How to Write a Good Body Paragraph Developed

How to Write a Good Body Paragraph Developed for: Miss Lawson’s Classes Adapted by Mme Suzanne Dupas

What is a Body Paragraph? • A body paragraph presents the supporting information for thesis in an essay. • A body paragraph can also be a stand alone answer to an essay question on a test. • A body paragraph consists of several types of sentences: topic, support, elaboration detail, and concluding.

What Do These Sentences Do? • A Topic Sentence states what the paragraph will be about. For Example: • There are many reasons why dogs make good pets

What Do These Sentences Do? • 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.

What Do These Sentences Do? • An Elaboration Sentence 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.

What Do These Sentences Do? • An Elaboration Detail Sentence (or Secondary Support) gives more specific detail about a particular Elaboration 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. » In fact, their loving and funny companionship has been proven to lower people’s blood pressure and help ease depression.

Do These Sentences Look Familiar? • A Topic Sentence (TS) is something you’ve probably dealt with since first grade. • A Support Sentence (SS) should also be familiar. It is also called a Concrete Detail or CD. • An Elaboration Sentence (ES) is also one you’ve used. It is also called a Commentary or CM. • A Elaboration Detail Sentence (EDS) or Secondary Support Sentence is also one you’ve written. It is also called a Commentary on the Commentary or CM/CM.

In Other Words. . . Color Schaeffer Term Common Term Black Topic Sentence (TS) Blue Concrete Detail (CD) Support Sentence (SS) Red Commentary (CM) Elaboration Sentence (ES) Green Commentary on Commentary (CM/CM) Elaboration Detail Sentence (EDS) or Secondary Support Sentence Black Concluding Sentence (CS)

What Do These Sentences Do? • A Concluding Sentence summarizes the paragraph and often helps the reader move smoothly to the next paragraph. For Example: • While there are many animals people can have as pets, dogs are definitely one of the best companions anyone can have. • TS: There are many reasons why dogs make good pets.

When these sentences are arranged appropriately, they will form a well-written body paragraph.

Typical Sentence Arrangement for a Schaeffer or Regular Body Paragraph Topic Sentence Support Sentence Elaboration Detail Sentence Support Sentence Elaboration Detail Sentence Concluding Sentence

In Other Words. . . A body paragraph starts with… A Topic Sentence Then often continues with… three chunks (which may each have a Support, Elaboration, and Elaboration Detail Sentence) And ends with… A Concluding Sentence

So…most body paragraphs. . . • Have five to seven sentences – One topic sentence – 6 or so sentences (three or so in each chunk) – One concluding sentence • A paragraph may have more sentences if more details are given or if structural variations are used. • A paragraph might also have fewer sentences depending on writing complexity.

A Closer Look at Chunks • Each chunk should start with a transition or have one imbedded early on in the sentence. • These transitions help the paragraph have unity and a smooth flow. • It is important to pick transitions carefully and not repeat them in a way that makes the paragraph sound awkward.

A Closer Look at Chunks In the paragraph about dogs making good pets, the first chunk begins with a transition at the beginning of the Support Sentence. One reason that canines are good companions is that they are very entertaining. “One reason” is a transition which suggests that there are more reasons to come and that this is the first of several. This chunk will explain how dogs are entertaining and why being entertaining makes dogs good pets.

A Closer Look at Chunks The Support Sentence is followed by an Elaboration Sentence which explains how dogs are entertaining and how being entertaining makes dogs good pets. 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. This sentence explains how they are entertaining and the impact that has on people. Bringing people joy and better health are a results many people would appreciate in a good companion or pet.

A Closer Look at Chunks The Elaboration Sentence is followed by an Elaboration Detail Sentence which explains or gives more detail about the Elaboration Sentence. In fact, their loving and funny companionship has been proven to lower people’s blood pressure and help ease depression. This means that by doing tricks or acting in a bizarre way dogs are good companions because they bring joy and better health.

A Closer Look at A Complete Chunk TS: There are many reasons why dogs make good pets. First Chunk: 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. In fact, their loving and funny companionship has been proven to lower people’s blood pressure and help ease depression. A second chunk explaining a second reason would follow this.

We could write a second chunk like this: Another valuable characteristic of a dog as a pet is its loyalty to its humans. Dogs like German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers have been known to risk their lives to protect or rescue their owners. In fact, in 1998 over 154 children in the U. S. were saved from drowning by Labs or other dogs. Many people also value their dog’s loyalty in sad and stressful times. Dogs seem to be keenly attuned to their owners’ emotions and are able to sense when something is wrong. When they get that cue, they tend to stay close or try to lure their owners into a game or maybe even a good belly rubbing session.

More Thoughts on Chunking Have you noticed? Some sentences have facts. Some sentences have opinions. These kinds of information can be put in different locations. Most of the sentences are not simple sentences. High school students need to write mature sentences with structural variety and detail. Most sentences should have 12 – 25 words.

More Thoughts on Chunking Hopefully, these sentences are not repetitive. Students should not repeat or rephrase things very much. If they do, their writing will become boring and wordy. Students should try to include as much valuable information as they can in each sentence.

Writing A Good Body Paragraph. . . Is not impossible… Follow the suggestions… Follow the format… Research and plan… Write multiple drafts… Evaluate and improve your own work… Turn in a clean, typed copy when finished… HAPPY WRITING!!!