Body Paragraphs

Body Paragraphs

Writing Made Easy

The Basic Terminology 

• Thesis Statement:  Your position and the essay’s controlling idea.  Needs to include a “because.”  For example, “Writing a persuasive essay is not very difficult, because the outline of the writing process is understandable.

• Topic Sentence:  The controlling idea of a paragraph that supports the thesis statement.

Basic Terminology Continued

• Transition Word:  Starts the concrete detail sentence.  Include one of the following:  For example, For instance, In addition, Additionally.

• Transition Lead In: A phrase used to start your concrete detail using a transition word. “For example, in her ground breaking book, Dr. Pen states...”

Basic Terminology Continued

• Concrete Detail:  A quote from the story that supports the thesis and the topic sentence

• Commentary: Your explanation of how the concrete detail supports the topic sentence.

• Closing Sentence: Closes the paragraph and transitions to the next paragraph. Includes one of the transition phrases: Given these points, as has been noted, for the most part, on the whole.

• Ratio: 1 concrete detail to 2 commentary for expository and persuasive essays.

Fill in the Blank

Your position and the essay’s controlling idea. Needs to include a “because.” For example, “Writing a persuasive essay is not very difficult, because the outline of the writing process is understandable.

Fill in the Blank

The controlling idea of a paragraph that supports the thesis statement.

Fill in the Blank

Starts the concrete detail sentence. Include one of the following: For example, For instance, In addition, Additionally.

Fill in the Blank

A phrase used to start your concrete detail using a transition word. “For example, in her ground breaking book, Dr. Pen states...”

Fill in the Blank

A quote from the story that supports the thesis and the topic sentence

Fill in the Blank

Your explanation of how the concrete detail supports the topic sentence.

Fill in the Blank

Closes the paragraph and transitions to the next paragraph. Includes one of the transition phrases: Given these points, as has been noted, for the most part, on the whole.

Fill in the Blank

1 concrete detail to 2 commentary for expository and persuasive essays.

Open Ended

Explain how a transition lead-in works.

Open Ended

When writing an expository or persuasive essay, what should the body paragraph(s) contain (the format).

Open Ended

What should a conclusion contain (the format)?

Poll

I understand the format of an expository/persuasive essay.

• Yes

• No

• Almost

Fill in the Blank

A phrase used to start your concrete detail using a transition word. “For example, in her ground breaking book, Dr. Pen states...”