Some elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools utlize a writing technique designed to make writing essays easier. This technique is called the Two-Chunk Paragraph. The Two-Chunk Paragraph consists of color-coded sentences that make it easier for developing students to back up their opinions with facts, and to clearly identify what their thesis is.
Two-chunk paragraphs actually have four paragraphs - the first an introductory paragraph, the following two containing an answer or opinion with supporting fact, and the last a concluding paragraph.
Paragraph One:
Thesis statement
Transition statement
Lead
Paragraphs Two & Three:
Topic sentence
Concrete Detail
Commentary
Commentary
Concrete detail
Commentary
Commentary
Concluding sentence
Paragraph Four:
Restated thesis statement
Reparaphrasing of thesis statement
Concluding statement
One-chunk paragraphs are the same, with only one middle paragraph.
I don't remember seeing this strategy in elementary school but I saw it repeatedly in middle school and high school (freshman comp.) as they (the teachers) tries to help the students make great writers out of us all.
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