Body Paragraphs

Thesis Statement:  Your position and the essay’s controlling idea.  Needs to include a “because.”  For example, “Writing a persuasive essay is not very difficult, because the outline of the writing process is understandable.

Topic Sentence:  The controlling idea of a paragraph that supports the thesis statement.

Transition Word:  Starts the concrete detail sentence.  Include one of the following:  For example, For instance, In addition, Additionally.

Transition Lead In: A phrase used to start your concrete detail using a transition word. “For example, in her ground breaking book, Dr. Pen states...”

Concrete Detail:  A quote from the story that supports the thesis and the topic sentence

Commentary: Your explanation of how the concrete detail supports the topic sentence.

Closing Sentence: Closes the paragraph and transitions to the next paragraph. Includes one of the transition phrases: Given these points, as has been noted, for the most part, on the whole.

Ratio: 1 concrete detail to 2 commentary for expository and persuasive essays.