1. Writing Paragraphs of Importance
Body Paragraphs
Writing Paragraphs of Importance
© 2001 by Ruth Luman
References

2. Body Paragraphs Purpose the main idea in your thesis statement by
The body paragraphs in your essay support
the main idea in your thesis statement by
breaking it down into smaller ideas or subtopics.
Ideas in your paragraphs should relate back to
the thesis statement.
Essay
Body Paragraph 3
_____________
Introduction &
Thesis Statement
Body Paragraph 1
_____________
Body Paragraph 4
_____________
Body Paragraph 2
_____________
Body Paragraph 5
_____________

3. Body Paragraphs
Form
Most paragraphs contain between five to ten sentences. The first line of a paragraph is usually indented (begin a few spaces to the right of the margin) to show that there is a new paragraph.
indent
________________________ . ____________________. _____________________. _________________________. ____________________________. ____________________. ______________________. ______________________________.

4. Key Features A Topic Sentence Supporting Sentences
Body paragraphs should should contain
some of the following features…
A Topic Sentence
Supporting Sentences
A Concluding Sentence
Unity

5. Topic Sentences Definition
Every paragraph should have a topic
sentence. This is the most important sentence
because it expresses the main idea of the
paragraph.

6. Example Topic Sentence
Topic Sentence: states the main idea of the paragraph.
Body Paragraph
An important factor in learning a foreign language has to do with the
concept of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation. When we do something
for the “fun of it” or because we enjoy it, that is called intrinsic
motivation. Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is when we do
something for the purpose of receiving some kind of external reward
such as money, time off from work, etc. Many education experts believe
that intrinsic motivation is more powerful when it comes to helping
students retain what they’ve learned. The question and challenge for
teachers today is, “How can we help our students become intrinsically
motivated in what we are teaching?”

7. Topic Sentence Essentials
Complete Sentence
There are several things you need to
remember when writing topic sentences. The
first is that topic sentences are always
complete sentences.

8. Not a complete sentence
Example
Not a complete sentence
Strategies of learning English.
There are many strategies
that you can use to help you
learn a new language.

9. Not a complete sentence
Example
Not a complete sentence
The Day of the Dead.
The Day of the Dead is a special holiday in Mexico when people can get together to remember deceased loved ones.

10. Topic Sentence Essentials
Two Parts
A topic sentence contains the topic of the
paragraph and a controlling idea. The
controlling idea limits the topic to something
very specific.

11. Example
This sentence does not contain a controlling idea. This is not a good topic sentence, because it does not limit the topic to make it more specific.
Topic Sentence Companies need to develop more efficient forms of energy.
Topic Sentence Companies should develop more efficient forms of energy such as solar heating panels.
Controlling Idea: limits the ideas in the paragraph and makes the sentence more specific.
Topic: names the main idea

12. Topic and Controlling Idea
Example #2
Topic and Controlling Idea
Topic: names the main idea or general subject of the paragraph
Topic Sentence
One of the most serious problems in today’s inner-city public
schools is overcrowded classrooms.
Controlling Idea: makes a specific comment about the subject. Tells the reader what the paragraph will say about the main topic.

13. Topic and Controlling Idea
Example #2
Topic and Controlling Idea
Topic: names the main idea or general subject of the paragraph
Topic Sentence
One of the most serious problems in today’s inner-city public
schools is the low percentage of trained teachers.
Controlling Idea: makes a specific comment about the subject. Tells the reader what the paragraph will say about the main topic.

14. Be Careful!
Make sure that your topic sentence does not contain too many controlling ideas.

15. Example
There are too many controlling ideas to be covered in one paragraph. A good topic sentence should be limited to one controlling idea.
Topic Sentence The advent of the Internet has benefited society through improved communication, access to information, and streamlined commerce.
Topic Sentence The advent of the Internet has benefited society through improved communication.
Most topic sentences contain only one controlling idea.

16. Supporting Sentences Definition
Every paragraph has sentences that relate
to the ideas in the topic sentence. These
sentences are called supporting sentences.
Look at the supporting sentences on the next
page to see how the writer provided more
information on the subject in the topic
sentence.

17. Supporting Sentences Topic Sentence
An important factor in learning a foreign language has to do with the
concept of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation.
When we do something for the “fun of it” or because we enjoy it, that is called intrinsic motivation.
Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is when we do something for the purpose of receiving some kind of external reward such as money, time off from work, etc.
Many education experts believe that intrinsic motivation is more
powerful when it comes to helping students retain what they’ve learned.
Supporting Sentences

18. Definition and Purpose
Concluding Sentence
Definition and Purpose
A concluding sentence is the last
sentence in a paragraph. A conclusion can
remind the reader of the main points of a
paragraph and/or leave the reader with
something to think about in relation to the
topic. Look at the next page to see how
the writer used a concluding sentence.

19. Concluding Sentence
Body Paragraph
An important factor in learning a foreign language has to do with the
concept of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation. When we do something
for the “fun of it” or because we enjoy it, that is called intrinsic
motivation. Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is when we do
something for the purpose of receiving some kind of external reward
such as money, time off from work, etc. Many education experts believe
that intrinsic motivation is more powerful when it comes to helping
students retain what they’ve learned. The question and challenge for
teachers today is, “How can we help our students become intrinsically
motivated in what we are teaching?”
This concluding sentence tries to leave a final thought with the reader by asking a question.

20. Concluding Sentence Useful Expressions
It is sometimes helpful to have a concluding expression
in your last sentence to signal the end of your paragraph.
Some common expressions used in concluding sentences
are listed below.
As we can see,
Finally,
In summary,
Consequently,
As a result,
These examples show that…

21. Unity Definition means that each sentence in the paragraph
Good paragraphs have unity. That
means that each sentence in the paragraph
is related to the topic sentence. Unified
paragraphs also discuss only one main idea.

22. Find the sentences that are “off topic” or do not relate to the topic
Topic Sentence
Body Paragraph
One of the recent status symbols for many American business people is the
palm pilot. Palm pilots are small electronic devices that help people organize
information such as dates for meetings, short notes, and addresses of contacts.
Fax machines are also very popular among office workers. With palm pilots, a
person can input information at any time and any place. Many business people
also have cellular phones so that they can make phone calls from just about
anywhere. When a person returns to the office from a business trip, he/she won’t
have to spend hours organizing notes or addresses, because the palm pilot
already has that information. All that person has to do now is hook up the palm
pilot to a personal computer, and voila! All the information from meetings is
efficiently organized on the hard drive of the personal computer!
These sentences do not relate to the topic sentence in the paragraph. This paragraph does not have unity.

23. Practice Exercise
Now, you are ready to practice what you’ve learned. Click on
the button below to go back to Unit C. Do the Interactive
Exercise and print and complete the worksheet for Practice
Exercise Two.

24. References
PowerPoint Presentation by Ruth Luman: Modesto Junior College.
This project incorporates portions of copyrighted works. These items are included under the fair use exemption of the U.S. Copyright Law and have been prepared according to the educational fair use guidelines. They are restricted from further use.