How to Organize and Write a Body Paragraph

You will be writing a 5-paragraph essay about: To Kill a Mockingbird. Start by choosing an interesting and limited topic.

First, write a 3-point thesis including your limited topic, attitude, and three points you will develop in the paper. Next, use the language from your three points to write a topic sentence for each of the three points (these will begin each of your body paragraphs).

Body Paragraphs

Body Paragraph #1 Body Paragraph #2 Body Paragraph #3 Introduction 5 3 1 Body Paragraph #1 Body Paragraph #2 Body Paragraph #3 1 3 5 Conclusion

Anatomy of a Body Paragraph

Topic Sentence (mirrors thesis point) Primary Support Sentence Secondary Support Sentence Concluding Sentence

Topic Sentence (mirrors thesis point) Primary Support Sentence Secondary Support Sentence Concluding Sentence

Topic Sentence (mirrors thesis point) Primary Support Sentence Secondary Support Sentence Concluding Sentence

} } } Topic Sentence (mirrors thesis point) Concluding Sentence Primary Support Sentence Secondary Support Sentence Concluding Sentence } Support Cluster } Support Cluster } Support Cluster

} } } Topic Sentence (mirrors thesis point) Concluding Sentence Primary Support Sentence Secondary Support Sentence Concluding Sentence } Support Cluster } Support Cluster } Support Cluster

Building a Sample Body Paragraph

Powerful social pressures increase as students move from their eighth to ninth grade year. (Topic Sentence) >clothing >dating >drugs/alcohol

Powerful social pressures increase as students move from their eighth to ninth grade year. >clothing (write a Primary Support sentence) Many students want to be popular so the need for cool clothes and shoes is important. >dating (write a Primary Support sentence) The pressure to date or have a girlfriend or boyfriend increases in high school. >drugs/alcohol (write a Primary Support sentence) Most dangerous of all, pressure to smoke, try drugs, or use alcohol is tempting for ninth graders.

Powerful social pressures increase as students move from their eighth to ninth grade year. >clothing Many students want to be popular so the need for cool clothes and shoes is important. (Write Secondary Supports of this with explanations, examples, quotations) > They will spend tons of money at Abercrombie &Fitch and Hollister just to have the perfect outfit. > These high schoolers care more about “the look” than they do for their parents’ credit card bills. >dating The pressure to date or have a girlfriend or boyfriend increases in high school. > Ninth graders have more opportunities for dances and social events and few people want to go alone. > Even Grandma and Aunt Ethel are starting to ask about a “special someone.” >drugs/alcohol Most dangerous of all, pressure to smoke, try drugs, or use alcohol is tempting for ninth graders. > Since freshmen have more access to parties, the temptation to experiment with illegal substances is strong. > It is very hard when all of a person’s friends are trying new things to just say no.

Powerful social pressures increase as students move from their eighth to ninth grade year. >clothing Many students want to be popular so the need for cool clothes and shoes is important. > They will spend tons of money at Abercrombie &Fitch and Hollister just to have the perfect outfit. > These high schoolers care more about “the look” than they do for their parents’ credit card bills. >dating The pressure to date or have a girlfriend or boyfriend increases in high school. > Ninth graders have more opportunities for dances and social events and few people want to go alone. > Even Grandma and Aunt Ethel are starting to ask about a “special someone.” >drugs/alcohol Most dangerous of all, pressure to smoke, try drugs, or use alcohol is tempting for ninth graders. > Since freshmen have more access to parties, the temptation to experiment with illegal substances is strong. > It is very hard when all of a person’s friends are trying new things to just say no. (Write a Concluding Sentence that summaries your main points) Social pressures such as clothing, dating, and experimenting with drugs and alcohol all increase when a student arrives in ninth grade.

Put all your TS/PS/SS/CS together and it forms a complete body paragraph. Powerful social pressures increase as students move from their eighth to ninth grade year. Many students want to be popular so the need for cool clothes and shoes is important. They will spend tons of money at Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister just to have the perfect outfit. These high schoolers care more about “the look” than they do for their parents’ credit card bills. The pressure to date or have a girlfriend or boyfriend increases in high school. Ninth graders have more opportunities for dances and social events and few people want to go alone. Even Grandma and Aunt Ethel are starting to ask about a “special someone.” Most dangerous of all, pressure to smoke, try drugs, or use alcohol is tempting for ninth graders. Since freshmen have more access to parties, the temptation to experiment with illegal substances is strong. It is very hard when all of a person’s friends are trying new things to just say no. Social pressures such as clothing, dating, and experimenting with drugs and alcohol all increase when a student arrives in ninth grade.