Writing Effective Body Paragraphs: Stating Reasons and Supporting with Evidence

This lesson teaches how to write effective body paragraphs by stating a reason and supporting it with evidence. It covers the process of writing a topic sentence, supporting ideas with examples, and concluding the paragraph by rewording the topic sentence. The lesson also highlights common mistakes, such as creating laundry list paragraphs, and emphasizes the importance of organizing details to support the main idea.

What is the first step in responding to a writing prompt?

• Writing the closing paragraph

• Identifying the question and type of writing

• Revising the response

• Listing supporting details

What is a common mistake when writing body paragraphs?

• Using too many examples

• Ignoring the writing prompt

• Writing a list of unconnected sentences

• Starting with a conclusion

What should a topic sentence include?

• An example and a detail

• A question and an answer

• A thesis and a reason

• A story and a conclusion

How can you support your ideas in a body paragraph?

• By repeating the topic sentence

• By listing unrelated facts

• By using examples and true stories

• By writing a new thesis

What is the purpose of concluding a paragraph by repeating the topic sentence?

• To confuse the reader

• To summarize the paragraph

• To introduce a new idea

• To make the paragraph longer

Why is recess important according to the example paragraph?

• It provides necessary exercise

• It helps children socialize

• It is a tradition

• It allows teachers to rest

What should each body paragraph in your writing include?

• A detailed introduction

• A list of questions

• A topic sentence, examples, and a conclusion

• A summary of the entire essay