BODY PARAGRAPHS Identifying parts of a body paragraph

OUTLINE § Topic Sentence § Detail ØCommentary § Closing Sentence

TOPIC SENTENCES § A sentence that starts a body paragraph and tells the audience what that body paragraph will be about. § The most important sentence in that paragraph. § An overall subtopic sentence that is linked to the Thesis Statement

SUBTOPIC 1 General Information • Location • Characteristics SUBTOPIC 2 SUBTOPIC 3 History Significance • Name • Formation • To/For Who? • Why? • Religious/Spiritual/Cultural

PRACTICE TOPIC SENTENCES Thesis Statement: Niagara Falls is one of the world’s most spectacular natural landmarks and has been of importance to surrounding inhabitants for hundreds of years. Topic Sentences Body Paragraph 1: The Niagara Falls is a fascinating natural landmark because of it’s massive volume of water , soaring water speeds, and towering heights. Body Paragraph 2: Being that the falls was formed from large amounts of water from melting glaciers and rock erosion, it’s formation process is quite interesting. Body Paragraph 3: The falls has provided its surrounding inhabitants, both old and current, with necessities for hundreds of years. http: //www. tourniagara. com/history/aboriginals-in-niagara/

THESIS STATEMENT: FAST, GOOD TASTING FOOD AT THE CONVENIENCE OF A DRIVE THRU MAKES MCDONALD’S THE BEST FAST FOOD RESTAURANT. Topic Mc. Donald’s Opinion is convenient BECAUSE of it’s many locations. Practice Topic Sentences Topic Sentence 1: Topic Opinion Topic Sentence 2: BECAUSE Topic Opinion BECAUSE Topic Sentence 3:

DETAIL • Information from a source (your NOTES) • • • Paraphrases or direct quotes Supports your topic sentence Supports your THESIS STATEMENT o This is the research part of your essay!

EXAMPLE Topic sentence The Niagara Falls is a fascinating natural landmark because of it’s massive volume of water, soaring water speeds, and towering heights. These are the biggest waterfalls in the world in terms of volume spilling an average of 750, 000 gallons each second over the cascading falls. (“Canadian Falls”). Detail

CITING YOUR SOURCES • ALWAYS cite your sources! o Citation goes at the end of each detail The Niagara Falls is a fascinating natural landmark because of it’s massive volume of water, soaring water speeds, and towering heights. These are the biggest waterfalls in the world in terms of volume spilling an average of 750, 000 gallons each second over the cascading falls. (“Canadian Falls”). I can tell that this information (which is everything above except for the topic sentence) was found in the article “Canadian Falls”

YOUR TURN! • Thesis Statement: o • Topic Sentence: o • The best sunsets in the world can be viewed in Hawaii. In Hawaii, one of the greatest places to see a sunset is in Lahaina. Detail o Make up a detail using a fake source (an expert on the topic of sunsets)

COMMENTARY the expression of opinions or explanations about an event or situation : (in your case, a research paper) o o opinion, either written or spoken. a set of explanatory or critical notes on a text : a commentary on the Old Testament.

HUH? Commentary does a few things: • Reveals your opinion regarding a detail • Shows how the detail supports your thesis o This is what your whole paper is trying to do anyway o PROVE YOUR THESIS • Shows the significance of the detail • Links each detail to thesis • Answers “So what? ”

EXAMPLE • Thesis o • Detail o • Facebook ruins lives and promotes bullying. In March of 2011, a 16 -year-old girl jumped off a bridge in Scranton, PA after being bullied on Facebook (“Facebook Bullying”). Commentary o This horrendous occurrence shows how big of an impact Facebook can really have and its potential to ruin, not only one, but many lives.

DETAIL AND COMMENTARY • • • Best friends Can’t have one without the other Details need to be explained Commentary needs to be supported with evidence Commentary should be LONGER than the detail!

CLOSING SENTENCE • • Brings closure to your paragraph Is similar to your topic sentence Think of it like a burger…. Top Bun = Topic Sentence Insides (all the juicy, delicious stuff) = detail, commentary, detail, commentary Bottom Bun = Closing Sentence

SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH Even though some believe Facebook is only a harmless social network, studies show that it can ruin lives. In March of 2011, a 16 -year-old girl jumped off a bridge in Scranton, PA after being bullied on Facebook (“Facebook Bullying”). This horrendous occurrence shows how big of an impact Facebook can really have and its potential to ruin, not only one, but many lives. Another incident occurred on January 18, 2012 when a 13 -year-old boy hanged himself in his closet after being relentlessly bullied via Facebook (Alder). At just thirteen years old this boy had many years to go before facing his mortality; but sites like Facebook open up a new forum for bullies to harass and torment children and teens. Clearly, Facebook harms not only those victims of the bullying, but also the friends and families of these teens.