Organize and Connect Specific Evidence

Body paragraphs

3rd Step in Essay Writing

Textbok: Langan’s (pp 76-94)

Wyrick’s (pp. 69-75)

Practice Exercises 95-99

3103 is so easy! 20 more papers and I’ll

be trough!

Preview

• Topic sentences (ts)

• Body paragraphs (BP) support

• Transitional Expressions (TE)

a. comparison and contrast

b. time sequence/ chronological order

c. introducing examples

d. to number or to include more information

e. cause and effect

• Putting it all together

Let’s Review –Here’s an example of one introductory paragraph

Challenges in Life

“May the force be with you” was George Lucas famous expression for his Jedi Knights on the classic movie Star Wars. He was more than right when you think about those words to deal with everyday life. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(TS). Taking a College Board Exam, going through a job interview, or simply entering college for the first time are some real challenges in which you, definitely, need the force to be with you.

Now, you must go to your first body paragraph!

Topic Sentences –the 1st sentence of each BP

• The very first sentence in each body paragraph.

• They come from the plan of development used in your thesis statement. (three ideas listed in PS)

As you are generating the specific details needed to support a thesis, you should think about ways to organize and connect those details. All the details in your essay must cohere, or stick together, so that your reader will be able to move smoothly from one bit of supporting information to the next.

Let’s look at the next examples

Topic sentencesYour topic sentences should look like this at first!

• Taking a College Board Exam is a great challenge in life.

• Going through a job interview is very challenging.

• Entering college for the first time is one of the great challenges in life.

• This section shows you how to organize and connect supporting details by using:

1. common methods of organization

2. Transitions

3. Other connecting words

Methods of organization

• Time order

details are listed as they occurred in time

(first, next, then, after that, and so on)

• Emphatic order

It is a way to put emphasis on the most interesting or important detail by placing it in the last paragraph. Save the best for last.

Transitional Expressions

• Transitions signal the direction of a writer’s thought. They are like the road signs that guide travelers.

• You must use them at the beginning of each body paragraph in each topic sentence. YOU MUST!

• They can be used everywhere else in the essay as well!

• Let’s look at the following examples!

types examples

Addition signals (to number items)

One, first of all, to begin with, second, the third reason, also, next, another, another example, in addition, besides, moreover, furthermore, finally, last of all, for instance, last but not least, and others

Time signals

First, then, next, after, as, before, while meanwhile, soon, during, finally, after that, to begin with, in conclusion, and others.

Contradictions

(change of direction)

on the contrary, however, in contrast, yet, but, although, nevertheless, otherwise, on the other hand, still, different from, whereas, unlike, and others.

Illustration signals

For example, for instance, specifically, as an illustration, another example, and others.

Cause and effect

Because of, as a result of, therefore, consequently, thus, for this reason, since, caused by, for, and others.

Read the following essay and fill in the blanks with the appropriate transitional expression (from the boxes)Then, classify the expressions according to their categories. (12 points)

Annoying People President Richard Nixon used to keep an “enemies list” of all people he

didn’t especially like. I’m ashamed to confess it, but I too, have an enemies list –a mental one. On this list are all the people I would gladly live without, the ones who cause my blood pressure to rise to the boiling point. The top three places in this list go to people with annoying nervous habits, people who talk in movie theaters, and people who talk on car phones while driving.

__________, there are the people with annoying nervous habits. ____________, there are the ones who make faces. When in deep thought, they twitch, and frown, and they can be a real distraction when I’m trying to concentrate during an exam.

(continues on the next slide)

BP 1 a. For example b. First of all c. Another d. However

Continuation of BP 1

_________ type of nervous character makes useless designs. These people bend paper clips into abstract sculptures or string the clips into necklaces as they talk. ___________ neither of these groups is bad as the people who make noises. These individuals, when uncomfortable, bite their fingernails, or crack their knuckles. If they have a pencil in their hands, they tap it rhythmically against whatever surface is handy –a desk, a book, a head. Lacking a pencil to play with, they jingle the loose change or keys in their pockets. These people are way too annoying for me.

A __________ category of people I would gladly do away with is the ones who talk in movie theaters. These people are not content to sit back, relax, and enjoy the film they have paid to see. ________ they feel compelled to comment loudly on everything from the hero’s hairstyle to the appropriateness of the background music. ________, no one hears a word of any dialog except theirs. _________they have been in the theater for a while, their interest in the movie may fade.

BP 2 a. On the contrary b. Then c. As a result d. After e. second

Continuation of BP 2

_______ they will start discussing other things, and the people around them will be treated to an instant replay of the latest family scandal or soap-opera episode. These stories may be entertaining, but they don’t belong in a movie theater.

_______, there are the people who talk on the phone while they’re driving. One of the things that irritate me about them is the way they seem to be showing off. They’re saying, “Look at me! I’m so important I have to make phone calls in my car.” ______, such behavior is just plain dangerous. Instead of focusing on the traffic, they’re zigzagging all over the road or bumping into other cars. So long as murder remains illegal, the nervous twitchers, movie talkers, and car phone users of the world are safe from me. _________, if ever I am granted the power of life and death, these people had better think twice about annoying me. I bet they would change their habits afterwards!

(essay taken from Langan’s textbook)

BP 3 a. In addition b. Nevertheless c. Last of all

Transitional Exp. (cont.)Concluding signals (in summary, in conclusion, finally,

to conclude, last of all, then, and others)

Now, it’s time to go back and revise our topic sentences with good and effective TE’s!

• First of all, taking a College Board Exam is a great challenge in life.

• In addition to the College Board Exam, going through a job interview is also very challenging.

• Last but not least, entering college for the first time is one of the greatest challenges in life.

Body Paragraphs (use of transitional expressions)Body paragraph no. 1

First of all, taking the College Board Exam is a

great challenge in life. To begin with, you have to study all the math, Spanish and English skills that you have learned throughout your 12 years of education. Besides the studying and reviewing, you have to remember a lot of details, formulas, and a lot of vocabulary. Not only the academic skills post a challenge, but also the physical and mental stress are present while taking the exam itself. In addition to all this, the duration of the test (a full day of eight hours), and the expectations of the results make this test a real challenge in life.

3103…It was so nice back in

high school

It’s Time to Practice! Quiz Time! (20 points)

• Write the next two (2) paragraphs for this essay!

• Remember…

1. Always write TE’s in your (ts)

2. Write additional TE’s in your BP’s

3. Use coherence…all details supporting the thesis (challenges in life)

4. 4-5 (aprx.) sentences per paragraph (academic standard)

5. Look at the previous slides (no. 12) for help!