Body Paragraph Structure in Academic Essays

 An essay has three types of paragraphs:  Introduction  Body  Conclusion

 Your body paragraph’s (or paragraphs’) job is to prove your thesis.

 Today, I’m going to give you a SUGGESTED order of information in a typical body paragraph.  The order that you present information in your body paragraph (except topic/concl. sentence) is up to you.

Topic Sentence  FIRST: Topic sentence  Is always first  Summarizes the paragraph  May mention the main idea of the previous paragraph  May mention the main idea of your thesis

Concluding Sentence  LAST: Concluding Sentence  Is always last  Summarizes the paragraph (uses different words)  May focus on the analysis in the paragraph  May mention the main idea of the next paragraph

The Middle  The middle sentences of a body paragraph (except the topic and concluding sentence) may appear in any order.  The order given here is a suggestion only!  Experiment with transitions between these sentences.

In the Middle…  2. Give a description, quote, paraphrase, or summary from the text

 3. Tie the description, quote, paraphrase, or summary to the thesis  Explain how the description, quote, paraphrase, and/ or summary PROVE/PROVES your thesis  This is the most important part of your essay  This is where we find your analysis  This is the part beginning writers tend to forget

 4. In another sentence, tie the description, quote, paraphrase, or summary to the thesis in depth  Explain how the description, quote, paraphrase, and/ or summary PROVE/PROVES your thesis  This is the most important part of your essay  This is where we find your analysis  This is the part beginning writers tend to forget

In the Middle…  5. Give a description, quote, paraphrase, or summary from the text

 6. Tie the description, quote, paraphrase, or summary to the thesis  Explain how the description, quote, paraphrase, and/ or summary PROVE/PROVES your thesis  This is the most important part of your essay  This is where we find your analysis  This is the part beginning writers tend to forget

 7. In another sentence, tie the description, quote, paraphrase, or summary to the thesis in depth  Explain how the description, quote, paraphrase, and/ or summary PROVE/PROVES your thesis  This is the most important part of your essay  This is where we find your analysis  This is the part beginning writers tend to forget

Body Paragraph Structure 1. Topic sentence ________________ 2. Give a description/quote _____________________ 3. Tie to thesis _________________ 4. Tie to thesis _________________ 5. Give another description/quote ______________ 6. Tie to thesis __________________ 7. Tie to thesis _________________ 8.. Concluding Sentence ____________

Body Paragraph Structure with Optional Sentences

In the Middle…  2. Define any words or phrases that might be unclear from the topic sentence (optional)  3. Give a description, quote, paraphrase, or summary from the text (important stuff)  4. If you’ve used a quote, restate the content in your own words (optional)

sentences where you tie the description, quote, paraphrase, or summary to the thesis (important stuff)  Explain how the description, quote, paraphrase, and/ or summary PROVE/PROVES your thesis  This is the most important part of your essay  This is where we find your analysis  This is the part beginning writers tend to forget  This may be 2-6 sentences

sentences where you tie the description, quote, paraphrase, or summary to the thesis (important stuff)  If you are having trouble writing analysis, try using the following helper phrase (just take the helper phrase out before your final draft):  Helper Phrase: This description, quote, summary, paraphrase proves my thesis because it shows that: ____________________________________ ____________________________________ _____________________________________

7. Give another description, quote, paraphrase, or summary (important stuff) sentences that tie that description, quote, paraphrase, or summary to the thesis (important stuff).  These sentences explain HOW the description, quote, paraphrase, and/or summary prove/proves your thesis.

In Summary… 1. Topic sentence (important stuff) 2. Define any words or phrases that might be unclear from the topic sentence (optional) 3. Give a description, quote, paraphrase, or summary from the text. (important stuff) 4. If you’ve used a quote or summary, restate the content in your own words (optional) 5.-6 Tie the description, quote, paraphrase, or summary to the thesis (important stuff) 7. Give another description, quote, paraphrase, or summary (important stuff) 8-9 Tie that description, quote, paraphrase, or summary to the thesis (important stuff) 10. Concluding Sentence (important stuff)

Body Paragraph Structure 1. Topic sentence ________________ 2. Give a description/quote _____________________ 3. Tie to thesis _________________ 4. Tie to thesis _________________ 5. Give another description/quote ______________ 6. Tie to thesis __________________ 7. Tie to thesis _________________ 8.. Concluding Sentence ____________

Body Paragraph Structure for Ads 1. Topic sentence ________________ 2. Describe a signifier in the ad_____________________ 3. Tie to thesis (explain what it means) _________________ 4. Tie to thesis (explain how it sells)_________________ 5. Describe a signifier in the ad (related)______________ 6. Tie to thesis (explain what it means) _________________ 7. Tie to thesis (explain how it sells)_________________ 8.. Concluding Sentence ____________

Body Paragraph Structure 1. Topic sentence ________________ 2. Define any words ___________________ 3. Give a description/quote The male model in the ad is not looking at the female model. 4. Restate the content___________________ 5. Tie to thesis (2-6 sentences)_________________ 6. Give another description/quote ______________ 7. Tie to thesis (2-4 sentences)__________________ 8. Concluding Sentence ____________

Body Paragraph Structure 1. Topic sentence ________________ 2. Define any words ___________________ 3. Give a description/quote The male model in the ad is not looking at the female model. 4. Restate the content___________________ 5. Tie to thesis (2-6 sentences)_________________ 6. Give another description/quote The female model in the ad is not looking at the male model. 7. Tie to thesis (2-4 sentences)__________________ 8. Concluding Sentence ____________

Body Paragraph Structure 1. Topic sentence ________________ 2. Define any words ___________________ 3. Give a description/quote The male model in the ad is not looking at the female model. 4. Restate the content___________________ 5. Tie to thesis (2-6 sentences) This description helps prove my thesis because it shows the male model is not sexually attracted to the female model. 6. Thus, the female model’s clothing has not been chosen to attract males. 6. Give another description/quote The female model in the ad is not looking at the male model. 7. Tie to thesis (2-4 sentences)__________________ 8. Concluding Sentence ____________

The male model in the ad is not looking at the female model. This description helps prove my thesis because it shows the male model is not sexually attracted to the female model. Thus, the female model’s clothing has not been chosen to attract males.

The male model in the ad is not looking at the female model. The male model is not sexually attracted to the female model. Thus, the female model’s clothing has not been chosen to attract males.

Body Paragraph Structure 1. Topic sentence ________________ 2. Define any words ___________________ 3. Give a description/quote The male model in the ad is not looking at the female model. 4. Restate the content___________________ 5. Tie to thesis (2-6 sentences) This description helps prove my thesis because it shows the male model is not sexually attracted to the female model. 6. Thus, the female model’s clothing has not been chosen to attract males. 6. Give another description/quote The female model in the ad is not looking at the male model but instead is looking at the audience. 7. Tie to thesis (2-4 sentences) This description helps prove my thesis because it shows the female model is not interested in attracting the male anyway. 8. She is more interested in what her audience thinks of her. 8. Concluding Sentence ____________

Body Paragraph Structure 1. Topic sentence The ad has been carefully constructed to show that the product Guess jeans is not designed to attract members of the opposite sex. 2. Define any words ___________________ 3. Give a description/quote The male model in the ad is not looking at the female model. 4. Restate the content___________________ 5. Tie to thesis (2-6 sentences) This description helps prove my thesis because it shows the male model is not sexually attracted to the female model. 6. Thus, the female model’s clothing has not been chosen to attract males. 6. Give another description/quote The female model in the ad is not looking at the male model but instead is looking at the audience. 7. Tie to thesis (2-4 sentences) This description helps prove my thesis because it shows the female model is not interested in attracting the male anyway. 8. She is more interested in what her audience thinks of her. 8. Concluding Sentence ____________

Body Paragraph Structure 1. Topic sentence The ad has been carefully constructed to show that the product Guess jeans is not designed to attract members of the opposite sex. 2. Define any words ___________________ 3. Give a description/quote The male model in the ad is not looking at the female model. 4. Restate the content___________________ 5. Tie to thesis (2-6 sentences) This description helps prove my thesis because it shows the male model is not sexually attracted to the female model. 6. Thus, the female model’s clothing has not been chosen to attract males. 6. Give another description/quote The female model in the ad is not looking at the male model but instead is looking at the audience. 7. Tie to thesis (2-4 sentences) This description helps prove my thesis because it shows the female model is not interested in attracting the male anyway. 8. She is more interested in what her audience thinks of her. 8. Concluding Sentence Therefore, we can see the clothing is going to help the owners attract members of the same sex.

Body Paragraph Structure The ad has been carefully constructed to show that the product is not designed to attract members of the opposite sex. The male model in the ad is not looking at the female model. This description helps prove my thesis because it shows the male model is not sexually attracted to the female model. Thus, the female model’s clothing has not been chosen to attract males. The female model in the ad is not looking at the male model but instead is looking at the audience. This description helps prove my thesis because it shows the female model is not interested in attracting the male anyway. She is more interested in what her audience thinks of her. Therefore, we can see the clothing is going to help the owners attract members of the same sex.

Body Paragraph Structure The ad has been carefully constructed to show that the product is not designed to attract members of the opposite sex. The male model in the ad is not looking at the female model. The male model is not sexually attracted to the female model. Thus, the female model’s clothing has not been chosen to attract males. The female model in the ad is not looking at the male model but instead is looking at the audience. The female model is not interested in attracting the male anyway. She is more interested in what her audience thinks of her. Therefore, we can see the clothing is going to help the owners attract members of the same sex.

Body Paragraph Structure: page 547, paragraph #20 For yet older customers, McDonald’s has designed a commercial around the fact that it employs a large number of retirees and seniors. In one such ad, we see an elderly man leaving his pretty little cottage early in the morning to start work as “the new kid” at McDonald’s, and then watch him during his first day on the job. Of course, he is a great success, outdoing everyone with his energy and efficiency, and he returns home in the evening to a loving wife and a happy home. One would think that the ad was a kind of moving “help wanted” sign (indeed McDonald's was hiring elderly employees at the time) but it’s really just directed at consumers. Older viewers can see themselves wanted and appreciated in the ad—and perhaps be distracted from the rationally uncomfortable fact that many seniors take such jobs because of financial need and thus may be unlikely to own the sort of home that one sees in the commercial. But realism isn’t the point here. This is fantasyland, a dream world promising instant gratification no matter what the facts of the matter might be.

Body Paragraph Structure: page 547, paragraph #20 1. Topic sentence For yet older customers, McDonald’s has designed a commercial around the fact that it employs a large number of retirees and seniors. 2. Give a description/quote In one such ad, we see an elderly man leaving his pretty little cottage early in the morning to start work as “the new kid” at McDonald’s, and then watch him during his first day on the job. 3. Give another description/quote Of course, he is a great success, outdoing everyone with his energy and efficiency, and he returns home in the evening to a loving wife and a happy home. 4. Tie to thesis: One would think that the ad was a kind of moving “help wanted” sign (indeed McDonald's was hiring elderly employees at the time) but it’s really just directed at consumers. 5. Tie to thesis: Older viewers can see themselves wanted and appreciated in the ad—and perhaps be distracted from the rationally uncomfortable fact that many seniors take such jobs because of financial need and thus may be unlikely to own the sort of home that one sees in the commercial. 6. Tie to thesis: But realism isn’t the point here 7. Concluding Sentence: This is fantasyland, a dream world promising insttant gratification no matter what the facts of the matter might be.

Body Paragraph Structure: page 547, paragraph #20 1. Topic sentence 2. Give a description/quote 3. Give another description/quote 4. Tie to thesis: 5. Tie to thesis: 6. Tie to thesis: 7. Concluding Sentence:

Body Paragraph Structure: page 547, paragraph #20 For yet older customers, McDonald’s has designed a commercial around the fact that it employs a large number of retirees and seniors. In one such ad, we see an elderly man leaving his pretty little cottage early in the morning to start work as “the new kid” at McDonald’s, and then watch him during his first day on the job. Of course, he is a great success, outdoing everyone with his energy and efficiency, and he returns home in the evening to a loving wife and a happy home. One would think that the ad was a kind of moving “help wanted” sign (indeed McDonald's was hiring elderly employees at the time) but it’s really just directed at consumers. Older viewers can see themselves wanted and appreciated in the ad—and perhaps be distracted from the rationally uncomfortable fact that many seniors take such jobs because of financial need and thus may be unlikely to own the sort of home that one sees in the commercial. But realism isn’t the point here. This is fantasyland, a dream world promising instant gratification no matter what the facts of the matter might be.

Debate Write-Up Structure 1. Topic sentence ________________ 2. Give a description/quote ____________________ 3. Tie to thesis (2-6 sentences)_________________ 4. Give another description/quote ______________ 5. Tie to thesis (2-6 sentences)__________________ 6. Concluding Sentence ____________

Body Paragraph Structure 1. Topic sentence (required) ______________ 2. Define any words ___________________ 3. Give a description/quote (required) _______________ 4. Restate the content___________________ 5. Tie to thesis (2-6 sentences) (required)_____________ 6. Give another description/quote (required)___________ 7. Tie to thesis (2-6 sentences) (required)_____________ 8. Concluding Sentence (required) ____________

Body Paragraph Structure 1. Topic sentence (required) ______________ 2. Define any words ___________________ 3. Give a description/quote (required) _______________ 4. Restate the content___________________ 5. Tie to thesis (2-6 sentences) (required)_____________ 6. Give another description/quote (required)___________ 7. Tie to thesis (2-6 sentences) (required)_____________ 8. Concluding Sentence (required) ____________

1. Topic sentence: ______________________ 2. Fact/quote/paraphrase: ______________ 3. Analysis (this fact proves my thesis because…) ________________________ 4. Analysis (this fact ALSO proves my thesis because…) ________________________ 5. Fact/quote/paraphrase:______________ 6. Analysis (this fact proves my thesis because…) ________________________ 7. Analysis (this fact ALSO proves my thesis because…) ________________________ 8. Concluding sentence: _______________

1. Topic sentence: ______________________ 2. Fact/quote/paraphrase: ______________ 3. Analysis ________________________ 4. Analysis ________________________ 5. Fact/quote/paraphrase:______________ 6. Analysis ________________________ 7. Analysis _______________________ 8. Concluding sentence: _______________

1. Topic sentence: ______________________ 2. Fact/quote/paraphrase: ______________ 3. Analysis ________________________ 4. Analysis ________________________ 5. Fact/quote/paraphrase:______________ 6. Analysis ________________________ 7. Analysis _______________________ 8. Concluding sentence: _______________

Body Paragraph Structure 1. Topic sentence ________________ 2. Define any words ___________________ 3. Give a description/quote/fact/paraphrase _____________________ 4. Restate the content___________________ 5. Analysis or tie to thesis _________________ 6. Analysis or tie to thesis _________________ 7. Give another description/quote /fact/paraphrase ______________ 8. Analysis or tie to thesis _________________ 9. Analysis or tie to thesis _________________ 10. Concluding Sentence ____________

Body Paragraph Structure 1. Topic sentence ________________ 2. Define any words ___________________ 3. Give a description/quote _____________________ 4. Restate the content___________________ 5. Analysis or tie to thesis _________________ 6. Analysis or tie to thesis _________________ 7. Give another description/quote ______________ 8. Analysis or tie to thesis _________________ 9. Analysis or tie to thesis _________________ 10. Concluding Sentence ____________