The Body Paragraph

A body paragraph is the basic paragraph of a research paper or an essay. Body paragraphs are all the paragraphs between the introductory paragraph and the conclusion. Body paragraphs support and prove your thesis.

Conclusion Introduction Body paragraph #1 Body paragraph #2 Body paragraph #3

We’re going to learn how to write an effective body paragraph for a research paper. The body paragraph’s structure may remind you of a certain food. A CHEESEBURGER!

Support reason 1 Support reason 2 Support reason 3 Topic sentence Conclusion Topic sentence Support sentence 1 Proof sentence 1 Support sentence 2 Proof sentence 2 Support sentence 3 Proof sentence 3 Concluding sentence The McParagraph logic: The McParagraph sentences:

Topic Sentences Topic sentences state the main idea of the paragraph. The rest of the paragraph must expand on, describe, or prove what the topic sentence states in some way. A good topic sentence make a point and suggests the logical structure of the rest of the paragraph.

Topic sentence Support sentence 1 Proof sentence 1 Support sentence 2 Proof sentence 2 Support sentence 3 Proof sentence 3 Concluding sentence Now we’ll look at support and proof sentences Now we’ll look at support and proof sentences

A topic sentence is the first sentence in your body paragraph. A support sentence gives a reason in support of the paragraph’s topic sentence. A proof sentence proves a support sentence by providing a detail or quotation from a source. A conclusion (one sentence) refers back to the topic, provides a logical closing, and may provide a transition to the next body paragraph.