Body Paragraphs Made Easy!

One quick thing… In a research paper: –NEVER, EVER, EVER USE: I, ME, MY, WE, OUR, US –NEVER, EVER, EVER (ON THREAT OF FAILURE) USE: YOU IN ANY PAPER

Body Paragraph (I know the breakdown) Topic sentence Quote 1 2 lines of commentary Quote 2 2 lines of commentary Concluding sentence

Body Paragraph: Topic Sentence (Here’s your sign!) It is the first sentence in your body paragraph It will be proving one of the points listed in your thesis It explains what that paragraph is going to be about

Topic Sentence: Example Thesis: Capital punishment is the worst form of justice in our judicial system because it doesn’t allow for rehabilitation, it continues the idea of killing and it could end the life of an innocent person. –Topic Sentence: Capital punishment is an unfair form of justice because is does not allow for rehabilitation of criminals.

Body Paragraph: Quotes (That’s what she said…) You quotes need to help prove your topic sentence Bad example: It is society’s duty, “to act in self defense to protect the innocent " (White 1) – this quote undermines what was said in the topic sentence Good example: Often times it is found that convicted criminals, “repent, express remorse, and very often experience profound spiritual rehabilitation” (Rehabilitation 1). –this reaffirms my topic sentence and overall argument

Body Paragraphs: Commentary (The Good, the Bad and the UGLY) Your commentary explains your quote further and how it helps prove your point (ANALYSIS ). When writing commentary never say “This quote proves” or “what this quote is saying is…” Make sure with your commentary you aren’t repeating the same thing Try to introduce a different or more in depth analysis

Commentary Example: BAD!!! Often times it is found that convicted criminals, “repent, express remorse, and very often experience profound spiritual rehabilitation” (Rehabilitation 1). This quote proves that some criminals are good and want to try. It also prove that people want to be good, even if they have done something bad. –This commentary is very weak and it says the same thing in both sentences.

Commentary Example: Good!!! Often times it is found that convicted criminals, “repent, express remorse, and very often experience profound spiritual rehabilitation” (Rehabilitation 1). While a crime may have been committed in youth, Americans need to allow for the idea of change in a person whether through age or experience. It should also be argued that a lifetime of repentance maybe worth more than the “justice” of death. –Expands upon the ideas presented in the quote and offers more such as the idea of a “lifetime of repentance”

Quote and Commentary: (Wash, Rinse and Repeat) After the two sentences of commentary Then have another quote Two more sentences of commentary

Body Paragraph: Concluding/ Transition Sentence (Moving on up) Your concluding sentence serves 2 jobs: –1. Summarize what your paragraph was about –2. Transition (gives the reader a clue) to your what your next paragraph is going to be about

Concluding Sentence: Example Capital punishment not only ends a life, it ends the chance for a person to change; and maintains the idea of murder as justice. –chance for a person to change= reminding the reader what my paragraph was about (doesn’t allow for rehabilitation) – maintains the idea of murder as justice= what my next paragraph is going to be about ( it continues the idea of killing- 2 point in my thesis) * Notice I am saying the same thing but always rephrasing, so it doesn’t sound repetitive!!!