Body Paragraphs Made Easy!

One quick thing… In a research paper: –NEVER, EVER, EVER USE: I, ME, MY, WE, OUR, US –NEVER, EVER, EVER (ON THREAT OF FAILURE) USE: YOU IN ANY PAPER

Body Paragraph (I know the breakdown) Topic sentence Quote 1 2 sentences of commentary Quote 2 2 sentences of commentary Concluding sentence

Body Paragraph: Topic Sentence (Here’s your sign!) It is the first sentence in your body paragraph It will be proving one of the points listed in your thesis It explains what that paragraph is going to be about

Topic Sentence: Example Thesis: The Black Plague was so detrimental to Elizabethan society because it was impossible to cure which resulted in many lives lost and it shut down trade, leading to the destruction of the economy. Topic Sentence: The Black Plague was so detrimental to Elizabethan society because it was impossible to cure which resulted in many lives lost.

Body Paragraph: Quotes (That’s what she said…) You quotes need to help prove your topic sentence Bad example: Renaissance England, “experienced a period of growth despite the rampant disease” (Jones 2). –this quote undermines what was said in the topic sentence Good example: The black plague resulted in lost of life as, “most medical practices were outdated and the practitioners were unable to treat the fast acting symptoms of the disease” (“Plague” 67). –this reaffirms my topic sentence and overall argument

Body Paragraphs: Commentary (The Good, the Bad and the UGLY) Your commentary explains your quote further and how it helps prove your point (ANALYSIS ). When writing commentary never say “This quote proves” or “what this quote is saying is…” Make sure with your commentary you aren’t repeating the same thing Try to introduce a different or more in depth analysis

Commentary Example: BAD!!! The black plague resulted in lost of life as, “most medical practices were outdated and the practitioners were unable to treat the fast acting symptoms of the disease” (“Plague” 67). This quote proves that the Black Plague killed a lot of people. It also proves that doctors were not good a treating people who got the disease. –This commentary is very weak and it says the same thing in both sentences.

Commentary Example: Good!!! The black plague resulted in lost of life as, “most medical practices were outdated and the practitioners were unable to treat the fast acting symptoms of the disease” (Plague 67). When the Black Plague hit England the medical professionals were unprepared to deal with not only the symptoms, but all how quickly they effected their victims. Because of lack of treatment the disease not only killed, it spread quickly. Expands upon the ideas presented in the quote and offers more such as the idea of a “the disease not only killed, it spread quickly”

Quote and Commentary: (Wash, Rinse and Repeat) After the two sentences of commentary Then have another quote Two more sentences of commentary

Body Paragraph: Concluding/ Transition Sentence (Moving on up) Your concluding sentence serves 2 jobs: –1. Summarize what your paragraph was about –2. Transition (gives the reader a clue) to your what your next paragraph is going to be about

Concluding Sentence: Example The plague that effected Europe lead to many deaths due to its inability to be cured, however it also effected the commerce because to keep the disease from spreading they cut off trade. –lead to many deaths due to its inability to be cured = reminding the reader what my paragraph was about (death because hard to cure) – they cut off trade = what my next paragraph is going to be about (it shut down trade - 2 point in my thesis) * Notice I am saying the same thing but always rephrasing, so it doesn’t sound repetitive!!!

1 body paragraph (remember you need 2): TS=_____________________________ Q1=_____________________________ C=______________________________ Q2=_____________________________ C=______________________________ CS=_____________________________

If you are feeling overwhelmed: Body Paragraphs Write down your quote. Write two (of your own) sentences that relate to the quote. –Do they add in a new perspective or new idea? –Are the sentences repetitive? –Do they start with the phrase “This quote prove” or “This quote states”…if so, cross those words out, I bet you have a full sentence without them.