detail (explains why you chose the quote youre usingwhy it is
important to the essay)
Commentary 2 optional, additional comments relating back to
reason #1
o Support #2 broadly explains your first reason and connects to thesis
Detail / Example provides evidence from the text to prove your
support is true (be sure to introduce the quote!)
Commentary comments on and explains importance of the
detail (explains why you chose the quote youre usingwhy it is
important to the essay)
Commentary 2 optional comments relating back to reason #1
and transitioning into the next paragraph
o Optional Support #3 and related detail/commentary

Conclusion (or clincher) sentence only necessary in a stand-alone paragraph

DEFINITIONS:
Topic/ReasonsentenceThisisthemainideaoftheparagraph,whichthebalanceof
theparagraphwillbespentdeveloping.Thissentenceservesasanumbrella,or
boundary,under/inwhichallothersentencesmustfall.Phrasingshouldbeclearand
straightforward.Avoidusingredundantandwordyphrases(Ithinkthat,Ibelieve)
andbesuretomakeastatementthatmustbeproven.
SupportsentencesThesecontainthemajorideasorproofsthatsupportthetopic
sentence.Formalparagraphswillcontainatleasttwoofthesesentences.Ifthereare
Mattos(revised2005)AnadaptationofRonArchersguide.

manyideasthatsupportatopicsentence,itmaybenecessarytobreaktheparagraph
intotwoormoreparagraphs.Thereisnopresetnumberofhowmanyofthese
sentencesaparagraphshouldcontain;theirnumbershouldbebasedonhowmuch
supportisnecessarytoprovethepoint.Onemaybeginthesesentenceswithtransition
wordssuchasFirst,andSecond,butavoidwordyphrasesthatrestatethetopic
sentence(ThefirstreasonthatIthinkthat...).
Detail/ExamplesentencesThesecontainactualexamplesorevidencetodemonstrate
thepointbeingmadeintheabovesupport/elaboration.Usuallytheinformationinthese
sentenceswillbequitespecific/factual(i.e.quotesfromthetext).Alwaysintegratethe
quotebyintroducingitorweavingitintothewriting(nonakedquotes)!
Commentary(orelaboration)sentencesTheseclarifyorexpandontheideajust
givenintheabovesupportsentence.Thesesentenceshelptofurtherexplainthepoint
thathasjustbeenmadewithoutgivinganactualexampleorevidence.(Theyfallinto
theinterpretationcategorybecausetheyarenotfactualexamples.Commentary
sentencesdemonstratethewritersabilitytoreadbetweenthelines.)Morethanone
commentarysentenceissometimesnecessary.
Conclusion/ClinchersentenceThisisnotarestatementofyourtopicsentence.This
sentenceshouldsummarizeyourpositionbyaddingalittleextrapunch.Thereaderwill
knowhowyouviewasubjectbythetoneorthoughtthatyouleavewiththereader.
(Note:Inamultiparagraphessay,bodyparagraphsdonotrequireconcluding
sentences.Instead,thelastsentenceoftheparagraphshouldprovideasmooth
transitiontothenextparagraph.)
DETAILEDPARAGRAPHSAMPLE:
(ThisparagraphisonechunktakenfromanessayonTheDiaryofAnneFrank.WrittenbyP.
WopschallrevisedbyA.Mattos)
Mr.VanDaanspessimisticattitudeisoneofhismostannoyingtraits.Hisnegativityis
apparentinthescenewhereheaskshiswifewhatisbeingservedfordinner.Sheanswersherhusband
bysaying,Beans,andMr.VanDaancomplains,Notagain(361).Insteadofbeinggratefulfor
thefoodthatMiepandtheFrankfamilyworksohardtoprovide,heshowsonlydisappointmentand
disgust.Peoplearerationingfoodduringwartime,andMieprisksherlifedailytryingtobuyfoodon
theBlackMarket,yetMr.VanDaanthinksofnothingbuthisownappetite.AnotherexampleofMr.
VanDaansgloomyoutlookiswhenhespeakstothebewilderedMr.Dusseluponhissuddenarrivalin
theAnnex.Mr.VanDaanasksDussel,DidMr.Kralerwarnyouthatyouwontgetmuchtoeat
here?Youcanimagine...andnowyoumakeeight(369).Inthissituation,Mr.VanDaansreaction
istheexactoppositeofthewarmhospitalitythatMr.Frankshowshisguest.Insteadofthinkingofthe
Mattos(revised2005)AnadaptationofRonArchersguide.

importanceofsavinganotherlife,hethinksonlyofthedifficultiescreatedbyaddinganotherrefugee
tothehidingplace.ItisnowonderthatAnneFrankwritessuchscathingcommentsinherdiaryabout
theillmanneredMr.VanDaan.

SampleParagraphOutlineandcolorscheme:
TopicSentence:Mr.VanDaanspessimisticattitudeisoneofhismostannoyingtraits.
Support#1:Hisnegativityisapparentinthescenewhereheaskshiswifewhatisbeingservedfor
dinner.
Detailedexample/quote:Sheanswersherhusbandbysaying,Beans,andMr.VanDaancomplains,
Notagain(361).
Commentary:InsteadofbeinggratefulforthefoodthatMiepandtheFrankfamilyworksohardto
provide,heshowsonlydisappointmentanddisgust.
Commentary:Peoplearerationingfoodduringwartime,andMieprisksherlifedailytryingtobuy
foodontheBlackMarket,yetMr.VanDaanthinksofnothingbuthisownappetite.
Support#2:AnotherexampleofMr.VanDaansgloomyoutlookiswhenhespeakstothebewildered
Mr.DusseluponhissuddenarrivalintheAnnex.
Detailedexample/quote:Mr.VanDaanasksDussel,DidMr.Kralerwarnyouthatyouwontget
muchtoeathere?Youcanimagine...andnowyoumakeeight(369).
Commentary:Inthissituation,Mr.VanDaansreactionistheexactoppositeofthewarmhospitality
thatMr.Frankshowshisguest.
Commentary:Insteadofthinkingoftheimportanceofsavinganotherlife,hethinksonlyofthe
difficultiescreatedbyaddinganotherrefugeetothehidingplace.
Concludingsentence:ItisnowonderthatAnneFrankwritessuchscathingcommentsinherdiary
abouttheillmanneredMr.VanDaan.

Mattos(revised2005)AnadaptationofRonArchersguide.