The Eight-Sentence Paragraph

A Framework for Paragraph Writing

Adapted by Sheri Edwards from:

Paula Barnard and Paula Gogert

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 key words from the prompt)(Uses key words from the prompt)

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

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

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

ConclusionConclusion (Restates (Restates Introduction)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 is my dog, Romeo. dog, 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 He is beautiful and easy to care for.to care for.Playing with Playing with him is lots of fun.him is lots of fun. He He always takes care of always takes care of me.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, explanation, evidence, example, elaboration, experienceevidence, example, elaboration, experience : :

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

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 Romeo is the best pet anyone could ever have.anyone 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 He is beautiful and easy to care for; his medium white fur care for; his medium white fur needs no extra brushing. needs no extra brushing. Playing Playing with him is lots of fun; I throw a with him is lots of fun; I throw a tennis ball and he bounces off to tennis ball and he bounces off to retrieve it.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,”Ow!” and licks my facesay,”Ow!” and licks my face. . Romeo is the best pet anyone Romeo is the best pet anyone could ever have.could ever 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 is Cresent Bay. Cresent 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 The lake laps quietly onto the shore.onto the shore.Sticks Sticks drift onshore for Pooka drift onshore for Pooka to fetch.to fetch. The roads and The roads and hills provide hiking fun.hills provide 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, explanation, evidence, example, elaboration, experienceevidence, example, elaboration, experience : :

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

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

The lake laps quietly onto the shore. The lake laps quietly onto the shore. I I watch the carp swim and ducks dive for watch the carp swim and ducks dive for foodfood. . Sticks drift onshore for Pooka to Sticks drift onshore for Pooka to fetch.fetch.We play for hours winter and We play for hours winter and summer along the shore.summer along the shore. The roads and The roads and hills provide hiking fun; 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 Cresent Bay is the best for watching wildlife, hiking hills, the best for watching wildlife, hiking hills, and playing with Pooka.and playing with Pooka.

The Completed Paragraph--revised for names and 5ws My My favorite placefavorite place is Cresent Bay is Cresent Bay on Lake on Lake

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