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Parts of the Paper

Writing the Body Paragraphs

After writing your introduction paragraph containing your thesis statements, you will develop body paragraphs to explain, describe, and argue the topics introduced. Each main idea introduced in your thesis will become a body paragraph.

  • All paragraphs should have a topic sentence related to your thesis statement.
  • Back up your topic sentence with examples or evidence that support your thesis.

Parts of the Paragraph

Topic Sentence

  • The topic sentence is usually the first sentence in a paragraph. It is introductory, meaning it should not include details; rather, it should introduce the main idea, which will be supported by the rest of your paragraph.
  • Begin each body paragraph with a clear topic sentence that relates directly back to one of the main ideas hinted at in your thesis.

Supporting Sentences

  • This is where the detailed sentences go to support the main idea in the topic sentence.

Transition Sentence

  • ​​​​​This is where the writer relates the ideas in the current paragraph to what is coming in the next.  Transition words like "next," "however," "first," "second," and "in addition" are helpful.
  • Paragraph hooks - finding a keyword or phrase in the current paragraph and "hooking" or linking it to a similar word or phrase in the next - can also be helpful. 

Example: Bicycle accidents cause over 7300 deaths due a lack of helmets in children. 

(new paragraph) Studies have found this lack of helmets also leads to increased risks of being in a bicycle accident when the child reaches adulthood.

Transition Sentences opens a new window

 

 

Paragraph Example

A good paragraph revolves around one central idea. The central idea is expressed in the topic sentence. The remaining sentences develop or expand on the central idea through examples and elaboration. In most writing, a paragraph includes a clincher sentence, to sum up the main idea of a transition sentence and move the reader to the next main idea, which will be developed in the next paragraph. 

Example:

If a business goal is to increase brand recognition, social media may be a useful marketing tool. For example, Old Spice launched a viral campaign, including videos on YouTube in response to followers' tweets on Twitter ("Old Spice Case Study," 2010). As a result, the Old Spice channel on YouTube was the most viewed among the sponsored channels (Ad Age, as cited in, "Old Spice Case Study," 2010) If the desired outcome was to increase the public's familiarity with the Old Spice brand name, and it's products, then the social media usage achieved that goal.