2. The Body

The body of an essay consists of several paragraphs that develop and support the thesis. Each body paragraph develops one point from the thesis statement. These paragraphs all begin with a topic sentence that is supported with specific details, facts, and examples. The body paragraphs of an essay should be arranged in the order that was stated in the thesis statement.

ANALYZING BODY PARAGRAPHS

Look again at the essay John Lennon: A Musician for All Time.

Write the thesis statement here:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is the topic of the first body paragraph?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Does the topic sentence of that paragraph state its main idea?

Is it supported with specific details?

What is the topic of the second body paragraph?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Does the topic sentence of that paragraph state its main idea?

Does it develop the second point mentioned in the thesis statement?

Is it supported with specific details?

What is the topic of the third body paragraph?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Does the topic sentence of that paragraph state its main idea?

Does it develop the third point mentioned in the thesis statement?

Is it supported with specific details?

Writing Body Paragraphs

Reread the introduction you wrote on the pressures of being a student. Based on your thesis statement, determine the topic and order of each of the three body paragraphs. Write a topic sentence for each body paragraph on the lines below.

Topic sentence for the first body paragraph:

__________________________________________________________

Topic sentence for the second body paragraph:

__________________________________________________________

Topic sentence for the third body paragraph:

__________________________________________________________

Finding Three Points to Develop Your Subject

It is sometimes difficult to think of three main points for the body paragraphs. However, there are a number of common ways to divide a general subject into three parts. For example, if your general subject is the effects of computers, there are several possible ways you could divide it. You might think about time and describe the effects of computers in the past, present, and future. Or you might consider people and write about the effects on children, adults, and the elderly. Still another way would be to analyze the effects of computers on society, economically, educationally, and socially. The following chart provides additional suggestions for how to divide a broad subject.

Place	People
1. local 2. national 3. international 1. home 2. work 3. school 1. land 2. sea 3. air	1. students 2. workers 3. retired people 1. family 2. friends 3. co-workers 1. children 2. adults 3. the elderly
Time	Society
1. past 2. present 3. future 1. childhood 2. adulthood 3. old age	1. economic 2. political 3. social /educational /religious 1. business 2. science 3. the arts

For each of the following essay topics, think of three main that you could develop into an essay. You may use ideas from the chart or come up with ideas of your own.

E.g Topic: The Effects of Pollution

Main Points: a Land

b Water

c Air

1. Topic: The Benefits of Learning English

Main Points: a

b

c

2. Topic: The Impact of Natural Disasters

Main Points: a

b

c

3. Topic: The Role of the Media in Our Lives

Main Points: a

b

c

4. Topic: The Changing Role of Women

Main Points: a

b

c

5. Topic: The Causes of Illiteracy

Main Points: a

b

c

Choose one of the five topics above and write a draft of the three body paragraphs on a separate sheet of paper. Exchange papers with a classmate. Read your partner's para­graphs carefully and write an introduction for his or her essay. Return the paper to the original author. Save your paper.