Writing is Thinking Body Paragraphs

Body Paragraph Construction Topic Sentence

Body Paragraph Construction Sentence #1 – Topic Sentence – TS Sentence #2 – Context (Lead-In) - CON Sentence #3 - Concrete Detail #1 – CD1 Sentence #4 – Commentary #1 – CM1 Sentence #5 – Commentary #2 – CM2 Sentence #6 – Transitional Phrase and Context (Lead-In) - TC Sentence #7 - Concrete Detail #2 –CD2 Sentence #8 – Commentary #1 - CM1 Sentence #9 – Commentary #2 – CM2 Sentence #10 – Closing Sentence/Transition - TRANS

Topic Sentence – TS The topic sentence expresses the main idea of the paragraph. The topic sentence is always the first sentence of the body paragraph. Your topic sentence should include information from your thesis statement.

Context - CON Context is a brief summary that is used to introduce your concrete detail. Context includes the important background information that leads-in to your concrete detail. Good context will include will answer the following questions: Who - Who is speaking and who is he/she speaking to? Where - Where is the dialogue/action taking place? When – When is the dialogue/action taking place? For non-fiction, state the year the passage was written or spoken For fiction state the year the story takes place and, if it is important, the age of the speaker. What – What event(s) lead to this dialogue/action?

Concrete Detail - CD A concrete detail is evidence that is used to prove your idea. In this class, your concrete detail will always be the direct quotation of a passage.

Commentary – (CM) Commentary is your analysis of the concrete detail. Commentary explains why the concrete detail is significant. Your first sentence of commentary explains why the CD supports the subject and argument of your topic sentence. Your second sentence of commentary explains why the CD supports the focus of your topic sentence.