Transcript Jane Schaffer Writing Strategy - Home

Triple-decker Paragraphs
How to Write an Eleven-Sentence
Paragraph
A modified Jane Schaeffer paragraph Powerpoint created by Hollie Gustke and modified by Trina Mangione
Get Ready to Color Your World!
•
Materials: When we write, we will
use blue, yellow, and green
highlighters.
–BLUE is for Topic Sentences (TS)
and Concluding Sentences (CS).
–Yellow is for concrete details (CD).
–GREEN is for Commentary
(CM).
Step 1: TOPIC SENTENCE

A Topic Sentence
(TS) is the top bun
of a hamburger.
• TS = first sentence of the paragraph.
It shows the main idea.
• Usually something that you have to
prove.
Example Topic Sentence (TS)
In the fairy tale “The
Three Little Pigs,” the third
pig has traits which help
him succeed.
.
Step 2: concrete details
concrete details
are the meat
patties of the
hamburger.
concrete details are
the subcategories
that prove your
TOPIC SENTENCE
Example SUPPORT
2) For example, he is wise
and builds his house out of
sturdy brick.
Step 3: Expansion

Commentary are the
“extras” on the
hamburger—the
tomato, cheese,
lettuce, mayo—they
make it delicious!
• CM= your analysis, interpretation,
explanation, or insight into the text.
Example Commentary (2 CMs)
3) The wolf is unable to blow
down the brick house. 4) This
shows that the third pig is
smarter than his brothers, who
were both eaten by the wolf.
Step 4: CONCLUDING
SENTENCE
A concluding
sentence (CS) is
the bottom bun
of the
hamburger.
• A CS wraps up the paragraph.
It rephrases the main idea.

Example Concluding Sentence
(CS)
5) In conclusion, the third
pig outsmarts not only his
brothers but the “big, bad”
wolf as well.
TS, CD, CM, CS—Now What?
 CHUNKING
A combination of CD and CM is
called a chunk.
For an Eleven sentence paragraph,
we will use a combination (or
“ratio”) of 1:2. That is, for every 1
CD, you will have 2 CM.
Three layers
For an eleven-sentence paragraph,
you have three chunks:

Topic sentence

CD (hamburger patty)



CD (hamburger patty)



CM (lettuce)
CM (tomato)
CM (cheese)
CM (pickles)
CD (hamburger patty)


CM (onion)
CM (mustard)
 Concluding sentence
One Chunk: 1 CD+ 2 CM
For example, he is wise and builds
his house out of sturdy brick. The
wolf is unable to blow down the
brick house. This shows that the
third pig is smarter than his brothers,
who were both eaten by the wolf.
Ratio = 1:2
Transitions

A good paragraph will also use transition
words. These are words or phrases that
help readers connect ideas.
• Example transitions (LLA 688):
For example,
For instance,
Consequently,
Thus,
In summary,
Because of this,
As a result,
Hence,
Therefore,
Does It Flow?
Now you know how to write
a three-chunk paragraph…
LET’S EAT!
Step 6: A Whole Paragraph
In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,”
the third pig has the traits that help him
succeed. For example, he is wise and builds
his house out of sturdy brick. The wolf is
unable to blow down the brick house. This
shows that the third pig is smarter than his
brothers, who were both eaten by the wolf.
Additionally, he is a hard worker. Although it
is much easier to build a house out of straw,
he chooses the sturdy material. Even though
Continued…

laying bricks is time-consuming, he knows it is
the better choice. This oldest pig also learns his
lessons. He remembers his mother taught him
that predators seek out little pigs. Knowing a
wolf-attack is likely, he plans out his home
construction to prevent tragedy. In conclusion,
the third pig’s nature enables him to outsmart
not only his brothers, but the “big, bad” wolf as
well.
Notice the color pattern:
In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig has
the traits that help him succeed. For example, he is wise and
builds his house out of sturdy brick. The wolf is unable to
blow down the brick house. This shows that the third pig is
smarter than his brothers, who were both eaten by the wolf.
Additionally, he is a hard worker. Although it is much easier
to build a house out of straw, he chooses the material that
will hold up. Even though laying bricks is time-consuming,
he knows it is the better choice. This oldest pig also learns
his lessons. He remembers his mother taught him that
predators seek out little pigs. Knowing a wolf-attack is likely,
he plans out his home construction to prevent tragedy. In
conclusion, the third pig’s nature enables him to outsmart not
only his brothers, but the “big, bad” wolf as well.
Let’s try our own!!