7. A good body paragraph should
include:
a). a topic sentence – a sentence that
states the main idea of the BODY
paragraphs.
Each paragraph in your body should
contain a topic sentence and all topic
sentences should be related to the
thesis statement.
b). Supporting
details – sentences which support
or explain the idea expressed the topic sentence.
Your supporting details should consist of:
 details
 examples
 experiences
 observations
 or facts from the introductory text to
Paragraph Format
1. Topic sentence
Clear statement of what paragraphs is about
2. General statement
Explanation/statement about topic sentence
3. Specific example
For example, for instance…..(personal
experience or info from intro text)
4. Commentary
Your assessment/ideas about the example
5. Clincher
Sum it up or give a statement to get ready
for the next paragraph.
 Using the information presented, your own experiences,
observations, and/or readings, write a speech to present to your
community’s High School Parent/Guardian Association. Explain
the definition of success.
Success is the achievement of personal goals.
Every person, no matter their age, sets personal
goals to be achieved. The goals can be short term
such as making a good grade on a test or long term
such as becoming a doctor when he or she reaches
adult life. For example, when I was in tenth grade, I
really wanted to try out for the football team and
make it. I practiced really hard and on the day of
tryouts I made the team. I was really excited and
proud of myself. When a person achieves a goal
they receive a sense of satisfaction and pride for that
achievement which makes them feel successful.
1. (Topic Sentence) Success is the achievement of
personal goals.
2. (General Statement) Every person, no matter their age,
sets personal goals to be achieved. The goals can be
short term such as making a good grade on a test or
long term such as becoming a doctor when he or she
reaches adult life.
3. (Specific example) For example, when I was in tenth
grade, I really wanted to try out for the football team
and make it. I practiced really hard and on the day of
tryouts I made the team.
4. (Commentary) I was really excited and proud of
myself because I had worked hard to achieve a short
term goal and I made it.
5. (Clincher) When a person achieves a goal they receive
a sense of satisfaction and pride for that achievement
which makes them feel successful.
Another Example…
 Cell phones in high school can also have some positive




effects.
They can be used to help students get transportation home
and also to contact parents.
For example, last year I was on the tennis team when tennis
practice was cancelled.
If I had not had my cell phone to contact my mom, I would
have been stuck at school. Both my mom and myself were
very glad I had an easy way to contact her.
Most students would agree that having a cell phone can be a
very beneficial tool when you’re stranded, especially at
school.
Brainstorming Ideas
Read the introductory text.
Write down all ideas given.
Brainstorm using personal
experience.
1. Identity
the following:
 Topic
 Purpose
 Audience
 What you have to write
2. Brainstorm ideas using the Introductory
text and your own experiences and
observations
3. Use our graphic organizer to organize
these ideas.
 In Prewriting, you think about
your subject and purpose and
organize those thoughts onto
paper.
 At the end of the prewriting
stage, you should know what
you want to say and how you
want to organize your points.
Two methods you can use
are:
Graphic Organizers-to
organize
Free-writing