Study Skill 13.2 Tutorial: Essay Body Paragraphs

Introduction

Looking at two example essays, we will break down the parts of a body paragraph. Here is the prompt for the essay:

Write a five-paragraph expository essay on the topic of fast food. Your target audiences are your peers and teacher. Remember, an expository essay provides information. You are NOT trying to persuade someone to eat or not eat fast food. Your introduction should have a hook, an overview of the body of your essay, and a strong thesis statement. Each body paragraph must have a topic sentence, several supporting sentences, and a transition sentence to the next paragraph. The conclusion should restate your thesis using different words and connect the information to your life and that of your reader. Facts and information from sources must have MLA format in-text citations. Don’t forget to include a Works Cited page in MLA format on a separate page at the end of your essay.

Read the directions for your essay assignment carefully. You may have 1 or 2 or 3 required body paragraphs. For a five-paragraph essay you will need three body paragraphs. The other two paragraphs will be your introduction and your conclusion. This will give you a total of five paragraphs. It is a good idea to go over the grading rubric for the assignment as well. It will tell you again how many paragraphs are required. As a rule, each body paragraph must include:

a. Topic sentence

b. Supporting sentences

i. Must have at least three

ii. Should connect to and support the topic

c. Transition sentence

i. Comes at the end of the paragraph, like a clincher or concluding sentence

ii. May serve as a sense of closure for a complete point or serves to connect the current point to the next point.

iii. Overall, creates a bridge to the next paragraph.

Below are two example body paragraphs:

Example 1

80 percent of Americans eat fast food once a month (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/crispy-salty-american-history-fast-food-180972459/) and that is too much because fast food is bad for you even if it has vegetables and protein it can still have chemicals that can cause cancer or hurt you in other ways.

Example 2

It is common knowledge that eating fast food is not healthy. It doesn’t matter if you choose tacos, pizza, or burgers, the calories and chemicals consumed are greater than if you made these same foods at home using fresh ingredients. According to Matthew Thompson, an editor for Eating Well Magazine, a Big Mac from McDonald’s has 540 calories and 29 mg of saturated fat. Thompson states that if you made this same burger at home, you would consume 375 calories and 16 mg of saturated fat. While the homemade burger is still on the unhealthy side, it is significantly fewer calories and fat than the Big Mac made at McDonald’s. Thompson also looks at the sodium in Big Mac, which is double that of a homemade burger coming in at a whopping 1,010 mg. According to Thompson, another issue contributing to the unhealthiness of the Big Mac is the buns, which are highly processed and contain several different chemicals. He compares this to a bun you could buy from a local bakery that has just five ingredients. The problem of making unhealthy choices is compounded when unhealthy foods take the place of healthy foods in our diets. A study has shown that children who attend school near fast-food restaurants eat fewer servings of fruits and vegetables, more sugary drinks and had a higher propensity to be overweight when compared to children who did not attend school near these places of business (Davis and Carpenter 505). Faced with the growing concern over childhood obesity and the growing concern about unhealthy ingredients, many restaurants are expanding their healthier menu options.

Paragraph Analysis

Click on the tabs below to review the key concepts of a body paragraph and answer questions about each.

Topic Sentences

We already know that a paragraph must have a topic sentence. Body paragraphs of your essay must begin with a topic sentence that is clear and connects to the thesis.

Topic sentences should match the sentences you wrote in the overview portion of your introduction. Sentence 1 in the overview corresponds to body paragraph 1. Sentence 2 in the overview corresponds to body paragraph 2. Sentence 3 goes along with body paragraph 3. The organization of the main ideas is carried throughout the essay from the introduction to the conclusion.

Remember, topic sentences are statements. Do not use a question as a topic sentence.

Example 1 Topic Sentence

80 percent of Americans eat fast food once a month (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/crispy-salty-american-history-fast-food-180972459/) and that is too much because fast food is bad for you even if it has vegetables and protein it can still have chemicals that can cause cancer or hurt you in other ways.

Example 2 Topic Sentence

It is common knowledge that eating fast food is not healthy.

Check Your Understanding

Quick Check

Look at the Example 1 topic sentence. What weaknesses do you see in this topic sentence?

A. It has an improperly formatted citation.

Try again.

B. It is not as clear and concise as it should be.

Try again.

C. Both A and B

Correct! Compare this to Topic Sentence Example 2 and you can see that the second example is much more clear and concise. It gets quickly to the point of the statement without running on too much. The first example has an improperly formatted citation because it is not in MLA format, which calls for only the author’s last name and, if available, the page number.

Quick Check

Why is the Example 2 topic sentence stronger than the Example 1 topic sentence?

A. It is more clear and concise.

Correct! Compare this to Topic Sentence Example 2 and you can see that the second example is much more clear and concise. It gets quickly to the point of the statement without running on too much. Example 1 has several coordinating conjunctions and phrases that cover additional topics.

B. It is a rhetorical question.

Try again.

C. Both A and B

Try again.

Quick Check

How could the citation in Topic Sentence Example 1 be changed to MLA format?

A. It should include the title of the article or website

Correct! MLA in-text citations should include the title of the article or the website if there is no author given.

B. It should include the author’s first and last name

Try again.

C. It should include the date the writer accessed the website

Try again.

Quick Check

According to the Example 2 topic sentence , what will the body paragraph be about?

A. Fast food is unhealthy.

Correct! The topic sentence clearly states that fast food is not healthy. This lets the reader know the second body paragraph will be on this topic.

B. Fast food is delicious.

Try again.

C. Fast food is inexpensive.

Try again.

Supporting Sentences

There should be at least three supporting sentences which connect to the topic. The purpose of these sentences is to provide the details, examples, and research that support the topic statement. The supporting sentences can include paraphrased facts from research or an interview. Remember, it is important to cite all sources correctly and paraphrase. Quoting directly from sources is not necessary. It is more important that you paraphrase the information in your own words while still sending the same message. (You will learn more about how to paraphrase in the next section.)

For each sentence of information you paraphrase from a source you should provide at least one sentence of original analysis. This original writing connects the source information to the topic by explaining to the reader why it is important. You should convey to the reader why you chose that particular fact by showing how it supports your topic. For example, we have the information:

“According to Matthew Thompson, an editor for Eating Well Magazine, a Big Mac from McDonald’s has 540 calories and 29 mg of saturated fat. Thompson states that if you made this same burger at home, you would consume 375 calories and 16 mg of saturated fat.”

Why is this important to the topic of the paragraph which is “fast food is unhealthy?” You can read that in the original analysis sentence.

“While the homemade burger is still on the unhealthy side, it is significantly fewer calories and fat than the Big Mac made at McDonald’s.”

Remember that YOUR writing is the best writing. Your analysis of facts and information is equally as important as quoting someone. We want to read your paraphrasing, your words in your voice. This is how you grow as a writer.

Example 1

None. (There are no supporting sentences.)

Example 2

It doesn’t matter if you choose tacos, pizza, or burgers, the calories and chemicals consumed are greater than if you made these same foods at home using fresh ingredients. According to Matthew Thompson, an editor for Eating Well Magazine, a Big Mac from McDonald’s has 540 calories and 29 mg of saturated fat. Thompson states that if you made this same burger at home, you would consume 375 calories and 16 mg of saturated fat. While the homemade burger is still on the unhealthy side, it is significantly fewer calories and fat than the Big Mac made at McDonald’s. Thompson also looks at the sodium in Big Mac, which is double that of a homemade burger coming in at a whopping 1,010 mg. According to Thompson, another issue contributing to the unhealthiness of the Big Mac is the buns, which are highly processed and contain several different chemicals. He compares this to a bun you could buy from a local bakery that has just five ingredients. The problem of making unhealthy choices is compounded when unhealthy foods take the place of healthy foods in our diets. A study has shown that children who attend school near fast-food restaurants eat fewer servings of fruits and vegetables, more sugary drinks and had a higher propensity to be overweight when compared to children who did not attend school near these places of business (Davis and Carpenter 505).

Check Your Understanding

Quick Check

Where is the first supporting fact from research taken?

Eating Well Magazine

Correct! See the second sentence: "According to Matthew Thompson, an editor for Eating Well Magazine, a Big Mac from McDonald’s has 540 calories and 29 mg of saturated fat."

Davis and Carpenter

Try again.

Personal Interview

Try again.

Quick Check

Which topic does the statement “Thompson states that if you made this same burger at home, you would consume 375 calories and 16 mg of saturated fat.” support?

Eating hamburgers are unhealthy no matter where they are made.

Try again.

Eating food cooked at home is healthier than fast food.

Correct! Thompson makes a comparison between the calories and fat content of the Big Mac and a burger made at home.

McDonald’s hamburgers are more unhealthy than Burger King.

Try again.

Quick Check

What other part of the hamburger does Thompson compare in this body paragraph?

The pickles

Try again.

The sauce

Try again.

The bun

Correct! See sentence six: According to Thompson, another issue contributing to the unhealthiness of the Big Mac is the buns, which are highly processed and contain several different chemicals.

Quick Check

Where can you find the supporting statement made by Davis and Carpenter?

Online posting of McDonald’s menu

Try again.

The article written by Thompson

Try again.

Page 505 of their research article

Correct! The MLA in-text citation provides this information along with the last names of the authors. See the last line of the paragraph.

Transition Sentences

Transition sentences are bridges between paragraphs. They let the reader know what to expect next in the essay. Writing without transitions is like driving without street signs. It can be a bit confusing and result in wrong turns. Let your reader know where your thoughts are going by providing transition sentences at the end of each paragraph.

Example 1

None. (There are no transition sentences.)

Example 2

Faced with the growing concern over childhood obesity and the growing concern about unhealthy ingredients, many restaurants are expanding their healthier menu options.

Check Your Understanding

Quick Check

Body paragraph Example 1 has no transition sentences. Why is it important to use transition sentences?

They help the writer organize their topics and get the best grade.

Try again.

They let the reader know what to expect in the next paragraph of the essay.

Correct!

They help the reader understand the mind of the person writing the essay.

Try again.

Quick Check

Writing without transitions is like...

Driving without street signs

Correct! Just as street signs let a driver know what to watch out for, transitions let readers know what is coming next in your writing.

Walking without shoes

Try again.

Studying without proper light

Try again.

Quick Check

Transition sentences are like ___________________ between paragraphs because they help to connect one topic to the next.

Bus stops

Try again.

Buses

Try again.

Bridges

Correct!

Practice

Use the following new example body paragraph to answer the questions in Practice 1 and Practice 2 below.

New Sample Body Paragraph

In order to decrease and, hopefully, stop cyberbullying, adults as well as students should understand what they can do. Adults need to take proactive stances and act quickly when they find out about any bullying going on in social media platforms. According to government experts, it is imperative that school personnel establish clear policies and regulations about how students should treat each other on social media as well as face to face (www.stopbullying.gov). If it wouldn’t be acceptable in person, it is not acceptable on social media. For parents, it is essential to remember that they are role models and what they say and do matters. Children take cues from the adults in their lives and if they see or hear a parent bullying, chances are they will repeat this negative behavior (www.kidpower.org). Teaching kids to be mindful of what they post is also important. Do you know who is seeing your posts? Security measures such as passwords and settings are important when it comes to keeping yourself safe from cyberbullies. At the end of the day, the best protection against cyberbullying is you.

Practice 1

Practice 2

Key Ideas

Refer to the assignment directions and grading rubric to determine how many body paragraphs are required for your essay.
Each body paragraph must consist of these three parts: topic sentence, supporting sentences, transition sentence.
Each body paragraph must have at least three supporting sentences that connect to and support the topic.
The transition sentence creates a bridge to the topic of the next paragraph. It is not a concluding or summarizing sentence.
Any facts or information gathered from sources must be correctly cited in MLA format and a Works Cited page must be attached to the essay. Failure to do this correctly results in plagiarism.

Apply

Share a fact with your friend or family member and include original analysis of the information. For example, when you tell your mom “Frosted Flakes breakfast cereal has 9 important nutrients.” also include your personal analysis by adding “These nutrients can help me pay attention in school and get better grades.”
Try paraphrasing your assignment directions in other classes. This will give you practice in this skill and help you to build your vocabulary. If your math assignment is “Find the answer to all the problems on page 37 and check your work with a friend.” you can paraphrase this as “After solving the calculations on page 37, collaborate with a classmate to compare answers and get guidance.” The more you practice this skill the easier it will become.
When you watch television use your imagination to write transitions between the advertisements. How could you write a sentence to bridge between an ad for toothpaste and an ad for candy? What transition sentence would work well to help the viewer connect the ads for laundry soap and a local restaurant?