1. English B60
Body Paragraphs

2. Body Paragraph Structure
Body paragraphs add support to your thesis statement.
Body paragraphs have three main pieces:
Topic sentence
Evidence
Explanation of evidence/tie back to thesis statement

3. Topic Sentences Each body paragraph should have a distinct subject.
This subject is introduced in the first sentence of the paragraph, which is called the topic sentence.
In a persuasive essay, this is often a reason in support of your thesis.
Topic sentences are like miniature thesis statements; they provide the controlling idea for the paragraph.

4. Practice Imagine you are asked to write on this topic:
Teenagers are too old to go trick or treating.
First, choose your stance—is this correct, or not? Write down your thesis statement
Then, do some pre-writing to help you determine what you might say in your essay.
Now, choose ONE of the topics you brainstormed and develop a clear, coherent topic sentence.

5. Example Thesis: My Topic Sentence:
While most of the ghosts and goblins on your doorstep each Halloween night are small children, there’s no reason older kids can’t join in on the fun.
Other holidays aren’t age-restricted
Trick-or-treating is harmless fun and may keep older kids out of trouble
Some older children accompany younger siblings
Restricting trick or treating seems stingy and judgemental
My Topic Sentence:
We would never say that someone was “too old” to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas.

6. Development
After you present your topic sentence, you need to support it with evidence—details and examples.
You should get specific here. Make sure you give enough evidence to be convincing.
Make use of your own experiences and things you’ve seen/heard/read about.

7. Practice
Take your topic sentence and develop it into a body paragraph. Explain, it in as much detail as you can.
Shoot for writing at least 4 well-thought-out sentences.

8. Example
We would never say that someone was “too old” to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas. Other holiday traditions are enjoyed by the whole family. Everyone opens presents on Christmas morning, long after they’ve stopped believing in Santa. Families with no children gather around the Thanksgiving table. Trick or treating has been an integral part of the Halloween celebration for many years. To say that it is off limits for all but young children is to say that it is not to be fully celebrated by all. Holidays, Halloween included, are not intended solely for children to enjoy.

9. Explanation
At the close of your body paragraph, you’ll want to tie it back to your thesis statement; in other words, explain how it supports your argument.
Don’t let your examples speak for themselves. Show your audience how they connect to your thesis.

10. Practice
Now, go back and look at your body paragraph. Tie your examples back to your thesis. How do they support your argument?

11. Example
We would never say that someone was “too old” to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas. Other holiday traditions are enjoyed by the whole family. Everyone opens presents on Christmas morning, long after they’ve stopped believing in Santa. Families with no children gather around the Thanksgiving table. Trick or treating has been an integral part of the Halloween celebration for many years. To say that it is off limits for all but young children is to say that it is not to be fully celebrated by all. Holidays, Halloween included, are not intended solely for children to enjoy; therefore, no one is “too old” to celebrate Halloween by trick or treating.