WRITING LESSON : The 11-sentence recipe, or formula, for body paragraphs


The 11- sentence paragraph is like a recipe.

When you use a formula to solve a math problem, if you follow the formula precisely and carefully, you will usually come up with the right answer. When you use a recipe to cook something, if you follow the steps of the recipe exactly, you will almost always produce an acceptable plate of food.
Interestingly, the same is true in writing. If you follow the steps of the 11-sentence formula or recipe, you have an excellent chance of writing a very successful paragraph.

It's really almost as simple as that.

So, here's the formula, or recipe, with example sentences in italics:

Sentence #1: Topic Sentence (TS)
Example TS: Today you will find whatever you are expecting to find.

Sentence #2: 1st Supporting Detail (SD), with transition
Example SD: For example, if you are expecting failure, you will certainly find it.

Sentence #3: Commentary (CM) on the SD
Example CM: If you sit down to write an essay and your mind tells you that you can’t write essays and never could, then you will surely not be able to write an admirable essay.

Sentence #4: Another commentary (CM) on the SD
Example CM: You are waiting for a bad grade on the writing, and therefore you will definitely receive it.

Sentence #5: 2nd Supporting Detail (SD), with transition
Example SD: In addition, if you anticipate that your classmates will not like you, then that is what you will find.

Sentence #6: Commentary (CM) on the 2nd SD
Example CM: Because you expect to be disliked, you will behave in a timid and diffident manner, and of course your friends will turn away from you.

Sentence #7: Another commentary (CM) on the 2nd SD
Example CM: Who wants to be around someone who doesn’t believe in himself or herself?

Sentence #8: 3rd Supporting Detail (SD), with transition
Example SD: Finally, if you expect things to go wrong, that is what will happen.

Sentence #9: Commentary (CM) on 3rd SD
Example CM: If you imagine you will do poorly on a math test, then of course you will do just that.

Sentence #10: Commentary (CM) on 3rd SD
Example CM: If you think you will find a soggy, tasteless sandwich in your lunch, then that’s what will be waiting for you.

Sentence #11: Concluding Sentence (CS)
Example CS: It’s like the old saying: “You get what you ask for.”

Notice that the main part of the paragraph contains three parts, each having an SD and two CMs. We call these parts "chunks". Each 11 sentence paragraph should have three chunks, and each chunk should contain 1 SD and 2 CMs.

DEFINITION: FORMULA FOR CHUNK AND PARAGRAPH
The formula for a chunk is:
CHUNK = 1 SD + 2 CMs
The formula for an entire paragraph is:
PARAGRAPH = TS + 3 CHUNKS (SD + 2 CMs) + CS



Below is the sample 11-sentence paragraph (above) in its entirety:

TS Today you will find whatever you are expecting to find. SD1 For example, if you are expecting failure, you will certainly find it. CM1 If you sit down to write an essay and your mind tells you that you can’t write essays and never could, then you will surely not be able to write an admirable essay. CM2 You are waiting for a bad grade on the writing, and therefore you will definitely receive it. SD2 In addition, if you anticipate that your classmates will not like you, then that is what you will find. CM1 Because you expect to be disliked, you will behave in a timid and diffident manner, and of course your friends will turn away from you. CM2 Who wants to be around someone who doesn’t believe in himself or herself? SD3 Finally, if you expect things to go wrong, that is what will happen. CM1 If you imagine you will do poorly on a math test, then of course you will do just that. CM2 If you think you will find a soggy, tasteless sandwich in your lunch, then that’s what will be waiting for you. CS It’s like the old saying: “You get what you ask for.”

A NOTE ON COMMENTARY SENTENCES: A commentary sentence (CM) is a sentence that offers your comment or opinion about a supporting detail (SD). You could also think of a commentary sentence as one that offers your insight, analysis, interpretation, personal response, feelings, evaluation, or reflections about the supporting detail. A commentary sentence can also simply restate the SD in different words.