Power Writing

Do you struggle with writing essays or even avoid writing altogether?

Do you wonder exactly how many sentencesmake a paragraph?

Well, wonder no more, because Power Writing gives YOU the power over writing!

Power Writing recognizes that there are four types of sentences that create a paragraph.

Power 1: Introductory sentence/Main idea

Power 2: Statement sentence of a major detail to explain or support the

main ideaPower 3: Minor detail to explain a

major detailPower 4: Concluding sentence

Power Sentence 1: Introduction

The introductory sentence states the main idea or topic. It is also called a topic sentence or a thesis statement.

It can introduce the major ideas to be explained.

It can introduce a book title, and an author.

It could also be a “hook.” (i.e., a question, an anecdote, a quote, an attention grabber)

Power Sentence 2: Statement SentenceExplains a major detail which

supports the main idea. Use transitions: first, second,

third, lastly, finally, one of, another, likewise, others, moreover, in addition, also, next, besides that, still others…

Power Sentence 3: A DetailMinor detail to explain a major

detailA quote, paraphrase, fact,

evidence, proof, statistic, anecdote, action or event to prove a point

Transitions: for example, for instance, namely, specifically, to be specific, currently, this can be explained by, this can be clarified by, equally important, furthermore, additionally, etc.

Power Sentence 4: Conclusion

Overall findings/opinion of the topic

How the topic relates to life/global importance

Summary of details and a call to action

Transitions: in conclusion, this is why, in summary, these are the reasons, as a result, finally, on the whole, in a word, in brief

Brainstorm topic by creating a circle map.

Topic

Details/Ideas

Resources

Using information from your Circle map, Create a Power Writing outline in the form of a Flee Map

Power Sentence 1 (a) /Introduction Hook (Optional)

Power Sentence2/Statement of Major Detail

Transition TransitionTransition

Power Sentence 3/Detail to explain statement in previous sentence

Power Sentence 1 (b) Introduction of Topic Sentence or Thesis Statement

Power Sentence 4/Conclusion

Quote, paraphrase, fact, evidence, proof, statistic, anecdote

A major detail taken from the circle map.

Overall opinion of topic, observation, reaction, feeling

Background information, author, title, explanation of theory, if arguing a claim, state it at end of paragraph

There are many different outlines used to Power Write, for example…

Basic Power Writing Paragraph: (1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 4)

(1) There are many methods to use to solve word problems. (2) One method is theguess and check method. (2) Another method is to make a chart or table. (2) A thirdmethod is to make an equation. (4) In summary, these are some of the easier methods touse to solve word problems.

Detailed Power Writing Paragraph: (1 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3 - 4)(1) There are many methods to use to solve

word problems. (2) One method is theguess and check method. (3) In other words, this method involves trial and error. (2)Another method is to make a chart or table. (3) You must organize your ideas for this one.(2) A third method is to make an equation. (3) In an equation, you will have to use avariable for your unknown. (4) In summary, these are some of the easier methods to use tosolve word problems.

Extended Power Writing Paragraph: (1 - 2 - 3 - 3 - 2 - 3 - 3 - 2 - 3 - 3 - 4)

(1) There are many methods to use to solve word problems. (2)One method is the

guess and check method. (3) In other words, this method involves trial and error. (3) If

one solution doesn’t work, then you try another. (2) Another method is to make a chart or

table. (3) You must organize your ideas for this one. (3) Because of this, you can use the

organized information to help find your solution. (2) A third method is to make an equation.

(3) In such cases, you will have to use a variable for your unknown. (3) Then you use the

rest of the information in the equation. (4) In summary, these are some of the easier

methods to use to solve word problems.