Body Paragraphs Support and Expand your THESIS Modified From Original Document – Westwood Academy

Body Paragraphs – Purpose Topic sentences introduce the paragraph and its connection to the thesis statement. Provide support for thesis (examples, quotes, statistics, etc.) Elaborate on research and connect back to thesis statement and the introductory paragraph

Organization and flow… Each body paragraph and its topic sentence refer directly back to the thesis statement. Essay Introduction & Thesis Statement Body Paragraph 1 _____________ Body Paragraph 2 _____________ Body Paragraph 3 _____________ Body Paragraph 4 _____________

Body Paragraphs: Connection and Conciseness Within each body paragraph, examples, evidence, etc. support the topic sentence and thus refer back to or connects to the thesis. Body Paragraph Topic Sentence Quote Story Statistic other NOTE: NOTE: Each sentence in a body paragraph should support the topic of the paragraph and thus the thesis. Elaborate on and explain support.

Body Paragraphs: FORM Most paragraphs contain between five to seven sentences. The first line of a paragraph is indented to show that there is a new paragraph. Hint: If you look at your outline, each new CAPITAL LETTER (A, B, C, etc. should be a NEW paragraph!)

Components of a Body Paragraph Topic sentence Supporting sentences Elaborating or Explanatory sentences Concluding or transition sentence

Topic Sentences Tell the reader what the paragraph will be about and connects back to the thesis statement from the introductory paragraph.

Supporting Sentences Provide support to the paragraph and thesis Includes quotes from research sources, statistics, case studies or examples

Explanatory or Elaborating Sentences Relate to the ideas in the topic sentence Your voice (3 rd person!) explains or elaborates on the connections between the topic and the research/support

Concluding Sentence Signals the end of the paragraph Transitions to next topic sentence Some common expressions used in concluding sentences are listed below.  It is apparent …  This is just one …  Consequently,  This demonstrates that …

Sample Body Paragraph Lastly, athletes should not use steroids because the use of steroids, once only found in professional sports, has spread to young athletes at the high school and middle school level. This poses a huge problem because if steroids can have such negative effects on the adult human body, imagine what they can do to a growing teenager’s body. In fact, when teenagers use steroids, the steroids can signal the user’s bones to stop growing. The University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research conducts an annual survey of student drug use, and they found that the steroid use of twelfth graders has grown steadily throughout the twenty-first century. Since steroid use has grown so rapidly, it is no surprise that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than six percent of teenagers nationally have used steroids (“Negative”). Due to the serious and dangerous health effects, it is scary to think that steroids have become so prominent in this country that high school and middle school athletes are able to get them so easily. Consequently, student-athletes must seriously consider the dangerous health effects steroids can have on their young, growing bodies and ignore the temptation to use these drugs, regardless of how easily accessible they are. (in blue) (in green) (in purple) (in pink)