Essay Writing: Structure Guidelines: Body-paragraph(s) Outline

Saturday, November 10, 2018

Body-paragraph(s) Outline

Body-paragraph(s) Outline

Body Paragraphs: Provide several Body Paragraphs with Main Supporting Points. A body paragraph will be a minimum of 5 sentences in length to meet the minimum requirements for development of the topic addressed in that paragraph. Body paragraphs serve as detailed development of the thesis statements as they provide clarity on a problem, support and opposition to the proposed solution to a problem, clarity on others’ beliefs and why they are or are not valid. You may have 3 body paragraphs, but you might also need to develop many more, depending on the organization of your argument.

Remember that each of the initial body paragraph should support the claim you have made in your thesis. Each body paragraph should be directly related to the over-arching CLAIM from the thesis—the last sentence of the introduction paragraph. The body paragraphs will all follow a basic development order—see below.

Topic sentence—in your outline, be sure to write out a clear topic sentence so that I can fully understand what the point of the body paragraph will be. Each body paragraph will have a clear topic sentence as the first sentence of the paragraph, and it should limit the content of the paragraph—meaning that the paragraph will focus on that point and nothing more. To make a new point, you would make a new body paragraph. Remember that the Topic sentence needs to introduce the focus of the paragraph in some clear way (must be in your own words—with NO source usage at all in the topic sentence. Source materials come after the topic sentence).
Specific example(s), facts(s), story(ies) that support your point—in your outline, you will not provide full sentences here. You will provide general concepts, points, and direction. You will have more time to locate sources as the writing process proceeds. Therefore, in the outline, simply indicate a point that will be made, provide an in-text citation if you have source material to support the point, and then move on to the next point for this topic in this body paragraph. When necessary, use properly cited quotes, paraphrases, or summaries. See the Hamburger Method handout for help structuring your body paragraphs properly with support, details, and analysis. You WILL use source materials here.
Your explanation and analysis of example(s) from the sources. After each developing point (above), you need to follow that point with a clear explanation and analysis of the point, the sources that supported that point, and how this adds to your overall argument. You will NOT use source materials here—use your own thoughts and terms for analysis.
Summative sentence—to tie the supporting points of the body paragraph back to the TOPIC (topic sentence) of the paragraph. You will NOT use source materials in any body paragraphs as part of the closing sentence.

*Remember to provide transitions for your reader within the paragraphs. See the handout on transitions.

Body Paragraph(s) Discussing Opposition (Not all papers will need to address opposition; however, academic writing typically brings with it opposing viewpoints on topics assigned. Opposing points could also be addressed before your supporting points paragraphs, if you so choose. There are other possibilities for organization, but it takes great care to make the flow of thoughts understandable to the reader, so we will just start with these.)

Topic sentence identifying opposing viewpoint—in your outline, be sure to write out a clear topic sentence so that I can fully understand what the point of the body paragraph will be. Each body paragraph will have a clear topic sentence as the first sentence of the paragraph, and this topic sentence should limit the content focus of the paragraph—meaning that the paragraph will focus on that topic and nothing more. You will NOT use source materials here.
Explanation as to why you disagree with the opposition—in an outline, simply provide general concepts. You do not have to write out full sentences since you will be writing out full sentences in your rough draft. You will NOT use source materials here.
Examples, facts, stories that support your reason for disagreement. Source usage allowed here.
Summative sentence—to tie the point of the body paragraph together. You will NOT use source materials in any body paragraphs as part of the closing sentence.