elements of an essay body paragraphs

Elements of an Essay

Body Paragraphs

B Y O X F O R D T U T O R I N G

Let's take a look at bodyparagraphs and three of the

elements that should be withineach body paragraph.

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Body Paragraphs

O X F O R DT U T O R I N G

To write strong body paragraphs, youneed to make sure they are structured

clearly and organized well.

Body Paragraphs

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How Many BodyParagraphs Do I Need?

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For high school papers, you will want tohave 2-3 body paragraphs depending onthe paper requirements and the goal of

your essay.

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What Does My BodyParagraph Need to

Include?

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A Topic Sentence

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Transition Words

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Details

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Commentary

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Concluding Sentence

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What Should My BodyParagraphs Look Like?

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Your body paragraphs will changebased on your assignment and goal.

What you do for one body paragraph,you need to do for the others.

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At minimum, use thefollowing format:

Topic Sentence. Transition word, detailsentence. Commentary sentence.

Commentary sentence. Concluding/transition sentence.

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You will probably need to provideadditional detail sentences and

commentary for those detail sentences.

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Let's take a look at three of the elementsof body paragraphs in closer details.

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Writing Topic Sentences

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Your topic sentence tells the readerwhat you are going to be discussing

throughout your whole body paragraph.

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The body paragraph should not strayfrom this topic.

If it does, eliminate this information, orstart a new body paragraph.

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How do I Write a TopicSentence?

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Some easy, yet powerful ways to begina paragraph are to use the five W's (who,what, where, when, why. . .or even how).

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Let's say we are writing a paper onbullying. Here is what your topic

sentences should look like.

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Starting with a WHO:

Many children have experienced someform of bullying.

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Starting with a WHAT:

Bullying is harmful and can greatlyaffect children negatively.

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Starting with a WHEN:

During lunch or after school whenteachers are not around is when bullying

often happens.

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Starting with a WHERE:

At schools across the country, bullyinghas become a major issue.

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Starting with a WHY:

Bullying should be prevented because itcreated fear at a place where students

should feel safe.

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Starting with a HOW:

During lunch or after school whenteachers are not around is when bullying

often happens.

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Are There MoreComplex Ways to Write

Topic Sentences?

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Some more interesting and advancesways to write topic sentences are:

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Number Statements

Bullying is such a major problem thatthree quarters of all children have been

bullied or teased.

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Where or When = What'sHappening Statements

When we see another student beingbullied at school, we help by defending

the student or telling an adult.

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And, But, So Statements

Bullying bothers everyone, so it shouldbe discussed with students and

prevented.

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Action Verb Statements

My friends and I were playing a game onthe playground when I was first bullied

by an older student.

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Alike or Different Statements

There are many different ways to reactwhen being bullied.

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Question and Answer Statements

Why do some kids bully? Often times,they are looking to receive attention.

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Using Transition Words

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Why Do I Need to UseTransition Words?

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First of all, transition words make youressay clearer. Additionally, they

connect the gaps in ideas. Furthermore,transition words provide a signal to the

reader about what is coming next.

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See what I did there?

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I used transition words to get my pointsacross in an organized, easy-to-read

fashion.

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Where Do I PutTransition Words?

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Put transition words at the beginning ofyour detail sentences. They can also be

place before topic sentences.

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What Are SomeExamples of Transition

Words?

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Check out the following lists oftransitions words:

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Writing ConclusionSentences

What Do ConclusionSentences Do?

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The conclusion sentence wraps up theparagraph. This is your chance to leavethe reader with a clear idea of your topic

and the message you want to send.

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How Do I WriteConclusion Sentences?

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You can SUMMARIZE theinformation you wrote about in

your body paragraph.

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There are many ways to prevent bullying fromhappening in the future and ways to handle

bullying without getting angry or upset.

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You can ENCOURAGE thereader to take action.

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If we go to a teacher counselor, principal orparent, we can get the help we need to handle

our interactions with bullies.

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You can try to CONVINCE youreader once more of your

position.

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We can help stop bullying by trying to avoidbullies and telling someone we trust.

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You can CHALLENGE yourreader to think.

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Think of how much safer school would be ifwe handled bullying in a different manner.

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What Does MyConclusion Sentence

Do?

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The closing sentence if your last wordabout the body paragraph topic. It is

your clincher.

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It should:

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Show the importance of yourideas.

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Encourage the reader to a newview of the subject.

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End on a positive note.

Thanks for Reading!

Check back next week.

V I S I T O U R B L O G .