Organize and Connect Specific
Evidence
Body paragraphs
3103 is so
easy! 20 more
papers and I’ll
be trough!
3rd Step in Essay Writing
Textbok: Langan’s (pp 76-94)
Wyrick’s (pp. 69-75)
Practice Exercises 95-99
Preview
• Topic sentences (ts)
• Body paragraphs (BP) support
• Transitional Expressions (TE)
a. comparison and contrast
b. time sequence/ chronological order
c. introducing examples
d. to number or to include more information
Let’s Review –
Here’s an example of one
introductory paragraph
Challenges in Life
“May the force be with you” was George Lucas famous expression for
his Jedi Knights on the classic movie Star Wars. He was more than right
when you think about those words to deal with everyday life.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
(TS). Taking a College Board Exam, going through a job
interview, or simply entering college for the first time are
some real challenges in which you, definitely, need the force
to be with you.
Now, you must go to your first body paragraph!
Topic Sentences –the
sentence of each BP
st
1
• The very first sentence in each body paragraph.
• They come from the plan of development used in your
thesis statement. (three ideas listed in PS)
As you are generating the specific details needed to
support a thesis, you should think about ways to
organize and connect those details. All the details in your
essay must cohere, or stick together, so that your
reader will be able to move smoothly from one bit of
supporting information to the next.
Let’s look at the next examples
Topic sentences
Your topic sentences should look like
this at first!
•
• Taking a College Board
Exam is a great
challenge in life.
This section shows
you how to organize
and connect
supporting details by
using:
• Going through a job
interview is very
challenging.
1. common methods of
organization
• Entering college for the
first time is one of the
great challenges in life.
2. Transitions
3. Other connecting
words
Methods of organization
• Time order
details are listed as they occurred in time
(first, next, then, after that, and so on)
• Emphatic order
It is a way to put emphasis on the most
interesting or important detail by placing it in the
last paragraph. Save the best for last.
Transitional Expressions
• Transitions signal the direction of a writer’s
thought. They are like the road signs that guide
travelers.
• You must use them at the beginning of each
body paragraph in each topic sentence. YOU
MUST!
• They can be used everywhere else in the essay
as well!
• Let’s look at the following examples!
types
Addition signals
(to number
items)
Time signals
Contradictions
(change of
direction)
Illustration
signals
Cause and
effect
examples
One, first of all, to begin with, second, the third reason,
also, next, another, another example, in addition,
besides, moreover, furthermore, finally, last of all, for
instance, last but not least, and others
First, then, next, after, as, before, while meanwhile,
soon, during, finally, after that, to begin with, in
conclusion, and others.
on the contrary, however, in contrast, yet, but,
although, nevertheless, otherwise, on the other hand,
still, different from, whereas, unlike, and others.
For example, for instance, specifically, as an
illustration, another example, and others.
Because of, as a result of, therefore, consequently,
thus, for this reason, since, caused by, for, and others.
Read the following essay and fill in the blanks with the
appropriate transitional expression (from the boxes)
Then, classify the expressions according to their categories. (12 points)
Annoying People
President Richard Nixon used to keep an “enemies list” of all people he
didn’t especially like. I’m ashamed to confess it, but I too, have an
enemies list –a mental one. On this list are all the people I would gladly
live without, the ones who cause my blood pressure to rise to the boiling
point. The top three places in this list go to people with annoying
nervous habits, people who talk in movie theaters, and people who talk
on car phones while driving.
BP 1
a. For example
b. First of all
c. Another
d. However
__________, there are the people with annoying nervous habits.
____________, there are the ones who make faces. When in deep
thought, they twitch, and frown, and they can be a real distraction when
I’m trying to concentrate during an exam.
(continues on the next slide)
Continuation of BP 1
_________ type of nervous character makes useless designs. These
people bend paper clips into abstract sculptures or string the clips into
necklaces as they talk. ___________ neither of these groups is bad
as the people who make noises. These individuals, when
uncomfortable, bite their fingernails, or crack their knuckles. If they
have a pencil in their hands, they tap it rhythmically against whatever
surface is handy –a desk, a book, a head. Lacking a pencil to play
with, they jingle the loose change or keys in their pockets. These
people are way too annoying for me.
BP 2
a. On the contrary b. Then c. As a result d. After
e. second
A __________ category of people I would gladly do away with is the
ones who talk in movie theaters. These people are not content to sit
back, relax, and enjoy the film they have paid to see. ________ they
feel compelled to comment loudly on everything from the hero’s
hairstyle to the appropriateness of the background music. ________,
no one hears a word of any dialog except theirs. _________they have
been in the theater for a while, their interest in the movie may fade.
Continuation of BP 2
_______ they will start discussing other things, and the people around
them will be treated to an instant replay of the latest family scandal or
soap-opera episode. These stories may be entertaining, but they
don’t belong in a movie theater.
BP 3
a. In addition
b. Nevertheless
c. Last of all
_______, there are the people who talk on the phone while they’re
driving. One of the things that irritate me about them is the way they
seem to be showing off. They’re saying, “Look at me! I’m so important
I have to make phone calls in my car.” ______, such behavior is just
plain dangerous. Instead of focusing on the traffic, they’re zigzagging
all over the road or bumping into other cars. So long as murder
remains illegal, the nervous twitchers, movie talkers, and car phone
users of the world are safe from me. _________, if ever I am granted
the power of life and death, these people had better think twice about
annoying me. I bet they would change their habits afterwards!
(essay taken from Langan’s textbook)
Transitional Exp. (cont.)
Concluding signals (in summary, in conclusion, finally,
to conclude, last of all, then, and others)
Now, it’s time to go back and revise our topic sentences
with good and effective TE’s!
• First of all, taking a College Board Exam is a great
challenge in life.
• In addition to the College Board Exam, going
through a job interview is also very challenging.
• Last but not least, entering college for the first time is
one of the greatest challenges in life.
Body Paragraphs
(use of transitional expressions)
Body paragraph no. 1
3103…It was
so nice back
in high school
First of all, taking the College Board Exam is a
great challenge in life. To begin with, you have to study
all the math, Spanish and English skills that you have
learned throughout your 12 years of education. Besides
the studying and reviewing, you have to remember a lot
of details, formulas, and a lot of vocabulary. Not only the
academic skills post a challenge, but also the physical
and mental stress are present while taking the exam
itself. In addition to all this, the duration of the test (a full
day of eight hours), and the expectations of the results
make this test a real challenge in life.
It’s Time to Practice! Quiz Time!
(20 points)
•
Write the next two (2) paragraphs for this essay!
•
Remember…
1.
Always write TE’s in your (ts)
2.
Write additional TE’s in your BP’s
3.
Use coherence…all details supporting the thesis
(challenges in life)
4.
4-5 (aprx.) sentences per paragraph (academic
standard)
5.
Look at the previous slides (no. 12) for help!