Creating the Body Paragraphs English I - ZHS

What is a Body Paragraph? A body paragraph presents the supporting information for the thesis in an essay. Contain topic sentences – sentences that introduce the paragraph and its connection to your thesis statement. Provided support for your topic sentence – this can be in examples, quotes, statistics, etc. Connect back, through elaboration, to the thesis statement and the introductory paragraph.

What Your Body Paragraphs Will Include? Topic Sentence Evidence – Embedded Quote (cited appropriately) Commentary Evidence – Paraphrase (cited appropriately) Concluding Sentence Note: There are different types of evidence but this assignment is REQUIRING that each body paragraph contain an Embedded Quote and Paraphrasing.

Organization and flow… Each body paragraph and its topic sentence refer directly back to the thesis statement. Essay Introduction & Thesis Statement Body Paragraph 3 _____________ Body Paragraph 1 _____________ Body Paragraph 4 _____________ Body Paragraph 2 _____________

What Do These Sentences Do? ~Topic Sentence A Topic Sentence states what the paragraph will be about. *Without saying “this paragraph will be about….” NOOOO! DO NOT DO THIS! LIKE, EVER!! For Example: (The Thesis Statement was: In Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin in the Sun, Beneatha is the perfect example of a character who struggles against racism and sexism as she attempts to fulfill her ambitions.) Topic Sentence for Body Paragraph: Hansberry tackles the issue of how stereotypes can sometimes interfere with a person’s ambitions through the sibling rivalry between Beneatha and Walter.

~Embedded Quote An embedded quote flows naturally into your own writing. When reading a well- embedded quote, it should sound like part of your own sentence.

What Do These Sentences Do? Evidence – EMBEDDED QUOTE - gives a specific example from the work. It is used to provide evidence for your topic sentence. For Example: Hansberry tackles the issue of how stereotypes can sometimes interfere with a person’s ambitions through the sibling rivalry between Beneatha and Walter. Although Beneatha would like to go to medical school, many people at the time believed that women couldn’t or shouldn’t pursue careers as doctors. Walter’s chauvinistic expectations about what women can or ought to achieve is clear at the beginning of the play when he tells Beneatha “to go be a nurse like other women—or just get married and be quiet” (38). Topic Sentence Details leading up to the quote! You can’t just throw a random quote in! You have to lead up to it. An EMBEDDED quote must be EMBEDDED into something Make it flow! Embedded Quote

Body Paragraph: What Do These Sentences Do? Commentary (EXPLANATION)– Analysis of the quote: How does this prove your topic? This should explain how the detail you provided proves the topic sentence. Example: Hansberry tackles the issue of how stereotypes can sometimes interfere with a person’s ambitions through the sibling rivalry between Beneatha and Walter. Although Beneatha would like to go to medical school, many people at the time believed that women couldn’t or shouldn’t pursue careers as doctors. Walter’s chauvinistic expectations about what women can or ought to achieve is clear at the beginning of the play when he tells Beneatha “to go be a nurse like other women—or just get married and be quiet” (38). Topic Sentence Evidence Details leading up to the quote! Embedded Quote Walter is being very sexist and looking at his own sister with a very stereotypical point of view rather than backing her dream of becoming a doctor. Commentary (explain and connecting the quote to the topic sentence.

~Paraphrasing Paraphrasing is presenting the ideas and information you have read in your own words - is an important academic skill. By translating content from your research into your own words, you demonstrate to your reader that you've understood and are able to convey this content.

Body Paragraph: What Do These Sentences Do? Evidence – PARAPHRASE – gives a specific example from the work used to provide evidence for your topic. It is something rewritten in your own words to clarify meaning. Hansberry tackles the issue of how stereotypes can sometimes interfere with a person’s ambitions through the sibling rivalry between Beneatha and Walter. Although Beneatha would like to go to medical school, many people at the time believed that women couldn’t or shouldn’t pursue careers as doctors. Walter’s chauvinistic expectations about what women can or ought to achieve is clear at the beginning of the play when he tells Beneatha “to go be a nurse like other women—or just get married and be quiet” (38). Walter is being very sexist and looking at his own sister with a very stereotypical point of view rather than backing her dream of becoming a doctor. This way of viewing a woman’s role is shown many times through Walter’s character. He later tells Beneatha that her dreams are silly and she should just marry a rich man (102). Paraphrasing MORE EVIDENCE that supports my topic sentence!

Body Paragraph: What Do These Sentences Do? Commentary (EXPLANATION)– Analysis of the paraphrasing: How does this prove your topic? This should explain how the detail you provided proves the topic sentence. Hansberry tackles the issue of how stereotypes can sometimes interfere with a person’s ambitions through the sibling rivalry between Beneatha and Walter. Although Beneatha would like to go to medical school, many people at the time believed that women couldn’t or shouldn’t pursue careers as doctors. Walter’s chauvinistic expectations about what women can or ought to achieve is clear at the beginning of the play when he tells Beneatha “to go be a nurse like other women—or just get married and be quiet” (38). Walter is being very sexist and looking at his own sister with a very stereotypical point of view rather than backing her dream of becoming a doctor. This way of viewing a woman’s role is shown many times through Walter’s character. He later tells Beneatha that her dreams are silly and she should just marry a rich man (102).It is clear that Walter wants his sister to be financially stable but not through her own ambitions and achieving her personal dreams. Commentary (explain and connecting the paraphrasing to the topic sentence.

Body Paragraph: What Do These Sentences Do? Concluding Sentence – last sentence of the body paragraph. It concludes the paragraph by tying the concrete details and commentary back to the overall thesis. Transitions to the next paragraph. Hansberry tackles the issue of how stereotypes can sometimes interfere with a person’s ambitions through the sibling rivalry between Beneatha and Walter. Although Beneatha would like to go to medical school, many people at the time believed that women couldn’t or shouldn’t pursue careers as doctors. Walter’s chauvinistic expectations about what women can or ought to achieve is clear at the beginning of the play when he tells Beneatha “to go be a nurse like other women—or just get married and be quiet” (38). Walter is being very sexist and looking at his own sister with a very stereotypical point of view rather than backing her dream of becoming a doctor. This way of viewing a woman’s role is shown many times through Walter’s character. He later tells Beneatha that her dreams are silly and she should just marry a rich man (102).It is clear that Walter wants his sister to be financially stable but not through achieving her highly set goal. Walter’s attitude reflects the sexism that was common in 1959 when this play was first produced. Hansberry was clearly trying to suggest that women have the same dreams and aspirations that men have, but society’s attitudes can keep women from pursuing these dreams. Concluding Sentence/Statement – ties back to the Thesis Statement

Transitions!! – What are transitions? Transitions are words that help the audience follow your train of thought. Transitions help the reader connect new information to what he or she has just read. Idea Transition Idea

Consider your body paragraphs. Do you use any of these phrases? First Second Third Lastly To begin with, To conclude, These common transitional phrases do not add strength to our writing; they make our writing sound like we are listing off our ideas rather than explaining them. Good writers consider how the reader will progress through our writing by considering sturdy transitional words and phrases. My first, second, third/last reason… One reason is…

Purpose of Transitional Terms Transitional words and phrases are included in the work of successful writers to help bridge and connect: Paragraphs Supporting Ideas Transitional words help your reader to follow your writing ideas

Where Can I Place Transitional Words and Phrases in My Writing? Transitional words and phrases may be placed: At the beginning of paragraphs to help transition from paragraph to paragraph Inside paragraphs to help transition from one supporting detail to another Inside paragraphs to help elaborate upon supporting details Beware of Transition Overload!! Be specific in the placement and application of your transitional words and phrases. Not every idea or sentence needs to begin with one of these terms.

Not All Transitional Phrases Are Equal! Transitional Phrases to Indicate More Information: In addition Additionally In fact Moreover Also Together with Equally important Similarly Transitional Phrases to Indicate an Example: For example, For instance, Specifically, To demonstrate, To illustrate, Notably, Transitional Phrases to a Cause/Effect Relationship: Due to ______, For the reason that ______, Since ______, then ____ Consequently If…then As a result Transitional Phrases to Compare or Contrast: Although However In comparison Likewise On the other hand Transitional Phrases to Add Emphasis: Above all, Even more, More importantly, Transitional Phrases to Conclude: Therefore Furthermore Altogether Overall Finally Given these facts Transitions… USE THEM!

Tips for writing a good body paragraph: Use complete sentences. Use the paragraph guidelines as a checklist! Make sure you have all that you need! Make sure you explain your ideas clearly and thoroughly. Make sure all of your examples and support relate to the point of the paragraph and prove what you are trying to say! Take out anything that doesn’t relate! Make sure the paragraph fully relates to your thesis statement. The purpose of the paper is to back up that one sentence!! Use transition words/phrases when needed. Avoid using too many pronouns (he, she, them, it) without first telling me what the noun you are talking about is.

Your paper will include three body paragraphs that will follow the format shown. We will perfect each paragraph before being able to move to the next. Focusing on ONE AT A TIME will allow us to make sure each paragraph is done correctly and contains the required elements!