1. Pages 35-39 in For Our Students
Body Paragraphs
Pages in For Our Students

2. Parts of a Body Paragraph: Do you have PEAT?
POINT: Topic Sentence stating the main idea of the particular paragraph
EVIDENCE and ANALYSIS: Specific details that back up your point
TRANSITION – A sentence or phrase that leads into the next paragraph
*The transition may occur at the beginning of the next paragraph.

3. Checklist for Paragraph Writing
Unity – everything backs up the topic sentence and the thesis
Development – sufficient and relevant evidence/details/analysis
Coherence – the ideas have a clear relationship to each other

4. Unity Thesis Topic Sentence Detail
The topic sentence should back up the thesis. It should also be general enough to cover every detail in the paragraph.
The details should all back up both the topic sentence and the thesis.
Thesis
Topic Sentence
Detail
Example paragraph here

5. Coherence (“Flow”) Don’t jump around! Show the connections.
Connect the ideas in a paragraph by:
Repeating key words – emphasizes important ideas/terms
Using pronouns – connects the sentence to the previous ones
Using transitions – shows the kind of relationship. P. 37
Chronological sequence (first, then, finally)
Cause and effect (because, as a result, then, therefore)
Comparison/Contrast (similarly, also, however, in contrast)
Examples (for example, specifically, for instance)

6. Development: Evidence and Analysis
Paragraphs must have sufficient and relevant evidence/details to be well-developed.
Sufficient: Do you have at least 2-3 details? Is the length over 100 words? Are the paragraphs of similar length?
Relevant: Do your details back up the thesis? Are the details convincing? Do you explain why the details are important to the thesis?
For “convincing,” bring up the example on page 45 for “representative.” A single person’s sick grandma does not prove the flu shot doesn’t work.

7. Types of Support
Use the type of support relevant to the type of essay you’re writing.
Types include:
Examples – specific events/descriptions from real life
Explanations/Reasons – accounts of how elements are related
Facts – provable information
Statistics – numerical data
Expert Opinions – statements from authorities
Personal Experience – events or knowledge from your experience
Description – imagery, use of the senses
Detail is good for process. Facts, Statistics, Opinions good for argument. Examples, Reasons, Personal Experience good for cause and effect