Identifying parts of a body paragraph

Topic Sentence Detail

Commentary Detail

Commentary Closing Sentence

A sentence that starts a body paragraph and tells the audience what that body paragraph will be about.

The most important sentence in that paragraph.

An overall subtopic sentence that is linked to the Thesis Statement

SUBTOPIC 1

General Information•Location•Characteristics

SUBTOPIC 2History

• Name•Formation

SUBTOPIC 3Significance

• To/For Who?

• Why?

•Religious/Spiritual/Cultural

Thesis Statement: Niagara Falls is one of the world’s most spectacular natural landmarks and has been of importance to surrounding inhabitants for hundreds of years.

Topic SentencesBody Paragraph 1: The Niagara Falls is a fascinating

natural landmark because of it’s massive volume of water , soaring water speeds, and towering heights.

Body Paragraph 2: Being that the falls was formed from large amounts of water from melting glaciers and rock erosion, it’s formation process is quite interesting.

Body Paragraph 3: The falls has provided its surrounding inhabitants, both old and current, with necessities for hundreds of years.

http://www.tourniagara.com/history/aboriginals-in-niagara/

Practice Topic Sentences

Topic Sentence 1:

Topic Sentence 2:

Topic Sentence 3:

Topic McDonald’s

Opinion is convenient

BECAUSE of it’s many locations.

Topic

Opinion

BECAUSE

Topic

Opinion

BECAUSE

• Information from a source (your NOTES)

• Paraphrases or direct quotes• Supports your topic sentence• Supports your THESIS STATEMENT

o This is the research part of your essay!

The Niagara Falls is a fascinating natural landmark because of it’s massive volume of water, soaring water speeds, and towering heights. These are the biggest waterfalls in the world in terms of volume spilling an average of 750,000 gallons each second over the cascading falls. (“Canadian Falls”).

Topic sentence

Detail

• ALWAYS cite your sources!o Citation goes at the end of each detail

The Niagara Falls is a fascinating natural landmark because of it’s massive volume of water, soaring water speeds, and towering heights. These are the biggest waterfalls in the world in terms of volume spilling an average of 750,000 gallons each second over the cascading falls. (“Canadian Falls”).I can tell that this information (which

is everything above except for the topic sentence) was found in the article “Canadian Falls”

• Thesis Statement:o The best sunsets in the world can be

viewed in Hawaii.• Topic Sentence:

o In Hawaii, one of the greatest places to see a sunset is in Lahaina.

• Detailo Make up a detail using a fake source (an

expert on the topic of sunsets)

the expression of opinions or explanations about an event or situation : (in your case, a research paper)o opinion, either written or spoken.o a set of explanatory or critical notes

on a text : a commentary on the Old Testament.

Commentary does a few things:• Reveals your opinion regarding a detail• Shows how the detail supports your

thesiso This is what your whole paper is

trying to do anywayo PROVE YOUR THESIS

• Shows the significance of the detail• Links each detail to the thesis• Answers “So what?”

• Thesiso Facebook ruins lives and promotes bullying.

• Detailo In March of 2011, a 16-year-old girl jumped

off a bridge in Scranton, PA after being bullied on Facebook (“Facebook Bullying”).

• Commentaryo This horrendous occurrence shows how big

of an impact Facebook can really have and its potential to ruin, not only one, but many lives.

• Best friends• Can’t have one without the other• Details need to be explained• Commentary needs to be

supported with evidence• Commentary should be LONGER

than the detail!

• Brings closure to your paragraph• Is similar to your topic sentence

Think of it like a burger….Top Bun = Topic SentenceInsides (all the juicy, delicious stuff) =

detail, commentary, detail, commentary

Bottom Bun = Closing Sentence

Even though some believe Facebook is only a harmless social network, studies show that it can ruin lives. In March of 2011, a 16-year-old girl jumped off a bridge in Scranton, PA after being bullied on Facebook (“Facebook Bullying”). This horrendous occurrence shows how big of an impact Facebook can really have and its potential to ruin, not only one, but many lives. Another incident occurred on January 18, 2012 when a 13-year-old boy hanged himself in his closet after being relentlessly bullied via Facebook (Alder). At just thirteen years old this boy had many years to go before facing his mortality; but sites like Facebook open up a new forum for bullies to harass and torment children and teens. Clearly, Facebook harms not only those victims of the bullying, but also the friends and families of these teens.