BODY PARAGRAPHS :***
•IN YOUR ESSAYS, A BODY PARAGRAPH IS A PARAGRAPH
THAT MAKES A SINGLE POINT ABOUT ONE ASPECT OF
YOUR THESIS
•BODY PARAGRAPHS ARE USED TO DEVELOP/ BACK UP THE IDEA
PRESENTED IN THE THESIS
•A STRONG BODY PARAGRAPH EXPLAINS, PROVES, AND/OR SUPPORTS
YOUR PAPER’S ARGUMENTATIVE CLAIM OR THESIS STATEMENT
STEP 1 :***
•IDENTIFY THE THREE (OR MORE) MAIN POINTS THAT YOUR ESSAY
MUST MAKE TO SUPPORT YOUR THESIS.
•EACH OF THESE SENTENCES MAY BE USED AS WHAT IS KNOWN AS
A TOPIC SENTENCE FOR ONE PARAGRAPHS
EXAMPLE:
• PROMPT: DISCUSS HOW POE USES SYMBOLS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND SUSPENSE TO DEVELOP THE
THEME
• THESIS: "IN “MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH”, BY EDGAR ALLAN POE, EMPLOYS THE TECHNIQUES OF
SYMBOLISM, SUSPENSE, AND CHARACTERIZATION IN ORDER TO DEVELOP THEM THEME THAT NOT EVEN
THE WEALTHY CAN ESCAPE DEATH.
• TOPIC SENTENCES: KEY WORDS:
• 1. SYMBOLISM, THEME
• 2. SUSPENSE, THEME
• 3. CHARACTERIZATION, THEME
TOPIC SENTENCES :***
• RELATES TO THESIS
• WHAT YOU ARE ASSERTING IN THE PARAGRAPH
• WHAT ALL OTHER SENTENCES IN THE PARAGRAPH ARE ABOUT.
• USUALLY AT THE BEGINNING
• GIVE YOUR READER DIRECTION
• USES KEY WORDS FROM THESIS/PROMPT
STEP
2:***
• USE YOUR KEY WORDS TO DEVELOP YOUR TOPIC SENTENCES
• 1. POE USED MANY LEVELS OF SUSPENSE TO DEVELOP THE THEME OF THE
STORY
• 2. BY THE SAME TOKEN, POE USED SYMBOLS TO PROVE MONEY WILL
NOT PROTECT AN INDIVIDUAL FROM DEATH.
• 3. IN ADDITION TO SUSPENSE AND SYMBOLS, POE ALSO USES
CHARACTERIZATION TO SHOW WEALTH DOES NOT MAKE A PERSON
SPECIAL WHEN DEATH IS AFTER YOU.
NEXT,***
• ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR TOPIC SENTENCES, IT IS TIME TO WRITE YOUR
PARAGRAPHS. YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE DIFFERENT SENTENCES:
• EXPLAIN, CLARIFY, OR ELABORATE ON EACH TOPIC SENTENCE WITH
SUPPORTING SENTENCES.
• USE EXAMPLES TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE
• DISCUSS THE TOPIC IN GREATER DETAIL
• EACH SENTENCE SHOULD HELP TO DEMONSTRATE WHY THE READER
SHOULD ACCEPT YOUR THESIS.
TYPES OF SENTENCES **
• A SUPPORT SENTENCE GIVES MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOPIC IN
GENERAL.
FOR EXAMPLE:
• THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY DOGS MAKE GOOD PETS.
• ONE REASON THAT CANINES ARE GOOD COMPANIONS IS THAT THEY ARE VERY
ENTERTAINING.
• WHILE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF VARIETIES OF TREES TO CHOOSE FROM, THERE
ARE THREE PARTICULAR TREES THAT MAKE GREAT ADDITIONS TO MOST
RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPES.
• ONE OF THE BEST TREES TO PLANT IN A YARD IS THE SUGAR MAPLE, A
DECIDUOUS TREE THAT OFTEN GROWS TO BE OVER FIFTY FEET TALL.
EXAMPLE:
Notice the transition
word
POE USED MANY LEVELS OF SUSPENSE TO DEVELOP THE THEME OF THE STORY.
ONE DEVICE USED TO BUILD SUSPENSE IS THE CLOCK.
ELABORATION
SENTENCE*
**
• AN GIVES MORE SPECIFIC DETAIL ABOUT A PARTICULAR SUPPORT
SENTENCE’S TOPIC.
FOR EXAMPLE:
• THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY DOGS MAKE GOOD PETS. ONE
REASON THAT CANINES ARE GOOD COMPANIONS IS THAT THEY ARE
VERY ENTERTAINING. POOCHES BRING JOY AND IMPROVED HEALTH
TO PEOPLE’S LIVES BY PERFORMING LOTS OF TRICKS OR MAKING
PEOPLE LAUGH BECAUSE OF THE BIZARRE THINGS THEY DO.
EXAMPLE
• POE USED MANY LEVELS OF SUSPENSE TO DEVELOP THE THEME OF THE
STORY. ONE DEVICE USED TO BUILD SUSPENSE IS THE CLOCK. BY USING
THE TICKING OF THE CLOCK, THE AUDIENCE IS AWARE OF TIME PASSING
AND THE UNCERTAINTY FELT BY THE CHARACTERS BECOMES MORE
SIGNIFICANT.
EVIDENCE SENTENCE***
• THIS SENTENCE IS WHERE YOU PROVIDE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE OR REAL
WORLD EXAMPLES
• AVOID USING “I”
• MAKE SURE YOU HAVE TRANSITION WORDS: DO NOT JUST THROW AN
EVIDENCE SENTENCE INTO THE PARAGRAPH
EXAMPLE
• POE USED MANY LEVELS OF SUSPENSE TO DEVELOP THE THEME OF THE STORY. ONE
DEVICE USED TO BUILD SUSPENSE IS THE CLOCK. BY USING THE TICKING OF THE
CLOCK, THE AUDIENCE IS AWARE OF TIME PASSING AND THE UNCERTAINTY FELT BY THE
CHARACTERS BECOMES MORE SIGNIFICANT. IN POE’S STORY, WHEN THE CLOCK
SOUNDED, EVERYONE WOULD GET STILL AND “ . “…AT EACH LAPSE OF AN HOUR, THE
MUSICIANS OF THE ORCHESTRA WERE CONSTRAINED TO PAUSE… PERFORMANCE
CEASED THEIR EVOLUTIONS; AND THERE WAS A BRIEF DISCONCERT OF THE WHOLE GAY
COMPANY… THE GIDDIEST TURNED PALE, AND THE AGED AND SEDATE PASSED THEIR
HANDS OVER THEIR BROWS AS IF IN CONFUSED REVERIE OR MEDITATION.”
EXPLANATION SENTENCE***
• EXPLAIN WHAT THE QUOTE MEANS AND WHY ITS IMPORTANT TO YOUR
ARGUMENT.
• NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOUR EVIDENCE IS, IT WON’T HELP YOUR
ARGUMENT MUCH IF YOUR READER DOESN'T KNOW WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
• ASK YOURSELF: HOW DOES THIS EVIDENCE PROVE THE POINT YOU ARE
TRYING TO MAKE IN THIS PARAGRAPH AND/OR YOUR PAPER AS A WHOLE?
CAN BE OPINION BASED AND IS OFTEN AT LEAST 1-3 SENTENCES
EXAMPLE
• POE USED MANY LEVELS OF SUSPENSE TO DEVELOP THE THEME OF THE STORY. ONE DEVICE USED
TO BUILD SUSPENSE IS THE CLOCK. BY USING THE TICKING OF THE CLOCK, THE AUDIENCE IS
AWARE OF TIME PASSING AND THE UNCERTAINTY FELT BY THE CHARACTERS BECOMES MORE
SIGNIFICANT. IN POE’S STORY, WHEN THE CLOCK SOUNDED, EVERYONE WOULD GET STILL AND “ .
“…AT EACH LAPSE OF AN HOUR, THE MUSICIANS OF THE ORCHESTRA WERE CONSTRAINED TO
PAUSE… PERFORMANCE CEASED THEIR EVOLUTIONS… THE GIDDIEST TURNED PALE, AND THE
AGED AND SEDATE PASSED THEIR HANDS OVER THEIR BROWS AS IF IN CONFUSED REVERIE OR
MEDITATION.” THIS QUOTE ILLUSTRATES THE CONFUSION FELT BY THE CHARACTERS AS THEY
WAITED FOR DEATH TO COME. THE PHRASE, “… THE GIDDIEST TURNED PALE,” EMPHASIZES THAT
EVEN THOUGH THESE PEOPLE WERE RICK, THEY WERE DOOMED TO MEET DEATH.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE
• INTRO:
• IN AMY TAN‟S SHORT STORY “TWO KINDS,” THE AUTHOR LEADS US ON A JOURNEY OF A MOTHER‟S EXPECTATIONS
FOR HER DAUGHTER TO BECOME A PRODIGY ARE TOO HIGH AND WILLINGLY NOT OBTAINABLE. UPON A CLOSER
ANALYSIS OF THE WRITING, ONE CAN ARGUE THAT THE MOTHER IS NOT ALLOWING HER DAUGHTER TO BECOME HER
OWN PERSON. SHE IS INSTILLING ALL HOPES OF HER LOST CHILDREN ON HER SOLE CHILD. IN DUE COURSE THIS
SHORT STORY LOOKS AT WHETHER OR NOT THE PRESSURE FROM THE MOTHER, HINDERS THE DAUGHTER.
• BODY PARAGRAPHS
UPON A FURTHER EXAMINATION, THE MOTHER‟S CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE DAUGHTER WAS BEGINNING TO WEAR
ON HER. JING-MEI‟S MOTHER WOULD CONSISTENTLY GIVE HER DAUGHTER TESTS AND THE EXPECTATIONS TO SUCCEED
WERE HIGH. AS THE DAUGHTER STATES RIGHT AFTER SHE FAILED TO PERFORM WELL AT THE CLIMATIC PIANO RECITAL.
“AFTER SEEING MY MOTHER‟S DISAPPOINTED FACE ONCE AGAIN, SOMETHING INSIDE ME BEGAN TO DIE. I HATED THE
TESTS, THE RAISED HOPES AND FAILED EXPECTATIONS” (TAN 1152). AFTER SEEING THE DISSATISFACTION FROM HER
MOTHER‟S FACE, THE TESTS AND HOPES FOR SUCCESS, BEGAN TO EAT AWAY AT HER. IT BEGAN TO TEAR AT THE
DAUGHTER‟S EMOTIONAL STATE. THE CONSISTENT DISAPPOINTMENT PUSHED THE DAUGHTER TO THE POINT WHERE
SHE WOULD NOT BECOME SOMEONE SHE IS NOT.
A CONCLUDING SENTENCE IS THE LAST SENTENCE
OF THE PARAGRAPH. ***
•SOMETIMES IT RESTATES THE MAIN IDEA OF THE
PARAGRAPH
•IT CAN ALSO BE A SENTENCE THAT LEAVES THE
READER WITH A THOUGHT OR FEELING ABOUT
THE TOPIC
EXAMPLE
• POE USED MANY LEVELS OF SUSPENSE TO DEVELOP THE THEME OF THE STORY. ONE DEVICE USED TO BUILD
SUSPENSE IS THE CLOCK. BY USING THE TICKING OF THE CLOCK, THE AUDIENCE IS AWARE OF TIME PASSING
AND THE UNCERTAINTY FELT BY THE CHARACTERS BECOMES MORE SIGNIFICANT. IN POE’S STORY, WHEN THE
CLOCK SOUNDED, EVERYONE WOULD GET STILL AND “ . “…AT EACH LAPSE OF AN HOUR, THE MUSICIANS OF THE
ORCHESTRA WERE CONSTRAINED TO PAUSE… PERFORMANCE CEASED THEIR EVOLUTIONS… THE GIDDIEST
TURNED PALE, AND THE AGED AND SEDATE PASSED THEIR HANDS OVER THEIR BROWS AS IF IN CONFUSED
REVERIE OR MEDITATION.” THIS QUOTE ILLUSTRATES THE CONFUSION FELT BY THE CHARACTERS AS THEY
WAITED FOR DEATH TO COME. THE PHRASE, “… THE GIDDIEST TURNED PALE,” EMPHASIZES THAT EVEN THOUGH
THESE PEOPLE WERE RICK, THEY WERE DOOMED TO MEET DEATH. IN CONCLUSION, THE CLOCK’S CONSTANT
TICKING, WHICH BUILDS THE SUSPENSE FOR THE READER AS EACH STROKE OF THE CLOCK LED TO
THE FINAL MOMENTS, DEMONSTRATES THE THEME THAT EVEN THE WEALTHY CAN DIE.
PARAGRAPH
• EACH PARAGRAPH SHOULD HAVE A TOTAL OF:
• 1 TOPIC SENTENCE
• 2 EVIDENCE SENTENCES
• 3-5: COMBINATION OF ELABORATE AN SUPPORT SENTENCES
• 1 CONCLUDING SENTENCE
• TOTAL: 7-9 SENTENCES
USING TRANSITIONS
Transition
Idea
s
Idea
TRANSITIONS
LOOK AT THE TWO GROUPS OF SENTENCES BELOW.
WHICH SENTENCES READ MORE SMOOTHLY? CLICK ON
AN ANSWER BELOW.
My friend, Marcos, loves to play sports and is very athletic.
He has won a scholarship to play football at a university next
year.
My friend, Marcos, loves to play sports and is very athletic.
In fact, he has won a scholarship to play football at a
university next year.
TRANSITIONS
What are
transition words?
TRANSITIONS
A TRANSITION WORD DIRECTLY TELLS THE READER THE
LOGICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ONE IDEA AND
ANOTHER IDEA.
Transition
Idea
Idea
EXAMPLE
;however,
Marcos loves to go
swimming in the ocean.
his parents won’t allow
him to do that.
The transition, however, tells the reader that
the logical relationship between the two ideas is
contrast.
TRANSITIONS
TRANSITIONS ARE WORDS THAT HELP MAKE
YOUR WRITING MORE COHERENT. THEY CREATE
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN:
- one clause and another clause
- one sentence and another sentence
- one group of sentences and the next
group of sentences
JOINING
CLAUSES
ONE WAY OF
JOININGTWO
TWO INDEPENDENT
INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
IS WITH A
SEMICOLON, A TRANSITION, AND A COMMA.
; furthermore,
Marcos is a
great swimmer
he’s very good at
scuba diving.
Marcos is a great swimmer ;furthermore, he’s very
good at scuba diving.
YOU CAN USECONNECTING
A TRANSITION AND
TO TELL THE READER
TWOCOMMA
SENTENCES
THE LOGICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO SENTENCES.
In fact,
Marcos is very athletic.
he plays three
sports at school.
Marcos is very athletic. In fact, he plays three sports
at school.
TRANSITIONS IN LONGER WRITING
WHEN WRITING A PARAGRAPH OR A LARGER PIECE OF WRITING,YOU
CAN USE A TRANSITION TO SHOW THE READER THE LOGICAL
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ONE GROUP OF SENTENCES AND ANOTHER
GROUP OF SENTENCES.
This is useful when you want to let the
reader know that you are changing from
one idea to another idea.
EXAMPLE- LONGER PIECE OF WRITING
Transition
connects
ideas in
paragraph 2
to ideas in
paragraph 1.
Introduction
Body Paragraph 1
Body Paragraph
ESSAY2: In
addition,
Body Paragraph 3:
Furthermore,
Conclusion:
Transition
connects
ideas in
paragraph 3
to ideas in
paragraph 2.
TYPES OF TRANSITIONS
Relationship
Transition
Addition
Moreover
Furthermore
In addition
besides
Marcos loves to ski
;moreover,
he likes to fish.
;furthermore,
;in addition,
;besides,
TYPES OF TRANSITIONS
Relationship
Reinforcement/Emphasis
Transition
Indeed
In fact
Marcos plays basketball
The transition and
second clause
reemphasize the
first clause.
;in fact,
;indeed,
he plays every Saturday.
TYPES OF TRANSITIONS
Relationship
Exemplification
Transition
For example
For instance
In particular
Marcos enjoys outdoor sports
;for example,
The second
clause is more
specific than the
first.
;for instance,
;in particular,
he likes hiking, skiing, and fishing.
TYPES OF TRANSITIONS
Relationship
Contrast
Transition
However
In contrast
Marcos enjoys scuba diving
;on the other hand,
;however,
;on the contrary,
;in contrast,
I think it is an expensive sport.
$$$
On the contrary
On the other hand
TYPES OF TRANSITIONS
Relationship
Result or Effect
Transition
Consequently
Thus
Therefore
Accordingly
Hence
As a result
;thus,
Marcos broke his leg ;consequently, he can’t play basketball.
;therefore,
;hence,
;as a result,
;accordingly,
TYPES OF TRANSITIONS
Relationship
Time
Marcos scored a goal
Transition
Meanwhile (at the same time)
Subsequently (after)
Thereafter (after)
;subsequently,
;thereafter,
after
his team won the game.