Body Paragraphs

Basic Structure (detailed descriptions below):

Body Paragraphs (8-12 sentences long)
A. Topic sentence: Argument + One Evidence from Thesis
  • Introduce your evidence
B. Evidence, with citation
    • Commentary
C. Second evidence, with citation
    • Commentary
D. Concluding Sentence



Detail:

1. Topic Sentence
  • First sentence of the body paragraph
  • Relates to thesis and introduces the content of the paragraph
  • State your Argument and the Evidence (from the Thesis) that you will prove in this paragraph
    • Argument + Evidence.

Introduce Evidence
  • Set the reader up to understand your evidence.
    • Include (briefly) the context of the quote.


2. Evidence
  • Textual support (ideas or quotes)
  • Must prove your argument
  • Must be related to your thesis and topic sentence
  • ALWAYS cite your evidence (even if it is not a quote)
    • "Put a quote in quotation marks, then include the page number" (#).
    • If it is not a direct quote, do not put it in quotation marks, but still cite it with the page number (#).

3. Commentary
  • Your analysis of the evidence: Explaining why and/or how the evidence proves your argument.
  • Must be at least twice as long as the evidence
  • NO PLOT SUMMARY


4. Concluding Sentence
  • Restate and wrap up the main point of the paragraph
  • Prepare the reader for the next paragraph




Notes:

  1. Organize it around one point
  2. Fully prove that point using evidence and commentary
  3. All body paragraphs work together to prove your thesis

Example paragraph:
(for example thesis: Calypso is actively self-sacrificial when she takes care of Odysseus, heeds Zeus's request, and helps Odysseus leave.)

          Calypso is actively self-sacrificial when she helps Odysseus leave her island.  Calypso reassures Odysseus of her willingness to relinquish him when she tells him to “grieve no more…[She] shall help [him] go” (653). Calypso chooses to give up her own desire of keeping Odysseus in order to prevent his grieving.  She is pained by his leaving, but she wants to help him rather than herself.  Calypso is even pained because she can "see it all before [Odysseus goes,] all the adversity [he] face[s] at sea" (654).  Calypso knows Odysseus will be in danger, and she desires to keep him safe, but she lets him go anyway.  She sacrifices her own will to give him what he wants.  Calypso’s self-sacrifice results in her own solitude and proves her loyalty to Zeus.
KEY:
Topic sentence is bolded
Evidence is underlined
Commentary is italicized
Evidence Introduction and Concluding Sentence are plain
*Note: Do not bold, underline, or italicize your paragraphs.

 Notes: use brackets [] to change part of a quote so it flows with your sentences.  Use ellipses ... to omit parts of a quote that are unnecessary.



Resources
Topic Sentence vs. Thesis? 
Paragraph Planner Graphic Organizer
Transition Words
OWL Transition Words
OWL Body Paragraphs