1. Writing a Good Body Paragraph Examples from a Character Essay on Marlin from Finding Nemo

2. What is the topic? How was my character before he changed? Sheltered Nemo Afraid of the Ocean Would not go anywhere or let Nemo go anywhere. Topic Sentence: Should summarize what the paragraph will talk about: At the beginning of the story, Marlin was an overprotective father who was afraid of adventure.

3. Find specific examples to support your ideas Topic Sentence: At the beginning of the story, Marlin was an overprotective father who was afraid of adventure. Sheltered Nemo: when Nemo was getting ready to go to school, Marlin made sure to take him there and did not want to leave him alone (#) Afraid of the Ocean: When on the edge of the reef, Marlin said, “That’s a dangerous world out there” (#) Would not go anywhere or let Nemo go anywhere: When the stingray wanted to take the class off of the reef, Marlin made Nemo go home (#) When Nemo was dared to go touch the boat, Marlin would not allow him to (#)

4. Reorder your examples and decide which ones to use Topic Sentence: At the beginning of the story, Marlin was an overprotective father who was afraid of adventure. Afraid of the Ocean: When on the edge of the reef, Marlin said, “That’s a dangerous world out there” (#) Sheltered Nemo: when Nemo was getting ready to go to school, Marlin made sure to take him there and did not want to leave him alone (#) Would not go anywhere or let Nemo go anywhere: When Nemo was dared to go touch the boat, Marlin would not allow him to (#)

5. Surround each quote with its context before it, and its explanation after it Your idea: Afraid of the Ocean: When on the edge of the reef, Marlin said, “That’s a dangerous world out there” (#) Becomes: Marlin and Nemo are looking out into the deep ocean. Marlin says, “That’s a dangerous world out there” (#). This shows that he is afraid of the sea and things he does not understand.

6. Surround each quote with its context before it, and its explanation after it Your idea: Sheltered Nemo: when Nemo was getting ready to go to school, Marlin made sure to take him there and did not want to leave him alone (#) Becomes: On the first day of school, Nemo was escorted by his father. They swam the whole way together, and when Marlin left, he said, “I hate to leave you, Nemo” (#). It is clear that Marlin is sheltering Nemo by his overprotective actions.

7. Surround each quote with its context before it, and its explanation after it Your idea: Would not go anywhere or let Nemo go anywhere: When Nemo was dared to go touch the boat, Marlin would not allow him to (#) Becomes: Right before the journey, Nemo is dared to touch a fishing boat. Marlin was very against him doing this, as he was yelling and panicking about how he shouldn’t go (#). It is clear that Marlin is sheltering Nemo even more by not allowing him to try anything adventurous.

8. Put the examples together under the topic sentence. At the beginning of the story, Marlin was an overprotective father who was afraid of adventure. Marlin and Nemo are looking out into the deep ocean. Marlin says, “That’s a dangerous world out there” (#). This shows that he is afraid of the sea and things he does not understand. On the first day of school, Nemo was escorted by his father. They swam the whole way together, and when Marlin left, he said, “I hate to leave you, Nemo” (#). It is clear that Marlin is sheltering Nemo by his overprotective actions. Right before the journey, Nemo is dared to touch a fishing boat. Marlin was very against him doing this, as he was yelling and panicking about how he shouldn’t go (#). It is clear that Marlin is sheltering Nemo even more by not allowing him to try anything adventurous.

9. Add some transitions to connect it At the beginning of the story, Marlin was an overprotective father who was afraid of adventure. At the onset, Marlin and Nemo are looking out into the deep ocean. Marlin says, “That’s a dangerous world out there” (#). This shows that he is afraid of the sea and things he does not understand. A second example of Marlin’s character is when, on the first day of school, Nemo was escorted by his father. They swam the whole way together, and when Marlin left, he said, “I hate to leave you, Nemo” (#). It is clear that Marlin is sheltering Nemo by his overprotective actions. In addition, right before the journey, Nemo is dared to touch a fishing boat. Marlin was very against him doing this, as he was yelling and panicking about how he shouldn’t go (#). It is clear that Marlin is sheltering Nemo even more by not allowing him to try anything adventurous.

10. Then repeat for each body paragraph~