What is good writing?• How do teachers decide how to grade a

writing assignment?

• Why do some students get A’s on their writing and others get B’s, C’s or worse?

• Could teachers give students a clue?

• How long does my writing need to be?

• How is good writing organized and developed?

Color-Formula Paragraphs

A Sure and Simple Way to Improve Student Writing

Green means — ”Go!”

There are four kinds of topic sentences:

Occasion – Position StatementsOccasion – Position Statements

Power StatementsPower Statements

However StatementsHowever Statements

Conjunction StatementsConjunction Statements

Power StatementsPower StatementsAll you have to do is state your topictopic and use a numbernumber word!

Example:Example:TouristsTourists traveling to New traveling to New Mexico will want to visit Mexico will want to visit severalseveral spectacularspectacular sightssights..

Topic: Topic: tourist sightstourist sightsNumber word: Number word: severalseveral

SupportSupport Sentences:Sentences:Yellow means – “slow down!”Yellow means – “slow down!”

• Support sentences Support sentences addadd information to information to the topic sentence.the topic sentence.

Always begin these with Always begin these with TTransitional ransitional EElements, or TE’s.lements, or TE’s.

Here are just a few transitional sets:Here are just a few transitional sets:

First – Secondly – Most importantlyFirst – Secondly – Most importantly One – Then – After thatOne – Then – After that

First - Another - NextFirst - Another - Next Initially – Then - FinallyInitially – Then - Finally

How Many SupportHow Many Support Sentences?Sentences?

• A well-developed paragraph needs a A well-developed paragraph needs a minimum of minimum of threethree support sentences. support sentences.

• Your instructor may ask you to write Your instructor may ask you to write moremore (or fewer!) support sentences.(or fewer!) support sentences.

• Write Write allall your support sentences at once, your support sentences at once, right after writing the topic sentence.right after writing the topic sentence.

5?5? 20?20? 2?2?

Now Now start start sentences with TE’s and write three sentences with TE’s and write three supports!supports!

• OneOne popular attraction is the Rio Grande River popular attraction is the Rio Grande River Gorge.Gorge.

• AnotherAnother place tourists and natives alike enjoy place tourists and natives alike enjoy visiting is White Sands National Monument.visiting is White Sands National Monument.

Support your topic sentence:Support your topic sentence:Topic sentence: Tourists traveling to New Mexico Topic sentence: Tourists traveling to New Mexico will want to visit several spectacular sights.will want to visit several spectacular sights.

• The The mostmost popularpopular site of all in the Land of site of all in the Land of Enchantment is Carlsbad Caverns.Enchantment is Carlsbad Caverns.

Here is the paragraph so far…

Tourists traveling to New Mexico will want to Tourists traveling to New Mexico will want to visit several spectacular sights.visit several spectacular sights.

OneOne popular attraction is popular attraction is the Rio Grande River the Rio Grande River Gorge.Gorge.

AnotherAnother place tourists and natives alike enjoy place tourists and natives alike enjoy visiting is White Sands National Monument.visiting is White Sands National Monument.

The The mostmost popularpopular site of all in the Land of site of all in the Land of Enchantment is Carlsbad Caverns.Enchantment is Carlsbad Caverns.

This paragraph is okay…But it doesn’t tell us much; it lacks But it doesn’t tell us much; it lacks

development.development.

Red means the writer must now STOP and give Red means the writer must now STOP and give some “E’s”!some “E’s”!

ExamplesExamples

EvidenceEvidence

EventsEvents ElaborationElaboration

Everyday info.Everyday info.

Expert opinionExpert opinion

ExperiencesExperiences

ExplanationExplanation

Adding the “E’s”

• Add the “E’s” to only ONE yellow support Add the “E’s” to only ONE yellow support sentence at a time.sentence at a time.

• Write at least one red detail sentence for Write at least one red detail sentence for everyevery support sentence—it is acceptable support sentence—it is acceptable to write 2, 3, or more.to write 2, 3, or more.

Example:Example:

OneOne popular attraction is the Rio Grande River popular attraction is the Rio Grande River Gorge.Gorge.

The Gorge is seven miles northwest of The Gorge is seven miles northwest of Taos on highway 64.Taos on highway 64.

Where the highway crosses, the Rio Grande Where the highway crosses, the Rio Grande lies a dizzying 900 feet below a magnificent lies a dizzying 900 feet below a magnificent bridge.bridge.

Visitors can view the river, bridge, or Visitors can view the river, bridge, or Gorge from various safe vantage points.Gorge from various safe vantage points.

Here, three “E’s” add interest to the support sentence.Here, three “E’s” add interest to the support sentence.

Now add the “E’s” to each of the Now add the “E’s” to each of the other two support sentences.other two support sentences.

Another place tourists and natives alike Another place tourists and natives alike enjoy visiting is White Sands National enjoy visiting is White Sands National Monument.Monument.

ExamplesExamples ExplanationExplanation EvidenceEvidence

The most popular site of all in the Land of The most popular site of all in the Land of Enchantment is Carlsbad Caverns.Enchantment is Carlsbad Caverns.

ExamplesExamples ExplanationExplanation EvidenceEvidence

Now it’s time to conclude!Now it’s time to conclude!

Conclusions are green because they remind Conclusions are green because they remind readers of your topic by restating and readers of your topic by restating and summarizing.summarizing.

Include a “signal” word or phrase in your conclusion Include a “signal” word or phrase in your conclusion sentence to let the reader know you are ending sentence to let the reader know you are ending

the paragraph.the paragraph.

ClearlyClearly

All in allAll in all

SurelySurely

CertainlyCertainly

In factIn fact

ObviouslyObviously

To sum upTo sum up TrulyTrulyIn conclusionIn conclusion

Pick a concluding word or phrase,Pick a concluding word or phrase,

then write a “reflection” of the then write a “reflection” of the topic sentencetopic sentence

Clearly,Clearly, the tourist attractions in New the tourist attractions in New Mexico offer many amazing Mexico offer many amazing and beautiful sights.and beautiful sights.

Here is the complete Here is the complete paragraph…paragraph…

TouristsTourists traveling to New Mexico will want to visit traveling to New Mexico will want to visit severalseveral spectacular spectacular sightssights.. OneOne popular attraction is the Rio Grande River popular attraction is the Rio Grande River Gorge. Gorge. The Gorge is seven miles northwest of Taos on highway 64. The Gorge is seven miles northwest of Taos on highway 64. Where the highway crosses, the Rio Grande lies a dizzying 900 feet Where the highway crosses, the Rio Grande lies a dizzying 900 feet below a magnificent bridge. Visitors can view the river, bridge, or below a magnificent bridge. Visitors can view the river, bridge, or Gorge from various safe vantage points. Gorge from various safe vantage points. AnotherAnother place tourists and place tourists and natives alike enjoy visiting is White Sands National Monument. natives alike enjoy visiting is White Sands National Monument. The The Monument is most famous for being the test site for the atomic Monument is most famous for being the test site for the atomic bomb. In addition to its historical importance, White Sands boasts a bomb. In addition to its historical importance, White Sands boasts a stark beauty. stark beauty. The The mostmost popularpopular site of all in the Land of site of all in the Land of Enchantment is Carlsbad Caverns. Enchantment is Carlsbad Caverns. This complex of caves This complex of caves discovered in the 1800’s is one of the most impressive and discovered in the 1800’s is one of the most impressive and extensive on the continent. Visitors can walk or ride through many extensive on the continent. Visitors can walk or ride through many cavernous rooms and learn about the geological formations. Since cavernous rooms and learn about the geological formations. Since much of it is far underground, Carlsbad Caverns is quite naturally air much of it is far underground, Carlsbad Caverns is quite naturally air conditioned! conditioned! ClearlyClearly, the tourist attractions in New Mexico offer , the tourist attractions in New Mexico offer many amazing and beautiful sights. many amazing and beautiful sights.

Green means “GO!” Write your topic sentence.Green means “GO!” Write your topic sentence.

Yellow means “slow down”! Comment on the topic.Yellow means “slow down”! Comment on the topic.

Red means “STOP” to elaborate on each support Red means “STOP” to elaborate on each support with the “E’s”.with the “E’s”.

Another green means Another green means “echo” or reflect upon your “echo” or reflect upon your topic, signaling the end to your reader.topic, signaling the end to your reader.

Put it all together!Put it all together!

This This couldcould bebe YOU! YOU!