A BODY PARAGRAPH Looks Like This... Topic Sentence This is a broad statement that tells the reader what your paragraph is about; it states one of your “claims.” If you use a thesis “map,” it would be mentioned in the thesis statement.

2 Oreo Cookies (Double Stuff your paragraphs!) Two supporting statements Evidence! (quote or paraphrase) Introduce the quote you are using as evidence to support your claim. Give the quote and the citation that you are using as evidence from the text. Explain and analyze the quote Explain how it furthers your argument.

Concluding Sentence This sums up the paragraph. Use the topic sentence to help you write the concluding sentence, but don’t use the same words.

Devon School is a tense, stressful prep school where boys are pressured to enlist, there is a lot of peer pressure, rules are strictly enforced, and the boys often make bad choices due to the pressure. Devon School is tense and stressful because the boys are pressured to enlist in the war. Topic Sentence for body paragraph #1: Let’s say this is your thesis:

The seniors are rushed out of their last year in high school into a world of training for the war effort. Every time Gene glances over at the seniors, he knows that next year he will be in their place. He sees the pressure the seniors feel, which makes their time in Devon school tense. Each day while Finny and Gene go to class, the seniors are “caught up in accelerated courses and first-aid programs and a physical hardening regimen” (7).

At one point, Brinker bursts into Gene’s room and says, “Ready to sign up?” (98). Gene’s friend comes into his room pressuring him about the future; the boys have no escape from it. Even when the boys have free time with each other, the stress of enlisting is present. Another example of pressure and stress at Devon is when the conversation always seems to turn to talk of enlisting.

This stress and pressure to enlist are felt and understood by all the boys at Devon from the school itself and their peers, even though no one dares to mention it. Devon School is tense and stressful because the boys are pressured to enlist in the war. Remember, this is the topic sentence: Reword, sum up, and here is the concluding sentence:

First, the Devon School is tense and stressful because the boys are pressured to enlist in the war. The seniors are rushed out of their last year in high school into a world of training for the war effort. Each day while Finny and Gene go to class, the seniors are “caught up in accelerated courses and first-aid programs and a physical hardening regimen” (7). Every time Gene glances over at the seniors, he knows that next year he will be in their place. He sees the pressure the seniors feel, which makes their time in Devon school tense. Another example of pressure and stress at Devon is when the conversation always seems to turn to talk of enlisting. At one point, Brinker bursts into Gene’s room and says, “Ready to sign up?” (98). Gene’s friend comes into his room pressuring him about the future; the boys have no escape from it. Even when the boys have free time with each other, the stress of enlisting is present. The stress and pressure to enlist are felt and understood by all the boys at Devon, even though no one dares to mention it.

Repeat these steps for all of your body paragraphs!

What are the steps? 1- T.S. 2- Supporting statement(claim/assertion) –Context of quote –Quote –Explanation of quote 3- 2 nd supporting statement 4- Concluding sent.