3.9: Developing Body Paragraphs
- Page ID
- 293707
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Developing Body Paragraphs
As we discussed earlier, an essay has three parts: it thoroughly introduces its topic in an introductory paragraph, discusses each subtopic in detail in its body paragraphs, and concludes the topic and makes its final remarks in a conclusion paragraph.
Developing detailed and coherent body paragraphs is essential to essay writing. Yet, many students fail to adequately develop the content of their essays. Your body paragraphs should do the following:
- introduce your subtopic in a topic sentence with transitions
- provide an explanation that links the subtopic to your original claim (thesis)
- expand on your explanation with adequate detail or specific examples
Read the following thesis statement and topic sentences. Fill in the missing information with your own details and examples.
Thesis Statement: People who live outside the U.S. often hold misconceptions about life in the U.S.
Topic Sentence 1: One misconception of many people outside the U.S. is that everyone in the U.S. is wealthy.
Explanation: Provide some explanation of why people might think everyone in the U.S. is wealthy. ____________________________________________________________
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Example: Share some specific examples that you have seen or heard about showing that people believe everyone in the U.S. is wealthy. ____________________________
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Details: This is a good place to share a personal story about this misconception or to give further details about why others think that everyone in the U.S. is wealthy.
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Conclude: Finish this paragraph by transitioning to the next paragraph or summing up your thoughts about the misconception about people in the U.S. being wealthy.
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Topic Sentence 2: Another misconception people hold about life in the U.S. is that we have a lot of leisure time.
Explanation: Explain why people are misinformed about how people spend their time in the U.S. ____________________________________________________________
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Example: Give an example of how people actually spend their time based on your experience ___________________________________________________________
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Details: Provide more details about leisure time in the U.S. _____________________
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Conclude: Finish this paragraph by transitioning to the next paragraph or summing up your thoughts on the misconception of leisure time in the U.S. ___________________
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Topic Sentence 3: The third common misconception people hold about life in the U.S. is that ________________________________________________________________
Explanation: Explain why people have this misconception. ______________________
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Example: Give an example of where you have seen this misconception ____________
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Details: Provide more details about this topic. ________________________________
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Conclude: Finish this paragraph by summing up your thoughts on this misconception about life in the U.S. ____________________________________________________
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Attributions:
Content on this page was adapted from ESL Academic Writing(opens in new window), which was shared under a CC BY (opens in new window)license by Prince George's Community College.