The 3'8 Paragraph

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The 3.8 Paragraph

• OR
• Writing the No-Hassle Way

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Introduction
The 3.8 Paragraph is made up of

• 1 topic
• 3 points
• 8 sentences

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Sentence 1The topic sentence

• The first sentence states the three points you
  are going to make about the topic.
• Example West Virginias well-known Civil War
  battle sites include Phillipi, Droop Mountain,
  and Romney.

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Sentences 2 and 3Discuss point 1

• Sentences 2 and 3 develop the first point you
  wish to make with details, reasons, or examples.
• Example The battle of Phillipi, which occurred
  in May 1860 is considered the first land battle
  of the Civil War. The Confederate Army retreated
  so rapidly that this battle is often referred to
  as the Phillipi Races.

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Sentences 4 and 5Discuss point 2

• Sentences 4 and 5 develop the second point with
  details, reasons, or examples.
• Example Droop Mountain was the site of West
  Virginias largest Civil War battle. The
  Confederates captured 580 prisoners there.

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Sentences 6 and 7Discuss point 3

• Sentences 6 and 7 develop the third point with
  details, reasons, or examples.
• Example The little town of Romney was an
  important hub for the east-west railroad lines.
  The area changed hands 56 times during the course
  of the war because each side wanted control of
  the BO Railroad.

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Sentence 8The conclusion (or clincher)

• Sentence 8 concludes the paragraph by restating
  or summarizing the topic sentence.
• Example Phillpi, Droop Mountain, and Romney are
  only three of West Virginias many Civil War
  battle sites.

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Now, lets put it all together
West Virginias well-known Civil War battle
sites include Phillipi, Droop Mountain, and
Romney. The battle of Phillipi, which occurred in
May 1860, is considered the first land battle of
the Civil War. The Confederate Army retreated so
rapidly that this battle is often referred to as
the Phillipi Races. Droop Mountain was the site
of West Virginias largest Civil War battle.
The Confederates captured 580 prisoners there.
The little town of Romney was an important hub
for the east-west railroad lines. The area
changed hands 56 times during the course of the
war because each side wanted control of the BO
Railroad. Phillpi, Droop Mountain, and Romney are
only three of West Virginias many Civil War
battle sites.

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Now, lets recap the 3.8 formula

• Sentence 1--the topic sentence introduces the
  topic that contains three points
• Sentences 2 3--develop point one
• Sentences 4 5--develop point two
• Sentences 6 7--develop point three
• Sentence 8--the clincher--restates the topic
  sentence.

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Its quiz time...

• Its time to get pencil and paper.
• Put your name and todays date on your paper and
  number from 1 to 6.
• You will choose the best answer for each item.

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What do you remember about 3.8?

• 1. The 3.8 paragraph is one paragraph with
• a. 3 sentences b. 8
  sentences
• c. 11 sentences
• 2. The 3.8 paragraph makes
• a. 1 point b. 2 points c. 3 points
• 3. The first sentence
• a. develops one point b. is the topic
  sentence
• c. is the concluding sentence
• continued--gt

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Quiz continued

• 4. The sentenced developing point one are
• a. 2 and 3 b. 4 and 5 c. 6 and 7
• 5. The sentences 6 and 7 develop
• a. Point 1 b. Point 2 c. Point 3
• 6. The eighth sentence
• a. develops point 2 b. five examples or
  details
• c. Rewords or summarizes the topic sentence

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NOW.check your answers

• 1. The 3.8 paragraph is one paragraph with
• b. 8 sentences.
• 2. The 3.8 paragraph makes
• c. 3 points.
• 3. The first sentence
• b. is the topic sentence.
• 4. The sentences developing point one are
• a. 2 and 3.
• 5. The sentences 6 and 7 develop
• c. Point 3
• 6. The eighth sentence
• c. Rewords or summarizes the topic sentence.

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Time to write!

• Your teacher will direct you to a site to
  find some inventions or discoveries that you will
  write about.
• Choose three of the inventions or
  discoveries and create a 3.8 paragraph about how
  the Civil War would have been different if those
  items had been created or discovered before 1861.
  
• Use what you have learned about the 3.8
  paragraph to write about them.