Defending Claims in Point, Proof, Support FormatA Lesson in Paragraph Coherence and Unity

A Review of Strong Evidence and Point, Proof, Support

First, a Couple of Terms… Coherence

Logically integrated (put together), consistent, and understandable

Ideas are arranged in a way that makes sense to the reader

Use transitions to help connect ideas

UnityThe paragraph is 100% on topicAll information relates back to topic

sentence

Recall the significance of each…Point

What point are you trying to make about your topic sentence?

ProofWhat textual evidence are you

providing?

SupportAnalyze the relationship between the

point and proof to make your audience understand the conclusion you drew.

The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf

Let’s create a practice paragraph based on this famous short story

Claim: Nobody believes a liar, even when he is telling the truth.

Your Turn…

Let’s check out your claim…

Setting Up the Paragraph

1. Create a topic sentence

2. Find strong evidence to back up your topic sentence

3. Begin writing

Topic Sentence

Introduce the text + write claim statement

(Note: only introduce the text if we are working with one paragraph. In an entire essay, you would introduce the text and your major claim in your introduction and thesis)

“The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf” is one of Aesop’s fables, meant to teach the reader that liars will not be believed, even when they are telling the truth.

Your Turn…

Turn your claim into a topic sentence.

Best Proof?

What is the best evidence we can pull from the story?

"Don't cry 'wolf', shepherd boy," said the villagers, "when there's no wolf!" They went grumbling back down the hill. (3)

"Save your frightened song for when there is really something wrong! Don't cry 'wolf' when there is NO wolf!" (5)

But the villagers thought he was trying to fool them again, and so they didn't come. (8)

Your Turn…

Highlight the best pieces of evidence to support your claim on your graphic organizer or in the text itself

Create the Paragraph

Topic Sentence

+Point

Don’t be repetitive!

“The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf” is one of Aesop’s fables, meant to teach the reader that liars will not be believed, even when they are telling the truth. In the story, there was a little boy who lied about a wolf attacking the village’s sheep.

Create the Paragraph

Topic Sentence

+Point

Don’t be repetitive!

“The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf” is one of Aesop’s fables, meant to teach the reader that liars will not be believed, even when they are telling the truth. In the story, there was a little boy who lied about a wolf attacking the village’s sheep.

Notice the transition phrase used to start the point.

Your Turn…

Add your first point to your topic sentence

Create the Paragraph

Point

+Proof

Integrated

Cited

In the story, there was a little boy who lied about a wolf attacking the village’s sheep. The villagers ran up the hill to save the sheep, but went “grumbling back down the hill” when they realized the boy had lied (3).

Your Turn…

Add your proof. Don’t forget to integrate the quote correctly (and cite)!

Create the Paragraph

Proof

+Support

Relate back to claim

Start w/strong word or phrase

The villagers ran up the hill to save the sheep, but went “grumbling back down the hill” when they realized the boy had lied (3). Because the boy lied, the villagers were already starting to doubt his sincerity.

Claim: Liars will not be believed, even when they are telling the truth.

Create the Paragraph

Proof

+Support

The villagers ran up the hill to save the sheep, but went “grumbling back down the hill” when they realized the boy had lied (3). Because the boy lied, the villagers were already starting to doubt his sincerity.

Claim: Liars will not be believed, even when they are telling the truth.

Notice the analysis creating phrase used to start the support.

Some strong support phrases…

Because…,

Regardless of…,

When…,

... did/did not realize/understand/want/etc…

… actions/thoughts /etc. indicate…

Thus,

Therefore,

Despite…,

Obviously,

…’s attempt/ability to... (strong verb)

Instead of…

Support being used as a transition to the next point…

After…,

…’s action allowed/ caused/ created/ etc…,

When…,

Meanwhile,

Because of …’s …,

In contrast to…

Similarly,

Conversely,

…’s actions allowed /caused/enabled…

Your Turn…

Use one of the suggestions from the previous slides to start your support sentence, and add it to your proof.

Create the Paragraph

Support

+Point #2

Transition to your slightly new idea

Relate it back to claim

Because the boy lied, the villagers were already starting to doubt his sincerity. Despite the boy’s lie, the villagers fell for the trick another time, which caused them to not believe him again.

Claim: Liars will not be believed, even when they are telling the truth.

Create the Paragraph

Support

+Point #2

Because the boy lied, the villagers were already starting to doubt his sincerity. Despite the boy’s lie, the villagers fell for the trick another time, which caused them to not believe him again.

Claim: Liars will not be believed, even when they are telling the truth.

Look at how the transition phrase can be used to lead into the next point.

Your Turn…

This might be a little harder for you than it was for me. Figure out what your next point is going to be, then find a way to make it relate to the first. Consider those transition words from earlier as you write.

Create the Paragraph

Point #2

+Proof #2

Integrated

Cited

Despite the boy’s lie, the villagers fell for the trick another time, which caused them to not believe him again. Therefore, when the boy cried, “Wolf!” a third time, “the villagers thought he was trying to fool them again, and so they didn't come” (8).

Your Turn…

Add in your next piece of proof—make it as flawless as the first!

Create the Paragraph

Therefore, when the boy cried, “Wolf!” a third time, “the villagers thought he was trying to fool them again, and so they didn't come” (8). Instead of helping the boy, the villagers stayed home, and the sheep were scattered.

Proof #2

+Support #2

Relate back to claim

Start w/strong word or phrase

Claim: Liars will not be believed, even when they are telling the truth.

Some strong support phrases…

Because…,

Regardless of…,

When…,

... did/did not realize/understand/want/etc…

… actions/thoughts /etc. indicate…

Thus,

Therefore,

Despite…,

Obviously,

…’s attempt/ability to... (strong verb)

Instead of…

Support being used as a transition to the next point…

After…,

…’s action allowed/ caused/ created/ etc…,

When…,

Meanwhile,

Because of …’s …,

In contrast to…

Similarly,

Conversely,

…’s actions allowed /caused/enabled…

Create the Paragraph

Therefore, when the boy cried, “Wolf!” a third time, “the villagers thought he was trying to fool them again, and so they didn't come” (8). Instead of helping the boy, the villagers stayed home, and the sheep were scattered.

Proof #2

+Support #2

Claim: Liars will not be believed, even when they are telling the truth.

Notice the analysis creating phrase used to start the support.

Your Turn…

Use those phrases again to help create your support…

Create the Paragraph

Instead of helping the boy, the villagers stayed home, and the sheep were scattered. The boy’s lying could have caused him to lose the sheep’s or his own life, so it is likely that in the future he will remember that nobody believes a liar.

Support #2

+Concluding

sentenceEmphasize

relationship to claim

Claim: Liars will not be believed, even when they are telling the truth.

Your Turn…

Create a concluding sentence for your paragraph.

Full Paragraph

“The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf” is one of Aesop’s fables, meant to teach the reader that liars will not be believed, even when they are telling the truth. In the story, there was a little boy who lied about a wolf attacking the village’s sheep. The villagers ran up the hill to save the sheep, but went “grumbling back down the hill” when they realized th(3). Because the boy lied, the villagers were already starting to doubt his sincerity. Despite the boy’s lie, the villagers fell for the trick another time, which caused them to not believe him again. Therefore, when the boy cried, “Wolf!” a third time, “the villagers thought he was trying to fool them again, and so they didn't come” (8). Instead of helping the boy, the villagers stayed home, and the sheep were scattered. The boy’s lying could have caused him to lose the sheep’s or his own life, so it is likely that in the future he will remember that nobody believes a liar.

See the Repetitions?

“The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf” is one of Aesop’s fables, meant to teach the reader that liars will not be believed, even when they are telling the truth. In the story, there was a little boy who lied about a wolf attacking the village’s sheep. The villagers ran up the hill to save the sheep, but went “grumbling back down the hill” when they realized the boy had lied (3). Because the boy lied, the villagers were already starting to doubt his sincerity. Despite the boy’s lie, the villagers fell for the trick another time, which caused them to not believe him again. Therefore, when the boy cried, “Wolf!” a third time, “the villagers thought he was trying to fool them again, and so they didn't come” (8). Instead of helping the boy, the villagers stayed home, and the sheep were scattered. The boy’s lying could have caused him to lose the sheep’s or his own life, so it is likely that in the future he will remember that nobody believes a liar.

See the Repetitions?

“The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf” is one of Aesop’s fables, meant to teach the reader that liars will not be believed, even when they are telling the truth. In the story, there was a little boy who lied about a wolf attacking the village’s sheep. The villagers ran up the hill to save the sheep, but went “grumbling back down the hill” when they realized the boy had lied (3). Because the boy lied, the villagers were already starting to doubt his sincerity. Despite the boy’s lie, the villagers fell for the trick another time, which caused them to not believe him again. Therefore, when the boy cried, “Wolf!” a third time, “the villagers thought he was trying to fool them again, and so they didn't come” (8). Instead of helping the boy, the villagers stayed home, and the sheep were scattered. The boy’s lying could have caused him to lose the sheep’s or his own life, so it is likely that in the future he will remember that nobody believes a liar.

Your Turn…

Do you see anything in your paragraph that needs strengthening? Does a neighbor?

Is This Better?

“The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf” is one of Aesop’s fables, meant to teach the reader that liars will not be believed, even when they are telling the truth. In the story, there was a little boy who lied about a wolf attacking the village’s sheep. The villagers ran up the hill to save the sheep, but went “grumbling back down the hill” when they realized there was no wolf (3). Because the boy tricked them, the villagers were already starting to doubt his sincerity. Despite their doubts, the villagers fell for the trick another time, which caused them to not believe him again. Therefore, when the boy cried, “Wolf!” a third time, “the villagers thought he was trying to fool them again, and so they didn't come” (8). Instead of helping the boy, the villagers stayed home, and the sheep were scattered. The boy’s lying could have caused him to lose the sheep’s or his own life, so it is likely that in the future he will remember that nobody believes a liar.

Your Turn…

Make any necessary changes to your paragraph, then read back over it again to ensure you are really ready to go through it with a rubric and turn it in.