1. Body Paragraphs
Book Analysis Essay

2. The Body Paragraphs What should your body paragraphs include?
Topic sentence
Background information (context) for the quote
Concrete Detail
Commentary
Transition to next quote***
Concrete Detail***
Commentary***
Transition Sentence
*** =7th & 8th grade only; 6th grade will only include one concrete detail

3. Topic Sentence
Your topic sentence of your body paragraph is your “thesis” for that paragraph.
Your topic sentence should come from the prongs of your thesis statement in the introduction.
You are showing the paragraph’s main idea.

4. Topic Sentence Example
THESIS STATEMENT
Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby are more similar than they appear on the surface. Despite the fact that Tom and Gatsby gain their wealth from different sources, these characters are similar in their lack of honest hard work and selfish pursuit of materialism.

5. Topic Sentence Example
BODY PARAGRAPH #1 TOPIC SENTENCE
Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby are different in the respect that they come from different family backgrounds, thus gaining their wealth from different sources.
BODY PARAGRAPH #2 TOPIC SENTENCE
Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby are similar because neither acquire their wealth through honest hard work.
BODY PARAGRAPH #3 TOPIC SENTENCE
Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby are similar in their selfish pursuit of materialism.

6. Context
Give the reader background information before introducing the quote.
The context should be relevant to the quote.
You do not need to summarize the entire novel.

7. Context Example BODY PARAGRAPH #3
Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby are similar in their selfish pursuit of materialism. Their lavish houses are symbols of this pursuit. Tom pursues materialism to prove his power. When Nick visits the Buchanan mansion for the first time after moving to West Egg, he is in awe of its grandiosity. The house is a Georgian Colonial mansion overlooking the bay in East Egg.

8. Concrete Detail
The concrete details is the textual evidence from your novel that supports the topic sentence of your body paragraph and helps prove your thesis statement.
Always include a lead in. Make sure to mention the speaker (if applicable) or the situation.
(Character) states, “...
For example…
In addition…
Include an in-text citation in MLA Format.
(Author last name and page number)
No comma in between

9. Lead in Examples
For example, after Scout pummels Walter Cunningham in the schoolyard, she says, “. . .
In addition, while spending Christmas at Finches Landing, Francis tells Scout, “. . .
Furthermore, when Scout and Jem are walking home from the pageant, “. . .

10. Concrete Detail Example
Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby are similar in their selfish pursuit of materialism. Their lavish houses are symbols of this pursuit. Tom pursues materialism to prove his power. When Nick visits the Buchanan mansion for the first time after moving to West Egg, he is in awe of its grandiosity. The house is a Georgian Colonial mansion overlooking the bay in East Egg. Tom declares to Nick, “I’ve got a nice place here” (Fitzgerald 7).

11. Commentary The commentary is your elaboration on the quote.
It answers the “So What?” question.
This is your interpretation.
Avoid paraphrasing the quote.

12. Commentary Example
Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby are similar in their selfish pursuit of materialism. Their lavish houses are symbols of this pursuit. Tom pursues materialism to prove his power. When Nick visits the Buchanan mansion for the first time after moving to West Egg, he is in awe of its grandiosity. The house is a Georgian Colonial mansion overlooking the bay in East Egg. Tom declares to Nick, “I’ve got a nice place here” (Fitzgerald 7). This is not a question; it is a fact for Tom. This shows that Tom is fully aware of the power he holds in the money he inherits. He deliberately purchases possessions to prove that his power is a characteristic of his wealthy bloodline.

13. Transition to Quote
When including more than one concrete detail, you must transition to the next quote.
Your transition sentence should give context/background information to the reader for the quote you are going to introduce.

14. Transition to Quote Example
Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby are similar in their selfish pursuit of materialism. Their lavish houses are symbols of this pursuit. Tom pursues materialism to prove his power. When Nick visits the Buchanan mansion for the first time after moving to West Egg, he is in awe of its grandiosity. The house is a Georgian Colonial mansion overlooking the bay in East Egg. Tom declares to Nick, “I’ve got a nice place here” (Fitzgerald 7). This is not a question; it is a fact for Tom. This shows that Tom is fully aware of the power he holds in the money he inherits. He deliberately purchases possessions to prove that his power is a characteristic of his wealthy bloodline. The symbol of Gatsby’s materialism is also his house. Gatsby uses his house to prove he is worthy of her love.

15. Transition to New Paragraph
Shows the reader that the information presented in the paragraph has proved the point.
Creates a bridge to the next topic sentence.
See the transition words handout.

16. Transition to New Paragraph Example
In addition to the fact that Tom and Gatsby are similar because they lack honest hard work to gain their wealth, they also both selfishy pursue materialism.
Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby are similar in their selfish pursuit of materialism.