Writing A Strong TEAR Paragraph

Requirements

Home Run - Strong

Base Hit - Developing

Foul Ball - Needs Improvement

Topic
Sentence

-Topic sentence clearly and definitively addresses the

prompt and states a claim (thereby relating to the thesis)
-Topic sentence is content-based (not summary-based)
-TS is the first sentence of the paragraph

-Topic sentence addresses the prompt and states the

students claim
-Topic sentence introduces a new idea, but may have
some summary mixed in
-TS is the first sentence of the paragraph

-Topic sentence states the students claim, but is

summary-based
-Topic sentence is not the first sentence of the paragraph

Evidence

-Evidence clearly supports and relates to the argument

stated in the Topic Sentence
-Evidence is based on fact and not opinion (unless
opinion is appropriate, as in a personal narrative)

-Evidence relates to the Topic Sentence and the prompt

-Evidence is both fact and opinion-based

-Evidence loosely relates to the Topic Sentence and/or the

prompt
-Evidence may be grounded in fact or opinion (could just
be summary)

Analysis

-Analysis explains the relevance of the preceding

evidence
-Analysis explains why the preceding evidence is
important (relates back to the thesis/prompt)
-Analysis uses clear and critical language to thoroughly
assess the evidence

-Analysis explains the relevance of the preceding

evidence
-Analysis uses clear and critical language to assess the
evidence

-Analysis is loosely critical of the preceding evidence

-Analysis uses somewhat clear and critical language to
assess the evidence

Restatement/
Resolution

-Resolution gives closure to the paragraph by summing

up the importance of the evidence and analysis explored
-Resolution relates what has been discussed in the
paragraph back to the Topic Sentence and thesis
-Resolution uses conclusion words

-Resolution restates the Topic Sentence (or the sentiments

of the TS)
-Resolution sums up the importance of what the
paragraph has discussed
-Resolution loosely mentions the significance of the
evidence and analysis explored

-Resolution restates the Topic Sentence

-Resolution loosely sums up the importance of what has
been discussed in the paragraph

Execution

-Paragraph includes multiple instances of evidence and

analysis (follows the TEAEAEAR format)
-Paragraph does not use personal pronouns, use opinions
to make a point (unless the writing is part of a personal
narrative), or cite personal experience as evidence (unless
the writing is part of a personal narrative)
-Transitions between TEAR categories are smooth and
logical
-Paragraph is coherent and without mistakes

-Paragraph includes two or more instances of evidence

and analysis
-Paragraph does not use personal pronouns to make a
point
-Transitions between TEAR categories are relatively fluid
-Paragraph is coherent overall

-Paragraph only uses one piece of evidence and one

instance of analysis
-Paragraph uses a few personal pronouns
-Transitions between TEAR categories are choppy
-Paragraph is disjointed and includes spelling/grammar
mistakes

MLA
Formatting

Correct use of MLA header and textual citations is

present.

Attempted use of MLA, but incorrectly / Only used MLA

for either header or citations.

Did not use MLA formatting within writing.