How One Paragraph Serves the Whole

Explain the role a particular paragraph or section plays in developing the central idea.

Middle-school analysis often asks: How does a specific paragraph contribute to the text? Every paragraph has a role, such as introducing the problem, giving background, providing evidence, offering a counterexample, defining a term, or concluding. To explain a paragraph's role, identify what it does and connect it to the central idea. Example: an original article argues that community libraries are more important than ever.

Paragraph 3 says: 'Some people argue that libraries are outdated because information is online. Yet many families lack reliable internet at home, and libraries provide free access. ' This paragraph's role is to address a counterargument and then refute it, which strengthens the central idea by showing the author has considered another view. A weak answer only retells the paragraph ('It talks about the internet').

A strong answer names the function and its effect: 'Paragraph 3 raises and answers an objection, making the claim more convincing. ' Use verbs like introduces, illustrates, contrasts, explains, and refutes.

• 1Every paragraph has a role in the whole text
• 2Name the function, then connect it to the central idea
• 3Use verbs like introduces, illustrates, contrasts, refutes