The Body Paragraph

• A body paragraph is the basic paragraph of a research paper or an essay.

• Body paragraphs are all the paragraphs between the introductory paragraph and the conclusion.

• Body paragraphs support and prove your thesis.

Conclusion

Introduction

Body paragraph #1

Body paragraph #2

Body paragraph #3

We’re going to learn how to write an effective body paragraph for a research paper.

The body paragraph’s structure may remind you of a certain food.

A CHEESEBURGER!

Support reason 1

Support reason 2

Support reason 3

Topicsentence

Conclusion

Topic sentence

Support sentence 1

Proof sentence 1

Support sentence 2

Proof sentence 2

Support sentence 3

Proof sentence 3

Concluding sentence

The McParagraph logic:

The McParagraphsentences:

Topic Sentences

• Topic sentences state the main idea of the paragraph.

• The rest of the paragraph must expand on, describe, or prove what the topic sentence states in some way.

• A good topic sentence make a point and suggests the logical structure of the rest of the paragraph.

Topic sentence

Support sentence 1

Proof sentence 1

Support sentence 2

Proof sentence 2

Support sentence 3

Proof sentence 3

Concluding sentence

Now we’ll lookat support and

proof sentences

Now we’ll lookat support and

proof sentences

• A topic sentence is the first sentence in your body paragraph.

• A support sentence gives a reason in support of the paragraph’s topic sentence.

• A proof sentence proves a support sentence by providing a detail or quotation from a source.

• A conclusion (one sentence) refers back to the topic, provides a logical closing, and may provide a transition to the next body paragraph.