PR

Today

• A quick review
• Body Paragraph

• Pattern/Structure
• Ideas: Four Types of Response in the Body Paragraph

• Body Paragraph practice and examples

Homework

Q & A

APAT focuses on APA
formatting, including basic page
setting up, citation, and
references.

The writing page includes a
thesis statement and a
background paragraph for PR
responding to chapter 4,
because we need these
paragraphs to learn APA
citation and references.

Part ONE (5%)
APA Template Assignment (APAT)
Due: May 21

Based on APAT, continue
writing your PR.

Keep improving
introduction, background,
and body paragraphs to
maximize your grade.

Part TWO: (10%)
Personal Response Essay (PR)
Due: June 4

Part THREE: (5%)
In-Session Writing Test
To be held June 7

Review: Personal Response Assignment (20%)

You will be tested on
writing a personal
response thesis
statement and a body
paragraph based on an
article that I will
provide you with.

S. Zhou

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Body Paragraph 2
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Introduction

Background

Body Paragraph 1
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Conclusion
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Title page Writing Page Writing Page Writing Page References

Four references
-3 from background
paragraph
-1 from body
paragraph

Review: Personal Response Essay Overview

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Background Paragraph

Follow this sentence pattern:

1) Define the main topic “authentic leadership” (Maximum 2 sentences)
e.g. Authentic leadership is ________________________ (Last name, year). [Researched, paraphrased and cited]

2) Introduce the author of the theory Bill George – his credibility/ authority (Maximum 2 sentences)
e.g. George is ___________________________________ (Last name, year). [Researched, paraphrased and cited]

3) Summarize the Chapter (Maximum 3 sentences)
e.g. In Chapter ( ), George (2015) ______________________________________. [Paraphrased and cited]

4) Transition to body paragraph
(1 transition sentence – this idea will be explained in future classes. It’s fine not to include this for APA Template
assignment, but it’s required for PR).

Review: Background Paragraph Pattern (p. 27)

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Introduction Paragraph Pattern

Sentence #1: Introductory sentence
How can you get readers interested in reading your essay?

Sentence #2: Topic sentence
What is your specific topic of this essay?

Sentence #3: Thesis Statement
What is your controlling idea of this essay?

Review: Thesis Statement (p. 9) Thesis statement is
the last sentence

of the introduction
paragraph

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Review: Thesis Statement and Key words (p.25)

(Thesis key word) revealed in Chapter __ of True North (reaction) through: (paragraphs key word 1, and paragraph key word 2)

Follow this formula to write your thesis statement:

In your opinion, what is the
most important thing that
you learned in this chapter?

Your answer should not be
the book title True North or
the chapter title Chapter 4.

Try to summarize this main
idea with one word (or one
expression).

Can you think of two specific aspects
of your above main idea (thesis key
word) from the chapter?

(i.e. what are two specific things in
the chapter you noticed that prove
your idea above is important).

Try to limit the aspect to 1 word each
if possible.

Example (using chapter 1 of True North. You should write your thesis statement based on the assigned chapter for PR.
Learning from the past revealed in chapter 1 Your Life Story of “True North” explains to me that one’s experience can shape
his/her authentic leadership skills through : understanding oneself and concentrating on other’s needs.

To indicate your reaction, you can use phrases such
as:
Reminds me of ____ [noun]
Reinforces my understanding of ____ [noun]
Draws my attention to ____ [noun]
Makes me wonder/think/consider about ____
[noun]
Makes me question how/why + full sentence
Contributes to my thoughts about ____ [noun]
Awakens my sense of ____ [noun]
Inspires me to ____ [verb – an action]

S. Zhou

Body Paragraph

• Pattern/ Structure
• Ideas

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Body Paragraph 2
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Introduction

Background

Body Paragraph 1
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Conclusion
…………………..
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Title page Writing Page Writing Page Writing Page References

Four references
-3 from background
paragraph
-1 from body
paragraph

Personal Response Essay Overview

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Pattern/Structure
organizes your essay clearly!

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Structure/Pattern is important:
Which one is easier to read?

The next slides showing he structure pattern that you should follow for writing PR body paragraph
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Body Paragraph Pattern (p. 27)

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Assertion

Explanation

Evidence

Discussion

Connection

Make sure to
follow the pattern
closely!

S. Zhou

Body Paragraph Pattern (p. 27)
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Assertion

Explanation

Evidence

Discussion

Connection

Assertion
• (1 sentence)
• State what the paragraph will discuss/prove with

the thesis key word, and a paragraph key word
(one aspect of the thesis key word/ main idea).
• Very important: include the thesis key word and

one of the paragraph key words. (exactly same
ones as in your thesis statement)

S. Zhou

Body Paragraph Pattern (p. 27)
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Assertion

Explanation

Evidence

Discussion

Connection

Explanation
• 1 or maximum 2 sentences)
• Explain the assertion in more detail, focusing on

the paragraph key word as it relates to the prompt,
perhaps using some detail from the situation
described by the prompt.
• Transition word/phrase:

In more detail, More specifically, In other words

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Body Paragraph Pattern (p. 27)
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Assertion

Explanation

Evidence

Discussion

Connection

Evidence
• a “quotation” from the reading chapter
• make sure to introduce with detail from the

prompt (i.e. name of the speaker of the quotation
or at least the source type), “quote” cite (Last
name/organization, Year).
• Transition word/phrase:

According to, As ( )states/reports/indicates

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Body Paragraph Pattern (p. 27)
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Assertion

Explanation

Evidence

Discussion

Connection

Discussion:
• Explain in your own words how the evidence

proves the relationship of the key words for the
assertion/thesis using a variety of the four types of
response.
• Follow the specific guidelines for creating

appropriately detailed comparative responses and
personal response.
• Transition word/phrase:

With this in mind/ Considering this/ This indicates that/
Clearly

S. Zhou

Body Paragraph Pattern (p. 27)
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Assertion

Explanation

Evidence

Discussion

Connection

Connection
• 1 sentence
• Using Thesis key word and the Paragraph key word

(aspect of the thesis key word/main idea) (same
key words from the assertion), summarize in one
sentence how the paragraph proved the
assertion/thesis.
• Transition word/phrase:

Therefore,/Thus,/Hence,/Consequently

S. Zhou

Assertion

Explanation

Evidence

Discussion

Connection

“Also” if it is the second paragraph or beyond

In more detail, More specifically, In other words

According to, As______states/reports/indicates, “quote” (Last
name/organization, Year)

With this in mind, Considering this, This indicates that, Clearly,
This causes me to feel ____(emotional) because____(intellectual)

Therefore,/Thus,/Hence,/Consequently

In comparison, ____(comparative)
In my experience, ____(personal experience)

4 types of
response

needed for
this essay

In my opinion/ I think/ ….

Body Paragraph Pattern
(Please download PR Body Paragraph Pattern from Moodle)

Don’t forget
to use
transition
words

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Ideas/deep thoughts
vitalize your writing

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Four Types of Response

to be included in the “discussion” in the body paragraph

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After reading/watching/ listening to something…….

what does the prompt show you?
Or,

What is the most significant idea you
learned from the prompt?

This idea can connect to

My
emotion

My
experience

My
knowledge

Comparison
with another

different
culture,

perspective, etc

What is Personal Response? (p. 25)

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Four Types of Response
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Assertion

Explanation

Evidence

Discussion
(four types of responses)

Connection

Emotional
response

Intellectual
response

Comparative
example
response

This is where you
need to use the
researched public
leader example that
you have done in
Worksheet 1 Planning
My PR.

Personal
experience
response

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(1) Emotional Response (in the discussion)

• Some prompts make you feel angry, discouraged, encouraged,
compassion, empathy, etc.

This causes me to feel ( ) because…..

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• A prompt will often make us think about something.
• You might agree or disagree with what is said.
• You might think of a theory or concept or theme.

In my opinion/I think/ I agree/ I disagree … …

Transition
words

(2) Intellectual Response (in the discussion)

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• A prompt will often lead you to compare to something else you know.
• It may be a cross-cultural comparison or a regional comparison (such as Western/Eastern

Canada), a comparison to something you have read, a movie you have watched, a news
story that comes to mind, etc.

• The Comparative response makes a connection between the prompt evidence and/or
assertion idea and something from your knowledge outside of the class.

• PLEASE NOTE, it should NOT be something that you learned about in the class you are
writing the paper for, or the prompt you are writing about (because this does not
demonstrate that you can make connections with your knowledge outside of the class).

In comparison, ……

Transition
words

(3) Comparative Example Response (in the discussion)

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• The comparative response must include reference to a public leader (i.e. a historical
figure, political leader, religious leader, celebrity, etc.).

• An APA citation is required for the comparative response.
• Using the internet, find a source of evidence about at least one public leader you know

that exemplifies the ideas in this paragraph (either a positive or negative idea).
• The leader does NOT have to be a business leader (i.e. the leader could be a political

leader, religious leader, celebrity, etc.), and must not come from the book chapter itself.

(3) Comparative Example Response (in the discussion)

S. Zhou

• When you write these types of response, it does not have to be exactly the same experience/idea
as what happened in the prompt.

• Instead, it can be similar/comparative in the abstract (i.e. it is similar in some way to the prompt).
• The most important thing about this type of response is that you explain what the connection is!

(3) Comparative Example Response (in the discussion)

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How to write it in the discussion?
• Transition word/phrase: In comparison,
• State what the Comparative Response will be about.

this reminds me of the story of Walt Disney.

• Explain the comparative response in some detail.
Disney is one of the most successful companies in the world, but when Walt Disney first tried to make an animation
studio it did not make any money and had to be dissolved (MacQuarrie, 2015). Even after he made the Disney
Company and had some success, the business still struggled, but Disney continued to learn from his failures in order
to be successful.

• A final sentence that draws a direct connection with the evidence used in the paragraph from the prompt.
i.e. This relates to/connects with/demonstrates what (the prompt) is discussing because… (explain why in one sentence)

This relates to what George writes about, just like Disney, George states that one must see failure as the pathway to
success.

Or use Although/Though sentence frame. i.e. Although/Though (differences with the prompt), (similarities with the prompt).

(3) Comparative Example Response (in the discussion)

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• The PE response makes a connection between the prompt evidence
and/or paragraph idea and something from your own personal social
network.
• It can be about your own experience, OR about someone that you

know personally (e.g. Your father/mother, relative, friend, teacher, or
anyone that you know)

In my experience, ….

Transition
words

(4) Personal Experience Response (in the discussion)

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• Transition word/phrase: In my experience,
• State what the personal experience will be about.

what George discusses reminds me of when I failed a semester at university.
• Explain the PE response in some detail.

In my first year of university I started to get a degree in business but failed many of my courses in
the second semester. It was a terrible time for me, but I took the time after I failed to think
about the reasons why I did not do well. I realized that I did not really want to be a
business person so I switched my studies to English and education, and I also realized that I
needed to do more to take care of my mind and body. Since that time, I have had more success.

• A final sentence that draws a direct connection with the evidence used in the paragraph from the
prompt

This relates to/connects with/demonstrates what (the prompt) is discussing because… (explain
why in one sentence) or,
Although/Though (differences with the prompt), (similarities with the prompt)
Although I was not really a leader at the time, and George might be writing more about business
leaders who fail, I think what he writes applies to my life because learning from mistakes helped
me to become a stronger person.

(4) Personal Experience Response (in the discussion)

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Assertion

Explanation

Evidence

Discussion

Connection

“Also” if it is the second paragraph or beyond

In more detail, More specifically, In other words

According to, As______states/reports/indicates, “quote” (Last
name/organization, Year)

With this in mind, Considering this, This indicates that, Clearly,
This causes me to feel ____(emotional) because____(intellectual)

Therefore,/Thus,/Hence,/Consequently

In comparison, ____(comparative)
In my experience, ____(personal experience)

4 types of
response

needed for
this essay

In my opinion/ I think/ ….

Body Paragraph Pattern
(Please download PR Body Paragraph Pattern from Moodle)

Don’t forget
to use
transition
words

S. Zhou

Body Paragraph 1
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Assertion

Explanation

Evidence

Discussion

Connection

Pa
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Assertion

Explanation

Evidence

Discussion

Connection

Body Paragraph 2

Include emotional, intellectual,
comparative example response.

Include emotional, intellectual,
personal experience response.

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Body Paragraph Example

• Video Title: Remember Africville
• YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28cvg6iD7lA

S. Zhou

Now, Let’s Review….

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Body Paragraph 2
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Introduction

Background

Body Paragraph 1
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Conclusion
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Title page Writing Page Writing Page Writing Page References

Four references
-3 from background
paragraph
-1 from body
paragraph

Personal Response Essay Overview

S. Zhou

Assertion

Explanation

Evidence

Discussion

Connection

“Also” if it is the second paragraph or beyond

In more detail, More specifically, In other words

According to, As______states/reports/indicates, “quote” (Last
name/organization, Year)

With this in mind, Considering this, This indicates that, Clearly,
This causes me to feel ____(emotional) because____(intellectual)

Therefore,/Thus,/Hence,/Consequently

In comparison, ____(comparative)
In my experience, ____(personal experience)

4 types of
response

needed for
this essay

In my opinion/ I think/ ….

Body Paragraph Pattern
(Please download PR Body Paragraph Pattern from Moodle)

Don’t forget
to use
transition
words

S. Zhou

Body Paragraph 1
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Assertion

Explanation

Evidence

Discussion

Connection

Pa
tt

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n

Assertion

Explanation

Evidence

Discussion

Connection

Body Paragraph 2

Include emotional, intellectual,
comparative example response.

Include emotional, intellectual,
personal experience response.

S. Zhou