The Body Paragraphs for compare/contrast essay Ms. Wellmeyer RHS Revised 9/2011

Reminder… What three elements go in the introduction paragraph? What three elements go in the introduction paragraph? 1.Hook 2.Context 3.Thesis

The Body Paragraphs These are the paragraphs that discuss and prove your point in your thesis. These are the paragraphs that discuss and prove your point in your thesis. Must provide details—more details the better! Must provide details—more details the better! In a 5 paragraph essay, there should be 3 body paragraphs In a 5 paragraph essay, there should be 3 body paragraphs

Sentence 1 Topic Sentence Topic Sentence –Provides the main idea for the individual paragraph –In a sense, this sentence is a summary of the paragraph

Sentences 2-4 (or more) Explain your topic sentence Explain your topic sentence Provide details and examples, and explain Provide details and examples, and explain Provide actual examples Provide actual examples

Clarification… Compare means to discuss the similarities between two or more things Compare means to discuss the similarities between two or more things Contrast means to discuss the differences between two or more things Contrast means to discuss the differences between two or more things

In compare/contrast essay You will need 1 major topic and three smaller details of the topic to discuss You will need 1 major topic and three smaller details of the topic to discuss For a better essay, find one major idea and discuss it in smaller parts For a better essay, find one major idea and discuss it in smaller parts –For example, compare and contrast the weapons used by Zaroff in the story and movie –OR compare the scenes at the chateau (house) in the movie and story

After you have your major topic, then discuss each smaller detail After you have your major topic, then discuss each smaller detail –Don’t just write the similarity or difference in one sentence. Explain how the difference effects the story or movie. –So if you are writing about the weapons Zaroff used, you need to write about each weapon, when each weapon was used, how effective each weapon was, how the weapon was used in the movie verses the book, etc.

Organization of the body paragraphs Type A (example) Type A (example) –Body #1: compare topic A –Body #2: compare topic B –Body #3: contrast topics A&B/ or contrast C Type B (example) Type B (example) –Body #1: compare & contrast idea A –Body #2: compare & contrast idea B –Body #3: compare & contrast idea C

Type A (example) Type A (example) –Body #1: similarities of hunting dogs –Body #2: more similarities of hunting dogs –Body #3: how hunting dogs were used differently in movie differently in movie Type B (example) Type B (example) –Body #1: compare & contrast one example of how hunting dogs were used how hunting dogs were used –Body #2: compare & contrast one example of how hunting dogs were used how hunting dogs were used –Body #3: compare & contrast one example of how hunting dogs were used how hunting dogs were used

Last Sentence Mini-conclusion Mini-conclusion –Summarize the main point of your paragraph

What are the four parts of a body paragraph? 1. Topic Sentence 2. Explain, provide details, use examples 3. Mini-conclusion