Body Paragraphs

1. Body Paragraphs They’re the double steak-burger to your sesame roll. Without them you wouldn’t really have a “sandwich” (aka an essay).

2. The difference: Good body paragraphs vs. Little/no body paragraphs

3. Body paragraphs are the meat of your essay, and as such are the most important component of your essay. • In the body paragraphs, you will expand upon and provide support for the theme you introduced in the first paragraph and will provide the details that move that theme forward.

4. Each paragraph contains: • A topic sentence that expands your theme and makes a transition from the previous paragraph • Development of ideas that support your essay's theme • An ending sentence that wraps up the paragraph and helps to transition into the next paragraph

5. TIP: • Avoid transition words that are too simple or that are numerical (first, second, third, finally, firstly, secondly, etc.) • Try and avoid transitions that you use all the time, such as “also” and “in addition to” • Instead, spice up your essay with words and phrases like “although”, “however”, “As a result of”, etc.