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Body Paragraph

Good writing has a beginning, middle, and end. Beginnings and endings are brief. The majority of an essay is the middle part. That middle part is called the body. The paragraphs that make up that body are called body paragraphs. The purpose of body paragraphs is to explain your ideas. But even body paragraphs have a structure: a beginning, middle,…

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Body Paragraph

Body Paragraph

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Good writing has a beginning, middle, and end. Beginnings and endings are brief. The majority of an essay is the middle part. That middle part is called the body. The paragraphs that make up that body are called body paragraphs. The purpose of body paragraphs is to explain your ideas. But even body paragraphs have a structure: a beginning, middle, and end. Good writing uses this structure to explain and transition between ideas.

Body Paragraph: Meaning

A body paragraph is one of several paragraphs that make up the body of an essay. Let's take a closer look at what body paragraphs are.

Body paragraphs are the paragraphs that make up the bulk of an essay. They appear between the introduction and conclusion. Each body paragraph covers a different aspect of your main idea.

In a 5-paragraph essay, there are three body paragraphs. Each body paragraph supports your main idea by explaining a different aspect of it.

The Purpose of Body Paragraph

The purpose of body paragraphs is to explain your ideas. In the body paragraphs, you make your arguments, provide evidence, and explain your reasoning. Think of your essay as a literal body. It has feet, a head, and everything in between.

Body Paragraph, body icon, VaiaFig. 1 - Your paragraphs are your body.

A good essay starts with a solid foundation. The introduction is the essay's feet, providing that solid foundation. This foundation sets up the essay so you can build on it.

As you build the essay, you work your way upward, ending at the conclusion. The conclusion is the head of the essay. It completes the picture and allows you to summarize your ideas and look forward to the future.

So, what is between the head and the feet? Everything else! The body paragraphs are like the actual body of your essay. They take up most of the essay. Body paragraphs explain the bulk of your arguments and ideas.

Without the body paragraphs, you would have no essay!

What is the Purpose of Each Body Paragraph?

In a 5-paragraph essay, each body paragraph serves a different purpose. Look at the table below to learn about the purpose of each body paragraph.

ParagraphPurpose

Body Paragraph 1

The first body paragraph starts the body of the essay. It explains and supports the essay's most important idea or strongest argument.

Body Paragraph 2

The second body paragraph explains the second most important idea or second strongest argument of the essay.

Body Paragraph 3

The third body paragraph explains the essay's least important or weakest argument. It builds on the ideas from body paragraphs 1 & 2. It can also be used to address possible counterclaims to your argument IF you were not able to address them throughout your essay.

Body Paragraph Structure With Examples

The structure of a body paragraph includes a topic sentence, supporting sentences with evidence, and a concluding sentence. Let's take a closer look at each of these features and how to write them.

Topic Sentence

Every body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence.

A topic sentence is a sentence that states the main idea of a paragraph. It states the one thing you want the reader to understand from that paragraph.

A good topic sentence focuses the paragraph. It should be the very first sentence of the paragraph. When writing a topic sentence, ask yourself: what is the one thing I want the reader to get from this paragraph?

A good topic sentence clearly connects to the essay's thesis statement.

A thesis statement is a sentence that summarizes the main point of an essay. It appears at the end of the introduction.

Think of the topic sentence as one part of the thesis statement. It states one important piece of your main idea.

Thesis statement: If we are going to provide equal education for all, teachers will need more support in terms of funding, resources, and professional development.

Topic Sentence Body Paragraph 1: Teachers need more funding to obtain more resources and give them the time and energy needed to focus on student learning.

Topic Sentence Body Paragraph 2: Teachers must be provided with the necessary resources to ensure every student has equal access to classroom materials and content.

Topic Sentence Body Paragraph 3: Teachers need more professional development to learn how to utilize equality-building resources in the classroom and beyond.

Supporting Sentences

If the topic sentence supports the thesis statement, then what supports the topic sentence? Supporting sentences!

Supporting sentences explain the reasons for the main idea of the paragraph. Each paragraph should have multiple supporting sentences that explain the topic sentence.

When writing supporting sentences, imagine you are in a conversation with the reader. You state your main idea (the topic sentence). The reader is intrigued! They ask you "why" or "how so"? Answer the reader's question with supporting sentences!

Body Paragraph, Supporting Evidence, VaiaFig. 2 - Include supporting sentences.

Every body paragraph should have at least 2-3 supporting sentences. Each sentence should relate to the topic sentence. *Note how each supporting sentence offers a different reason for the argument. Think of supporting sentences as reasons for your argument. What are your reasons?

Topic Sentence: Teachers need more funding to obtain more resources and give them the time and energy needed to focus on student learning.

Supporting Sentence 1: Teachers often pay for resources out of their own pockets, which limits what they can provide students.

Supporting Sentence 2: Teachers do not make enough money to live on, let alone provide their own educational resources.

Supporting Sentence 3: Working multiple jobs distracts teachers from their classes, drains them of energy, and keeps them from seeking out professional development opportunities.

Note how each supporting sentence offers a different reason for the argument. Think of supporting sentences as reasons for your argument. What are your reasons?

Body paragraphs. A surrealist image of a man with a stack of books for a head. Vaia.Fig. 3 - Support your argument with how work affects people.

Evidence

Back up every supporting sentence with evidence.

Evidence is what you use to support a claim. It includes any facts, examples, or sources that back up your ideas.

The conversation with the reader is still going! You stated your main idea (the topic sentence). You also explained your reasons for that idea (the supporting sentences). But the reader is not quite convinced yet. They ask you, "How do you know this?" You use evidence to show them you know what you're talking about! When identifying evidence, ask yourself: How do I know I'm right about this? What would prove I know what I'm talking about?

Body Paragraph, Supporting Evidence, VaiaFig. 4 - Supporting sentences need evidence.

Here are some different types of evidence you might use to back up your ideas:

  • Facts or statistics
  • Quotes from interviews
  • Opinions from authors
  • Descriptions of events, locations, or images
  • Examples from sources
  • Definitions of terms

Supporting Sentence: Teachers often pay for resources out of their own pockets, which limits what they can provide students.

Evidence: According to a 2018 survey, 94% percent of teachers spend their own money on supplies and resources for their classrooms every year.1

How can you communicate evidence? There are 3 different ways to do so:

1. Summary

You can summarize a source by overviewing the main ideas of that source. For example, you might summarize the findings of a study. Summaries are helpful when the general gist of a source is all you need to support your idea.

2. Paraphrase

You can also summarize one or two points from a source. This is called paraphrasing. For instance, the evidence in the above example paraphrased one point from an article. Paraphrasing is perfect for pulling important ideas from a source.

3. Direct Quote

Sometimes you need to use the exact words from a source to convey its message. We call the use of a source's exact words a direct quote. Direct quotes are helpful when a source words something perfectly.

Concluding Sentence

Every body paragraph must come to a close. Let the reader know you are wrapping up the paragraph with a concluding sentence. The concluding sentence is the last sentence of the paragraph. It wraps up the paragraph and lets the reader know you are ready to move on to the next point.

A good concluding sentence:

  • Briefly summarizes the ideas of the paragraph.
  • Provides a sense of closure.
  • Signals what is coming next.

Teachers are expected to pay for their own resources with limited funds, limited time, and limited attention to their students' needs.

Body Paragraph Transitions

Once you have the basic structure of a body paragraph, add transitions. Transitions are important for showing how your ideas fit together.

Transitions are words and phrases that show the relationships between ideas.

Transitions help your paper flow from one paragraph to the next. They also show how your paragraphs connect to the thesis statement.

Body paragraphs. A person jumping a clock. Vaia.Fig. 5 - Move from one concept to the next.

Transitioning from the Introduction

Add a transition to the topic sentence of Body Paragraph 1. Use transition words (e.g., therefore) that emphasize the relationship between the topic sentence and the thesis statement.

Ask yourself, what part of the thesis statement is this paragraph? Is it the most important idea? The first event? The strongest argument?

Transitioning Between Body Paragraphs

Consider the logical relationship between your paragraphs. Map how one idea goes into the next idea following a line of reasoning. Also, study transitions between paragraphs!

Ask yourself, how do these ideas build on each other? How do reveal another aspect of the main idea of my essay?

Transitioning to Your Conclusion

Urge your reader toward the conclusion using a concluding word (e.g., finally).

Ask yourself, how can I let the reader know this is my final point? How can I show the relationship between this final point and my other ideas?

Body Paragraph Example

Let's look at an example of a body paragraph. Note how each feature is in a different color. Pay attention to how these different features work together to explain the main idea.

Use this table for reference to identify each element:

Topic SentenceSupporting SentenceEvidenceConcluding SentenceTransition between paragraphs
Transition between ideas

Most importantly, teachers need more funding to obtain resources, as well as to give them the time and energy needed to focus on student learning. Teachers often pay for resources out of their own pockets, which limits what they can provide students. According to a 2018 survey, 94% percent of teachers spend their own money on supplies and resources for their classrooms every year.1 Teachers do not make enough money to live on, let alone provide their own educational resources. The same survey found that teachers pay anywhere from $400 to over $1000 per year on average for classroom supplies. Couple this fact with teachers' notoriously low wages, and it's no wonder over one-third of teachers take second jobs. Teachers are expected to pay for their own resources with limited funds, limited time, and limited attention to their students' needs, so how can they be expected to ensure these resources are available to students that need them most?

Body Paragraph - Key Takeaways

  • Body paragraphs are the paragraphs that make up the bulk of an essay.
  • The purpose of body paragraphs is to explain your ideas.
  • In a 5-paragraph essay, each of the three body paragraphs serves a different purpose.
  • The structure of a body paragraph includes a topic sentence, supporting sentences with evidence, and a concluding sentence.
  • Once you have the basic features of a body paragraph, add transitions to those features to show the relationships between your ideas.

1 Grace Sparks, "94% of teachers spend their own money on school supplies," CNN. 2018.

Frequently Asked Questions about Body Paragraph

Body paragraphs are the paragraphs that make up the bulk of an essay. They appear between the introduction and conclusion. Each body paragraph covers a different aspect of the essay's main idea.  

The features of a body paragraph are a topic sentence, supporting sentences with evidence, and a concluding sentence. 

A good example of a body paragraph is as follows:

Most importantly, teachers need more funding to obtain resources, as well as to give them the time and energy needed to focus on student learning. Teachers often pay for resources out of their own pockets, which limits what they can provide students. According to a 2018 survey, 94% percent of teachers spend their own money on supplies and resources for their classrooms every year. Teachers do not make enough money to live on, let alone to provide their own educational resources. The same survey found that teachers pay anywhere from $400 to over $1000 per year on average for classroom supplies. Couple this fact with teachers' notoriously low wages, and it's no wonder over one-third of teachers take second jobs. Working multiple jobs distracts teachers from their classes, drains them of energy, and keeps them from seeking out professional development opportunities. According to the National Education Association, "Moonlighting can increase stress and drive disengagement, as teachers are forced to juggle multiple schedules and have their family and leisure time reduced." Teachers are expected to pay for their own resources with limited funds, limited time, and limited attention to their students' needs, so how can they be expected to ensure these resources are available to students that need them most? 

Start a body paragraph example with a topic sentence stating the main idea of the paragraph. Then add support sentences, evidence, and a concluding sentence.

The purpose of body paragraphs is to explain your ideas.

Final Body Paragraph Quiz

Body Paragraph Quiz - Teste dein Wissen

Question

What is an opinion?

Show answer

Answer

Opinion is a personal conjecture.

Show question

Question

Should you use an opinion to support your thesis?

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Answer

No.

Show question

Question

"An opinion does not require verification."


True or false?

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Answer

True.

Show question

Question

If something has failed to acquire verification, what is it?

Show answer

Answer

An opinion

Show question

Question

"Humans will evolve into beings of pure energy."

Is this an opinion or a potential fact?

Show answer

Answer

An opinion. It cannot be verified, whereas potential facts are in the process of verification.

Show question

Question

Fact is not ____. Fact is what is found out during the search for the truth.

Show answer

Answer

The truth

Show question

Question

Fact is what has continually withstood the test of _____.

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Answer

Hypotheses

Show question

Question

Can a fact be arrived at logically?

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Answer

Yes. Through the argumentation of a hypothesis. 

Show question

Question

If a conclusion has been arrived at practically through the experimentation of a hypothesis, is it a fact?

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Answer

Yes, assuming there are no flaws with the experiment.

Show question

Question

What is a potential fact?

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Answer

Potential facts are in the process of being proven or disproven. The advanced study of quantum mechanics involves potential facts, for example.

Show question

Question

If something is a conclusion, is it a fact or an opinion?

Show answer

Answer

It could be either. Facts and opinions can both be conclusions of a kind.

Show question

Question

Can facts evolve?

Show answer

Answer

Yes, people are learning new things all the time. This should not be used an argument for conspiracies or pseudoscience, which have no basis in real learning or research. 

Show question

Question

Opinion is not concerned with _____, while facts are.

Show answer

Answer

Verification

Show question

Question

Is a subjective conclusion an opinion?

Show answer

Answer

Yes. Subjective conclusions contain bias.

Show question

Question

If a hypothesis has been tested repeatedly and the results are inconclusive, is taking a stance on it an opinion?

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Answer

Yes. If a hypothesis has been repeatedly tested and the result consistently provides no answer, then to declare an answer is a matter of opinion.


Show question

Question

If something is quantified, is it fact?

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Answer

Yes. However, quantified results can lead to all kinds of conclusions, including incorrect ones if used fallaciously. 

Show question

Question

If many people have seen something, is it a fact?

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Answer

Not necessarily. If something is clearly witnessed by multiple unbiased people, it is a fact.

Show question

Question

In what ways should you be wary of what you see or read? You should be wary of what? 

Show answer

Answer

Be wary of unverified sources, unread context, generalization, sets of information, and all logical fallacies.

Show question

Question

Which is not a hedge word?

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Answer

Absolutely

Show question

Question

Which is not a hedge word?

Show answer

Answer

Undeniably

Show question

Question

Which is not a hedge phrase?

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Answer

Despite there being

Show question

Question

Hedges are words or phrases that express _____.

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Answer

Uncertainty

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Question

If you have a great idea, is it alright to hedge your thesis statement?

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Answer

No. You should never hedge your thesis statement. The claim must be clear and unambiguous. 

Show question

Question

"It appears that Group B is not compliant." 

Does this claim contain a hedge?

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Answer

Yes

Show question

Question

"Group C certainly provides the data."

Does this claim contain a hedge?

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Answer

No

Show question

Question

Hedging in your body paragraphs is often a sign that your evidence is _____.

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Answer

Weak

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Question

In your body paragraphs, if you are not confident in your evidence, is hedging a good option for that evidence?

Show answer

Answer

If you are not confident enough in your evidence to include it without hedges, then you probably shouldn’t include it.

Show question

Question

Many students will present perfectly good evidence, then hedge it just to be on the safe side. Is this the safe, proper call in an essay?


Show answer

Answer

No. Let your evidence speak for itself. You want to be confident in your essay.

Show question

Question

What is the hedging fallacy?

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Answer

The hedging fallacy is conceding an argument, using a hedge word to create a new hedged argument, but then dismissing the hedged argument and returning to the original (previously conceded) argument.

Show question

Question

Is it okay to revise a claim by hedging it?

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Answer

Yes, on its own. This is the search for the truth. It is not okay to revise a claim superficially, then to continue arguing the original claim.

Show question

Question

Regardless of how they are shaped, hedged arguments always make a concession, then what?


Show answer

Answer

Return to the original conclusion or claim.

Show question

Question

In an essay, a quick wit covers for a lesser argument.


True or false?

Show answer

Answer

False

Show question

Question

Where do hedge words appear in the hedging fallacy?

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Answer

In the revised claim that is summarily dismissed.

Show question

Question

What are body paragraphs?

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Answer

Body paragraphs are the paragraphs that make up the bulk of an essay. They appear between the introduction and conclusion. Each body paragraph covers a different aspect of your main idea. 

Show question

Question

How many body paragraphs are there in a 5-paragraph essay?

Show answer

Answer

3

Show question

Question

Where do body paragraphs appear in an essay?

Show answer

Answer

Body paragraphs appear between the introduction and the conclusion of an essay.

Show question

Question

True or false: 

Body paragraphs take up the bulk of an essay.

Show answer

Answer

True! Body paragraphs make up the body of the essay, so they take up the most space.

Show question

Question

If a paragraph explains the second most important idea of the essay, which paragraph is it?

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Answer

Body paragraph 2

Show question

Question

Which idea or argument should the third body paragraph of an essay cover?

Show answer

Answer

the least important idea or weakest argument

Show question

Question

What are the features that structure a body paragraph?

Show answer

Answer

topic sentence

Show question

Question

What is a topic sentence?

Show answer

Answer

A topic sentence is a sentence that states the main idea of a paragraph. It states the one thing the writer wants the reader to understand from that paragraph.

Show question

Question

True or False:

Topic sentences do not need to connect to the thesis statement of an essay.

Show answer

Answer

False. Since each body paragraph covers one aspect of the thesis statement, each topic sentence should clearly connect to that thesis statement.

Show question

Question

What do supporting sentences explain?

Show answer

Answer

the reasons for the main idea of a paragraph

Show question

Question

How many supporting sentences should each body paragraph have?

Show answer

Answer

Each body paragraph should have at least 2-3 supporting sentences.

Show question

Question

What can one use to back up their supporting sentences?

Show answer

Answer

evidence

Show question

Question

What are some different kinds of evidence one might use to back up supporting sentences?

Show answer

Answer

facts or statistics

Show question

Question

What is the last sentence in a body paragraph called? 

Show answer

Answer

concluding sentence

Show question

Question

What are the features of a good concluding sentence?

Show answer

Answer

It briefly summarizes the ideas of the paragraph.

Show question

Question

To transition from Body Paragraph 2 to Body Paragraph 3, where should one add transition words?

Show answer

Answer

the concluding sentence of Body Paragraph 2

Show question

Question

Instead of transition words, what type of words are helpful for transitioning from Body Paragraph 3 to the Conclusion?

Show answer

Answer

Concluding words are helpful for transitioning from Body Paragraph 3 to the Conclusion.

Show question

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