1. Bodacious Body Paragraphs

2. Elements of a Bodacious Body Paragraph  Begins with a clear topic sentence  Blends in at least one quotation to support the argument (introduce, insert, cite, explain thoroughly)  Returns back to the thesis and explains how this point supports your side of the argument and connects this paragraph to the next

3. Structure of a Body Paragraph Topic Sentence (1 sentence) Analyze Quotation (2-3) Give context/background (1-2 sentences) Integrated Quotation from Text Concluding Sentence/Transition (1 sentence – connects back to your topic sentence) 1.Draw Inferences 2.Connect to Topic Sentence Transition to next point; Context Quotation Analysis

4. A Clear Topic Sentence The topic sentence should state the one idea that the paragraph is about and what you are proving. –To begin with, Jing-mei and Roger share the trait of ungratefulness through their relationships with other people. –In the short story, “Marigolds,” Lizabeth feels compassion for Miss Lottie while in “Thank You Ma’am” Rogers feels the same for Miss Jones.

5. Student Examples Sam –To begin with, Miss Lottie and Miss Jones both show respect through their actions towards other people. Quentin –Both characters are also hurtful towards themselves and others with whom they have weak relationships.

6. Blending Quotations Step 3 Step 3 : Analyze the quotation Step 2 Step 2 : Integrate quotation Step 1 Step 1 : Give context Think of it like a sandwich…

7. Embedding Quotations Step One: Introduce the quotation –Ways to introduce the quotation: Tell when it occurs in the novel –At the beginning of the story, Millicent is already planning to rebel by not joining the sorority. Tell what is happening during this time –After getting a lesson on life from Miss Jones, Roger learns he must deal with growing up or he will fail.

8. Embedding Quotations Step Two: Write out the quotation and blend –Example: Millicent unhappily explains the hazing process when she tells readers, “Worse than a loyalty test, this grilling over the coals. What’s it to prove anyway” (Plath 141)? –Cite the quotation at the end (Author’s Last Name Page Number). –Punctuation goes after the citation

9. Embedding Quotations Step Three: Explain the quotation –Feeling overconfident for the recital, she tells readers, “I dawdled over it, playing a few bars and then cheating, looking up to see what notes followed” (Tan 37 – 38). Here, Jing-mei displays her laziness by not practicing the piano on purpose. She feels her mother pushes her too hard and has unrealistic dreams for her future. Jing-mei thwarts her mother’s ambitions, but in the end fails in both piano and her relationship with her mom.

10. Explaining Quotations GOOD phrases to use to start explaining a quotation: –Here… –At this point… –During this conversation… –Millicent’s statement here indicates… –According to this statement by the little girl…

11. Explaining Quotations NOT SO GOOD phrases to start explaining a quotation… –This quotation says… –This quotation indicates… –According to this quotation… –This shows… –Stay away from these! They are not as professional as the other ways I just showed you.

12. Transition to next character Transitions provide a smooth change to another idea: Cynthia –Although Millicent is persistent, Jing-mei is in a completely different way. Mallory –While Jing-mei had a face-to-face conversation, Lizabeth uses her actions for words.

13. Context for next character Set up your next quotation with background information. Transition :Although Millicent is persistent, Jing-mei is in a completely different way. Context: When Jing-mei is supposed to practice piano after the recital, she vehemently refuses.

14. Transitions to Next Character Agreement Additionally Comparatively Correspondingly Equally important Furthermore In addition In the same way Moreover Similarly Together with Opposition After all Besides Despite Conversely Different from Even so/Even though In contrast Nevertheless On the other hand Then again Cause Due to Even if For the purpose of In the hope that Effect As a result Consequently For this reason Therefore

15. Concluding Sentence At the end of every body paragraph, YOU MUST return to your thesis Tell me why and how this supporting point actually is relevant to your argument and thesis statement

16. Concluding Sentence It also gives the reader an idea of what the general idea of the next paragraph will be. Example: –As the story continues, readers will learn how both characters learn from their mistakes… –Because both Jing-mei and Roger struggle with their identities, it forces them to change the way they view life.

17. Student Examples Jodie –Both Jing-mei and Roger are lazy because they both refuse to act in ways that could benefit their futures. Zach –After the mess each character made, readers will understand that both of their true personalities shine through.

18. Putting it all together… A Bodacious Body Paragraph:  Begins with a clear topic sentence  Blends in at least one quote to support the argument (introduce, insert, cite, explain thoroughly)  Returns back to the thesis and explains how this point supports your body paragraph. It also connects this paragraph to the next.

19. Example Body Paragraph (Topic Sentence) Throughout “Two Kinds” and “Thank You Ma’am,” Jing-mei and Roger display laziness, which proves detrimental for their immediate and distant futures. (Background) In the middle of the story, Jing-mei reluctantly practices for a recital in which she can finally show her mom and relatives that she is a prodigy. (Evidence) Feeling overconfident for the recital, she tells readers, "I dawdled over it, playing a few bars and then cheating, looking up to see what notes followed” (Tan 37 - 38). (Explanation) Here, Tan describes Jing-mei’s laziness when she purposefully does not practice properly. She ends up performing terribly and disappointing her entire family. Jing-mei feels her mother pushes her too hard and has unrealistic dreams for her future. By thwarting her mother’s ambitions she fails in both piano and in creating a meaningful relationship with her mother.. (Concluding sentence) As the story continues, readers will learn how both characters learn from their mistakes.

20. Student Analysis Angel Jing-mei is selfish in her relationship with her mother, while Roger is selfish when he steals from Miss Jones. Jing-mei screams at her mother about not wanting to be born and displays selfishness when she refuses to play the piano. She yells, “I’m not going to play anymore…Why should I? I’m not a genius” (Tan 40). Jing-mei feels she doesn’t know how to play the piano they way her mother desires. She is also in competition with her cousin, Waverly, and will never be good enough. By taking her anger out on her mother, Jing-mei disregards the fact that her family is proud of her already and she does not need to be selfish.

21. Paige The mothers in each story are determined to make positive changes in their daughter’s lives. Jing-mei’s mother is determined for her daughter to become a prodigy, so she forces her to practice for hours. In a practice session she provides encouragement with, “Of course, you can be prodigy too. You can be the best anything” (Tan 31). Here, Jing-mei’s mother comes off as bossy or annoying. Her actions are misunderstood as resentment from her own childhood in which she did not have opportunities. She is only trying to provide the best for Jing-mei. In “The First Day,” the mother is determined to enroll her daughter in a good school. She attempts to enroll her daughter despite being told she can’t. Even if one school rejects her, she will try another: “I want her to go here! If I’da wanted her someplace else, I’da took her there” (Jones 4)! Even with rejection, the mother doesn’t stop. She wants to best for her daughter too because in her childhood she did not learn to read. This determination helps teach both daughters a life lesson.