{"id":92,"date":"2021-09-13T16:12:04","date_gmt":"2021-09-13T20:12:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/professionalwriting\/chapter\/writing-body-paragraphs\/"},"modified":"2022-11-11T04:24:53","modified_gmt":"2022-11-11T09:24:53","slug":"writing-body-paragraphs","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/professionalwriting\/chapter\/writing-body-paragraphs\/","title":{"raw":"6.1\u00a0Writing Body Paragraphs","rendered":"6.1\u00a0Writing Body Paragraphs"},"content":{"raw":"
\n

Learning Objectives<\/p>\n\n<\/header>\n

\n
    \n \t
  • Select primary support related to your thesis<\/li>\n \t
  • Support your topic sentences<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nOnce you have completed your formal sentence outline, you will need to expand on that framework to create your expository essay. As much as you may be wanting to just get your ideas down and submit your paper, in order to make sure you are submitting a well-developed and strong essay, you need to make sure you are providing strong supporting ideas, developing paragraphs so they will fit together logically to best convince your reader, creating a strong introduction and conclusion, and revising your paper to catch issues you may have missed or not been aware of when writing. In this chapter, we will look at putting the pieces together to form a complete, revised, and supported expository essay, which you will need to submit next week.\n\nIf your thesis gives the reader a road map to your essay, then body paragraphs should closely follow that map. The reader should be able to predict what follows your introductory paragraph by simply reading the thesis statement.\n\nThe body paragraphs present the evidence you have gathered to confirm your thesis. Before you begin to support your thesis in the body, you must find information from a variety of sources that support and give credit to what you are trying to prove.\n

    Select Primary Support for Your Thesis<\/h1>\nWithout primary support, your argument is not likely to be convincing. Primary\u00a0support<\/strong>\u00a0can be described as the major points you choose to expand on your thesis. It is the most important information you select to argue for your point of view. Each point you choose will be incorporated into the topic sentence for each body paragraph you write. Your primary supporting points are further supported by supporting details within the paragraphs.\n
    Tip:\u00a0Remember that a worthy argument is backed by examples. In order to construct a valid argument, good writers conduct a lot of background research and take careful notes. They also talk to people knowledgeable about a topic in order to understand its implications before writing about it.<\/div>\n

    Identify the Characteristics of Good Primary Support<\/h1>\nIn order to fulfill the requirements of good primary support, the information you choose must meet the following standards:\n\nBe specific.\u00a0The main points you make about your thesis and the examples you use to expand on those points need to be specific. Use specific examples to provide the evidence and to build upon your general ideas. These types of examples give your reader something narrow to focus on, and if used properly, they leave little doubt about your claim. General examples, while they convey the necessary information, are not nearly as compelling or useful in writing because they are too obvious and typical.\n\nBe relevant to the thesis.\u00a0Primary support is considered strong when it relates directly to the thesis. Primary support should show, explain, or prove your main argument without delving into irrelevant details. When faced with a lot of information that could be used to prove your thesis, you may think you need to include it all in your body paragraphs. But effective writers resist the temptation to lose focus. Choose your examples wisely by making sure they directly connect to your thesis.\n\nBe detailed.\u00a0Remember that your thesis, while specific, should not be very detailed. The body paragraphs are where you develop the discussion that a thorough essay requires. Using detailed support shows readers that you have considered all the facts and chosen only the most precise details to enhance your point of view.\n

    Prewrite to Identify Primary Supporting Points for a Thesis Statement<\/h1>\nRecall that when you prewrite you essentially make a list of examples or reasons why you support your stance. Stemming from each point, you further provide details to support those reasons. After prewriting, you are then able to look back at the information and choose the most compelling pieces you will use in your body paragraphs.\n

    Select the Most Effective Primary Supporting Points for a Thesis Statement<\/h1>\nAfter you have prewritten about your working thesis statement, you may have generated a lot of information, which may be edited out later. Remember that your primary support must be relevant to your thesis. Remind yourself of your main argument, and delete any ideas that do not directly relate to it. Omitting unrelated ideas ensures that you will use only the most convincing information in your body paragraphs. Choose at least three of the most compelling points. These will serve as the topic sentences for your body paragraphs.\n\nWhen you support your thesis, you are revealing evidence. Evidence includes anything that can help support your stance. The following are the kinds of evidence you will encounter as you conduct your research:\n\nFacts:\u00a0Facts are the best kind of evidence to use because they often cannot be disputed. They can support your stance by providing background information on or a solid foundation for your point of view. However, some facts may still need explanation. For example, the sentence \u201cThe most populated province in Canada is Ontario\u201d is a pure fact, but it may require some explanation to make it relevant to your specific argument.\n\nJudgments:\u00a0Judgments\u00a0are conclusions drawn from the given facts. Judgments are more credible than opinions because they are founded upon careful reasoning and examination of a topic.\n\nTestimony:\u00a0Testimony\u00a0consists of direct quotations from either an eyewitness or an expert witness. An eyewitness is someone who has direct experience with a subject; the witness adds authenticity to an argument based on facts. An expert witness is a person who has extensive experience with a topic. This person studies the facts and provides commentary based on either facts or judgments, or both. An expert witness adds authority and credibility to an argument.\n\nPersonal observation:\u00a0Personal observation is similar to testimony, but personal observation consists of your<\/em> testimony. It reflects what you know to be true because you have experiences and have formed either opinions or judgments about them. For instance, if you are one of five children and your thesis states that being part of a large family is beneficial to a child\u2019s social development, you could use your own experience to support your thesis.\n\n[h5p id=\"79\"]\n
    \n
    \n\nH5P<\/strong>: Pre-Chapter Review\n\nDetermine whether the supporting points are facts, judgements, personal observation, or testimony.\n
      \n \t
    1. The most populated province in Canada is Ontario.<\/li>\n \t
    2. I don't think Mr. John will be able to complete the marathon.<\/li>\n \t
    3. Mrs. Marshall saw Mike eating the last piece of cake.<\/li>\n \t
    4. My dad loves to eat his steak well done.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nAnswer Key<\/strong>\n
        \n \t
      1. Fact<\/li>\n \t
      2. Judgement<\/li>\n \t
      3. Testimony<\/li>\n \t
      4. Personal observation<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

        Writing at Work<\/h2>\nIn any job where you devise a plan, you will need to support the steps that you lay out. This is an area in which you would incorporate primary support into your writing. Choosing only the most specific and relevant information to expand upon the steps will ensure that your plan appears well thought out and precise.\n
        Tip:\u00a0You can consult a vast pool of resources to gather support for your stance. Citing relevant information from reliable sources ensures that your reader will take you seriously and consider your assertions. Use any of the following sources for your essay: newspapers or news organization websites, magazines, encyclopedias, and scholarly journals, which are periodicals that address topics in a specialized field.<\/div>\n

        Choose Supporting Topic Sentences<\/h1>\nEach body paragraph contains a\u00a0topic\u00a0sentence\u00a0that states one aspect of your thesis and then expands upon it. Like the thesis statement, each topic sentence should be specific and supported by concrete details, facts, or explanations.\n\nEach body paragraph should comprise the following elements.\n\ntopic<\/strong> sentence + supporting details (examples, reasons, or arguments)<\/strong>\n\nAs you read in\u00a0Chapter <\/strong>5<\/strong>: Putting Your Ideas into Your Own Words <\/strong>and <\/strong>Paragraphs<\/strong>, topic sentences indicate the location and main points of the basic arguments of your essay. These sentences are vital to writing your body paragraphs because they always refer back to and support your thesis statement. Topic sentences are linked to the ideas you have introduced in your thesis, thus reminding readers what your essay is about. A paragraph without a clearly identified topic sentence may be unclear and scattered, just like an essay without a thesis statement.\n
        Tip:\u00a0Unless your teacher instructs otherwise, you should include at least three body paragraphs in your essay. A five-paragraph\/section essay, including the introduction and conclusion, is commonly the standard for exams and essay assignments.<\/div>\nConsider the following the thesis statement:\n
        Another J. D. Salinger relied primarily on his personal life and belief system as the foundation for the themes in the majority of his works.<\/div>\nThe following topic sentence is a primary support point for the thesis. The topic sentence states exactly what the controlling idea of the paragraph is. Later, you will see the writer immediately provide support for the sentence.<\/span>\n
        Salinger, a World War II veteran, suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder, a disorder that influenced themes in many of his works,<\/div>\n
        \n

        Self-Practice Exercise 6.1<\/p>\n\n<\/header>\n

        \n\n[h5p id=\"80\"]\n
        \n\nH5P:\u00a0<\/strong> Topic Sentences\n\nRevising 5.9<\/strong>\n\nFor this exercise, you'll need to refer to the first attempt you made at topic sentences for your work on Supporting Details (Self-Practice Exercise 5.9). This is your chance to implement what you've learned about so far in this chapter regarding topic sentences.\n\nRecopy your main supporting details (or revise them, if you've had a change of heart!), and then revise your expected topic sentences. These will help you frame your paragraphs.\n\nRemember! Each body paragraph contains a topic sentence that states one aspect of your thesis and then expands upon it. Like the thesis statement, each topic sentence should be specific and supported by concrete details, facts, or explanations.\n
          \n \t
        • Supporting Point #1:<\/li>\n \t
        • Proposed Topic Sentence:<\/li>\n \t
        • Supporting Point #2:<\/li>\n \t
        • Proposed Topic Sentence:<\/li>\n \t
        • Supporting Point #3:<\/li>\n \t
        • Proposed Topic Sentence:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

          Draft Supporting Detail Sentences for Each Primary Support Sentence<\/h1>\nAfter deciding which primary support points you will use as your topic sentences, you must add details to clarify and demonstrate each of those points. These supporting details provide examples, facts, or evidence that support the topic sentence.\n\nThe writer drafts possible supporting detail sentences for each primary support sentence based on the thesis statement:\n
          \n\nThesis statement<\/span>:\u00a0Unleashed dogs on city streets are a dangerous nuisance.\n\nSupporting point 1<\/span>: Dogs can scare cyclists and pedestrians.\n\nSupporting details<\/span>:\n
            \n \t
          1. Cyclists are forced to zigzag on the road.<\/li>\n \t
          2. School children panic and turn wildly on their bikes.<\/li>\n \t
          3. People who are walking at night freeze in fear.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nSupporting point 2<\/span>:\n\nLoose dogs are traffic hazards.\n\nSupporting details<\/span>:\n
              \n \t
            1. Dogs in the street make people swerve their cars.<\/li>\n \t
            2. To avoid dogs, drivers run into other cars or pedestrians.<\/li>\n \t
            3. Children coaxing dogs across busy streets create danger.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nSupporting point 3<\/span>: Unleashed dogs damage gardens.\n\nSupporting details<\/span>:\n
                \n \t
              1. They step on flowers and vegetables.<\/li>\n \t
              2. They destroy hedges by urinating on them.<\/li>\n \t
              3. They mess up lawns by digging holes.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\nThe following paragraph contains supporting detail sentences for the primary support sentence (the topic sentence), which is underlined.\n
                Salinger, a World War II veteran, suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder, a disorder that influenced the themes in many of his works<\/span>. He did not hide his mental anguish over the horrors of war and once told his daughter, \u201cYou never really get the smell of burning flesh out of your nose, no matter how long you live.\u201d His short story \u201cA Perfect Day for a Bananafish\u201d details a day in the life of a WWII veteran who was recently released from an army hospital for psychiatric problems. The man acts questionably with a little girl he meets on the beach before he returns to his hotel room and commits suicide. Another short story, \u201cFor Esm\u00e9 \u2013 with Love and Squalor,\u201d is narrated by a traumatized soldier who sparks an unusual relationship with a young girl he meets before he departs to partake in D-Day. Finally, in Salinger\u2019s only novel,\u00a0The Catcher in the Rye<\/span>, he continues with the theme of posttraumatic stress, though not directly related to war. From a rest home for the mentally ill, sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield narrates the story of his nervous breakdown following the death of his younger brother.<\/div>\n
                \n

                Self-Practice Exercise 6.2<\/p>\n\n<\/header>\n

                \n\n[h5p id=\"81\"]\n
                \n\nH5P:<\/strong> Drafting Supporting Details\n\nFor this exercise, we'll be using the outline work you've done so far to flesh out our body paragraphs a little more. This will feel similar to the Sentence Outline you created for Self-Practice 5.10, and you can use that as a resource for this activity, but you can also use this opportunity to begin the process of polishing and revising those ideas further.\n\nStart by drawing on the Supporting Points you highlighted for Self-Practice 6.1, and drawing on your working thesis statement.\n
                  \n \t
                • Thesis Statement:<\/li>\n \t
                • Supporting Point #1:<\/li>\n \t
                • Supporting Details:<\/li>\n \t
                • Supporting Point #2:<\/li>\n \t
                • Supporting Details:<\/li>\n \t
                • Supporting Point #3:<\/li>\n \t
                • Supporting Details:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
                  Tip:\u00a0You have the option of writing your topic sentences in one of three ways. You can state it at the beginning of the body paragraph, or at the end of the paragraph, or you do not have to write it at all. One that is not written at all is called an implied topic sentence. An implied topic sentence lets readers form the main idea for themselves. For beginning writers, it is best to not use implied topic sentences because it makes it harder to focus your writing. Your instructor may also want to clearly identify the sentences that support your thesis.<\/div>\n
                  Tip:\u00a0Print out the first draft of your essay and use a highlighter to mark your topic sentences in the body paragraphs. Make sure they are clearly stated and accurately present your paragraphs, as well as accurately reflect your thesis. If your topic sentence contains information that does not exist in the rest of the paragraph, rewrite it to more accurately match the rest of the paragraph.<\/div>\n
                  \n

                  Key Takeaways<\/p>\n\n<\/header>\n

                  \n
                    \n \t
                  • Your body paragraphs should closely follow the path set forth by your thesis statement.<\/li>\n \t
                  • Strong body paragraphs contain evidence that supports your thesis.<\/li>\n \t
                  • Primary support comprises the most important points you use to support your thesis.<\/li>\n \t
                  • Strong primary support is specific, detailed, and relevant to the thesis.<\/li>\n \t
                  • Prewriting helps you determine your most compelling primary support.<\/li>\n \t
                  • Evidence includes facts, judgments, testimony, and personal observation.<\/li>\n \t
                  • Reliable sources may include newspapers, magazines, academic journals, books, encyclopedias, and firsthand testimony.<\/li>\n \t
                  • A topic sentence presents one point of your thesis statement while the information in the rest of the paragraph supports that point.<\/li>\n \t
                  • A body paragraph comprises a topic sentence plus supporting details.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","rendered":"
                    \n
                    \n

                    Learning Objectives<\/p>\n<\/header>\n

                    \n
                      \n
                    • Select primary support related to your thesis<\/li>\n
                    • Support your topic sentences<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                      Once you have completed your formal sentence outline, you will need to expand on that framework to create your expository essay. As much as you may be wanting to just get your ideas down and submit your paper, in order to make sure you are submitting a well-developed and strong essay, you need to make sure you are providing strong supporting ideas, developing paragraphs so they will fit together logically to best convince your reader, creating a strong introduction and conclusion, and revising your paper to catch issues you may have missed or not been aware of when writing. In this chapter, we will look at putting the pieces together to form a complete, revised, and supported expository essay, which you will need to submit next week.<\/p>\n

                      If your thesis gives the reader a road map to your essay, then body paragraphs should closely follow that map. The reader should be able to predict what follows your introductory paragraph by simply reading the thesis statement.<\/p>\n

                      The body paragraphs present the evidence you have gathered to confirm your thesis. Before you begin to support your thesis in the body, you must find information from a variety of sources that support and give credit to what you are trying to prove.<\/p>\n

                      Select Primary Support for Your Thesis<\/h1>\n

                      Without primary support, your argument is not likely to be convincing. Primary\u00a0support<\/strong>\u00a0can be described as the major points you choose to expand on your thesis. It is the most important information you select to argue for your point of view. Each point you choose will be incorporated into the topic sentence for each body paragraph you write. Your primary supporting points are further supported by supporting details within the paragraphs.<\/p>\n

                      Tip:\u00a0Remember that a worthy argument is backed by examples. In order to construct a valid argument, good writers conduct a lot of background research and take careful notes. They also talk to people knowledgeable about a topic in order to understand its implications before writing about it.<\/div>\n

                      Identify the Characteristics of Good Primary Support<\/h1>\n

                      In order to fulfill the requirements of good primary support, the information you choose must meet the following standards:<\/p>\n

                      Be specific.\u00a0The main points you make about your thesis and the examples you use to expand on those points need to be specific. Use specific examples to provide the evidence and to build upon your general ideas. These types of examples give your reader something narrow to focus on, and if used properly, they leave little doubt about your claim. General examples, while they convey the necessary information, are not nearly as compelling or useful in writing because they are too obvious and typical.<\/p>\n

                      Be relevant to the thesis.\u00a0Primary support is considered strong when it relates directly to the thesis. Primary support should show, explain, or prove your main argument without delving into irrelevant details. When faced with a lot of information that could be used to prove your thesis, you may think you need to include it all in your body paragraphs. But effective writers resist the temptation to lose focus. Choose your examples wisely by making sure they directly connect to your thesis.<\/p>\n

                      Be detailed.\u00a0Remember that your thesis, while specific, should not be very detailed. The body paragraphs are where you develop the discussion that a thorough essay requires. Using detailed support shows readers that you have considered all the facts and chosen only the most precise details to enhance your point of view.<\/p>\n

                      Prewrite to Identify Primary Supporting Points for a Thesis Statement<\/h1>\n

                      Recall that when you prewrite you essentially make a list of examples or reasons why you support your stance. Stemming from each point, you further provide details to support those reasons. After prewriting, you are then able to look back at the information and choose the most compelling pieces you will use in your body paragraphs.<\/p>\n

                      Select the Most Effective Primary Supporting Points for a Thesis Statement<\/h1>\n

                      After you have prewritten about your working thesis statement, you may have generated a lot of information, which may be edited out later. Remember that your primary support must be relevant to your thesis. Remind yourself of your main argument, and delete any ideas that do not directly relate to it. Omitting unrelated ideas ensures that you will use only the most convincing information in your body paragraphs. Choose at least three of the most compelling points. These will serve as the topic sentences for your body paragraphs.<\/p>\n

                      When you support your thesis, you are revealing evidence. Evidence includes anything that can help support your stance. The following are the kinds of evidence you will encounter as you conduct your research:<\/p>\n

                      Facts:\u00a0Facts are the best kind of evidence to use because they often cannot be disputed. They can support your stance by providing background information on or a solid foundation for your point of view. However, some facts may still need explanation. For example, the sentence \u201cThe most populated province in Canada is Ontario\u201d is a pure fact, but it may require some explanation to make it relevant to your specific argument.<\/p>\n

                      Judgments:\u00a0Judgments\u00a0are conclusions drawn from the given facts. Judgments are more credible than opinions because they are founded upon careful reasoning and examination of a topic.<\/p>\n

                      Testimony:\u00a0Testimony\u00a0consists of direct quotations from either an eyewitness or an expert witness. An eyewitness is someone who has direct experience with a subject; the witness adds authenticity to an argument based on facts. An expert witness is a person who has extensive experience with a topic. This person studies the facts and provides commentary based on either facts or judgments, or both. An expert witness adds authority and credibility to an argument.<\/p>\n

                      Personal observation:\u00a0Personal observation is similar to testimony, but personal observation consists of your<\/em> testimony. It reflects what you know to be true because you have experiences and have formed either opinions or judgments about them. For instance, if you are one of five children and your thesis states that being part of a large family is beneficial to a child\u2019s social development, you could use your own experience to support your thesis.<\/p>\n

                      \n