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Social Science Department
Constructing Paragraphs
Table of Contents
1. 3 ingredients of a paragraph
2. Example
3. Activity 1: Highlight Topic
Circle key word as main
Idea
Clincher Sentences
Circle key word as main
idea for current and previous paragraph
4. Activity 2: Match Topic and Clinchers with paragraphs
Japan
Aztec
5. Activity 3: Cut and Paste
6. Activity 4: Grade paragraphs
7. Activity 5: Create own topic and clincher sentences when paragraph is given
Elements of a paragraph:
1. Topic Sentence—broad statement from thesis’ organization categories
that introduces main idea of the paragraph
2. Evidence and Interpretive Commentary
3. Clincher Sentence-ties the paragraph to the thesis and if possible
provides a link to the next main idea
Practice 1
1. Read the Question and the Thesis Statement and rest of essay
2. Highlight:
One Color—Topic Sentences
One Color-Clincher Sentences
3. Circle in topic sentences; Key words that come from thesis
4. Circle in clincher sentences: Key words that show up in next topic
sentence
Question: Discuss the major changes Japan underwent in its government structure
between 1600 and 1900.
Thesis Statement: Japan changed, primarily through civil war, from an isolated country
headed by a shogun to an industrialized world power led by an emperor.
1
2
3
Japan under the authority of the Tokugawa Shogun was isolated from the western world
enabling it to develop its own culture. Under the authority of the Shogun, first created in
1600, Christian missionaries were removed and the nation’s borders were closed to
foreigners. During the next 250 years Japan remained isolated from the west. Japanese
merchants grew strong without foreign competition. Despite this isolation, Japanese
culture flourished. The Kabuki theatre pleased audiences with dramatic stories. The
puppet theatre entertained audiences with violent battle stories. The popular style of
poetry, known as haiku also flourished during the Tokugawa era. Although these
achievements were significant, by 1800 a number of problems revealed that the shogun
was poised for a larger fall.
A series of events beginning with a civil war in mid 1800s finally caused the decline
and fall of the Tokugawa Shogun. In 1858 chaos resulted after the latest Tokugawa
Shogun died without an heir. A group of disgruntled samurai assassinated the next heir to
the shogun title. A long bloody civil followed between the former shogun’s army and
armies of lesser lords supported by the new merchant class. This group of rebel lords
seized the imperial palace, headquarters of the shogun government. This event ended
almost 700 years of shogun rule and opened the door for a new Japanese government to
take its place.
A new era of rule was installed with ascension of the Meiji emperor as the head of the
Japanese government. The new emperor, quickly dismantled the power of the shogun,
abolished the privileges of the samurai and concentrated political control in the national
government located in the new capital of Tokyo. A new constitution made the emperor’s
power supreme but also created a 2-house legislature known as the Diet. The emperor
quickly modernized the country by industrializing and seeking to control colonies abroad
Practice 2
Match the correct topic and clincher sentences listed below to
the paragraph it belongs
Topic and Clincher Sentences for Aztec Society
--Aztec religion helped to create a more complex social structure
--The Aztec outlook on life helped to shape their religious views
--The top half of Aztec society held the power and generated most of the wealth for the
empire
--The majority of people in the Aztec empire occupied the lowest classes in society
--This extravagant lifestyle was made possible by the work of the lowest members of
Aztec society
Topic Sentence 1:
The Aztecs perceived themselves as living in an insecure world at the mercy of the
elements. Gods showed their displeasure by shaking the earth, creating floods or parching
the land. To ward off strange and harmful forces the Aztecs worshipped to a wide variety
of gods. Each of these gods represented a different force of nature, such as the wind and
sun. Often, Aztecs tried to please gods by performing human sacrifices. Aztecs believed
that some gods demanded different types of sacrifices to help quiet the most harmful
effects of nature.
Clincher Sentence 1 :
Topic Sentence 2:
At the very top of Aztec society was the emperor and his very large noble family.
Emperors were chosen from the royal family on the basis of merit. His heir was not fixed.
The emperor and his royal family were expected to serve as examples, to maintain
dignity and to lead the warriors. Beneath the royal family was a class of nobles such as
high priests, military officers and influential government leaders. Like the title emperor,
nobility was not inherited; they had to distinguish themselves in service to be a part of the
upper class. Their obligations and moral duties were not taken lightly. A small group of
merchants occupied the middle class of the empire. They traded as far as Central
America. They were shrewd and brave, often depending on their wits to avoid danger.
They brought in much wealth for the empire. Like the royal family and the nobility,
merchants lived in their own district and enjoyed great luxuries.
Clincher Sentence 2:
Topic Sentence 3:
A group known as commoners included farmers, laborers and servants. They were
organized into wards called calpullis. Each calpulli was granted a tract of land that could
use the fields but not actually own them. Still lower were the serfs. They rented their
services out to the upper classes to work in fields or to do domestic tasks. They were not
citizens and were considered inferior to commoners. At the very bottom were slaves.
Slaves had some rights and their condition was not passed from parent to child. Some, in
fact, served as slaves only for a specific term. In bad times, People often sold themselves
into slavery. Overall, little stigma was attached to being a slave. In fact, the mother of one
of the most powerful emperors was a slave.
Practice 3
Cut out each of the sentences. First, find the topic sentence and
then according to its logical development, arrange the rest of the
sentences in order finishing with the clincher sentence
A. Therefore, the large states would have more influence and power over the small states
when decisions were made in the new government
B. Therefore, under the New Jersey Plan, the influence of large and small states would be
equal in the decision making process
C. Each of these representatives would have a vote in the new legislature
D. Two proposals, the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan, were presented at the
Constitutional Convention in an attempt to settle the disagreement over how states should be
represented in the new legislature
E. The so-called New Jersey Plan, suggested that each state have an equal number of
representatives, each with a vote, regardless of population size.
F. The supporters of these plans would have to make a compromise in order for a new
government to be created
G. The Virginia Plan, supported by the large states, recommended that each state be given a
certain number of representatives based on the size of its population
H. On the other hand, the small states favored a system similar to the one used under the
Articles of Confederation
Practice 4
Use the rubrics to grade the paragraphs
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 2
Supporting Paragraphs Scoring Guidelines
0= Not present
1=Present, but flawed or incomplete
2=Present
3=Present and sophisticated
Supporting Paragraphs Scoring Guidelines
0= Not present
1=Present, but flawed or incomplete
2=Present
3=Present and sophisticated
Score____Topic Sentence
Score____Evidence and Interpretive Commentary
Score____Clincher Sentence
Total____
Score____Topic Sentence
Score____Evidence and Interpretive Commentary
Score____Clincher Sentence
Total____
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 4
Supporting Paragraphs Scoring Guidelines
0= Not present
1=Present, but flawed or incomplete
2=Present
3=Present and sophisticated
Supporting Paragraphs Scoring Guidelines
0= Not present
1=Present, but flawed or incomplete
2=Present
3=Present and sophisticated
Score____Topic Sentence
Score____Evidence and Interpretive Commentary
Score____Clincher Sentence
Total____
Score____Topic Sentence
Score____Evidence and Interpretive Commentary
Score____Clincher Sentence
Total____
Q. Discuss which key events contributed to the fall
of the system of feudalism in Medieval Europe.
Paragraph 2:
The Black Death, a catastrophic disease,
severely affected Europe’s economic life helping to
bring to an end the system of feudalism. Initially,
the massive death caused by the plague reduced
the demand for European goods forcing farmers to
diversify. In place of grains, farmers produced
fruit, meat and dairy products. When Europe slowly
recovered from the plague, fewer workers were
available, allowing serfs to demand more freedom.
When nobles attempted to return to feudal
standards, working classes revolted. In the end,
working class people succeeded in improving their
situation. Ultimately, this disease forced serfs to
move to cities, which led to the growth and
importance of towns, further weakening the feudal
system
Q. Discuss which key events contributed to the fall
of the system of feudalism in Medieval Europe.
Paragraph 3:
The growth of towns generated from an
increase in trade and commerce contributed to the
fall of feudalism. Towns became even more
important as centers of shipping and banking.
Guilds were associations of merchants and
artisans. A standard currency was used. A new
urban middle class became literate. Commercial
activity was centered in towns because the new
middle class established itself in Europe’s urban
centers. Charters were more frequent. Towns, with
walls, were built with protection in mind.
Q. Discuss which key events contributed to the fall
of the system of feudalism in Medieval Europe.
Paragraph 4:
Joan of Arc emerged as hero of France.
Despite her tragic end to her life she won an
important battle. As a result of the 100 years war
many French people found themselves with a new
sense of patriotism to their country, not a local
lord. Furthermore, the developments in weapons
made during the war rendered knights obsolete.
Finally, French kings were now able to exert more
power than ever before. Louis XI, for example,
secured the right to tax, establish a standing army
and appoint a growing bureaucracy to operate his
government.
Q. Discuss which key events contributed to the fall
of the system of feudalism in Medieval Europe.
Paragraph 1
The Crusades weakened feudalism because it
changed the roles knights, peasants and monarchs
played in medieval Europe. Crusades offered
knights the hope for adventure. After the Church
declared the Peace of God and the Truce of God,
proclamations that attempted to curtail the killing
of Christians, the knights had no place to perform
the activity for which they were trained. Pope
Urban wanted to encourage the knightly ethic of
courage and chivalry by redirecting the violence
toward non-Christians. Furthermore, Jerusalem
was declared to be a fief of God, and it was every
knight’s duty to defend the holy city. Crusades also
increased the use of money and generated more
trade. Although this was already taking place as
Europe became more stable, the Crusades
accelerated these changes.
Practice 5
Provide a topic sentence and a clincher sentence based on the
paragraph provided.
Question: How did the Versailles Treaty contribute to Hitler’s
rise to power in Germany?
Thesis Statement: The harsh terms in the Treaty of Versailles
hampered Germany’s economy and promoted bitterness, which
increased the popularity of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.
Topic Sentence:
Evidence of Interpretive Commentary: According to the Treaty of Versailles, Germany
was forced to pay 54 billion to Britain and France for damages. These payments
prevented Germany’s from economically recovering from World War I. Severe inflation
throughout the 1920s plagued Germans ability to afford even the most basic goods and
services. The treaty also gave the Ruhr Valley, a key industrial area, to the French,
making it difficult for Germany to be self-sufficient again. In crippling Germany’s
economy, France and Britain hoped that Germany would never again be strong enough to
threaten European nations.
Clincher Sentence:
(note: the next paragraph would be the rise and broad appeal of the Nazi Party