Developing the Body of a Paper

1. Developing the Body of a Paper

2. Thesis Statements • Thesis Statements should be ARGUMENTATIVE—not descriptive. • Can you imagine someone disagreeing with your position? • Thesis Statements should clearly asserts your own conclusion based on evidence. • It should be clear to us how your ideas differ or support the ones Feagin includes. Remember to use attributive tags to distinguish Feagin’s ideas from your own. • Thesis statements avoid vague language (like "it seems"). • Thesis statements should address both points of agreement and disagreement.

3. Sample Thesis Statement • While I agree with Feagin’s assertion that white people are unlikely to identify themselves as racist, I disagree with the idea that affirmative action is not supported by white people for this reason. • Feagin’s discussion on “Everyday Racism” supports experiences that I have had, but like the examples he mentioned, I never thought of them as important enough to be considered racist.

4. Body: Elements of a Paragraph • Unity • Single focus • Idea expressed in topic sentence should be only idea explored in paragraph. • Coherence • Coherence is the trait that makes the paragraph easily understandable to a reader. • A topic sentence • Indicates main idea • Can be placed anywhere, but best at beginning of paragraph

5. Body: Elements of a Paragraph, cont. • Adequate development • Topic should be discussed fully • Short paragraphs often indicate poorly developed ideas • Some methods to make sure your paragraph is well-developed: • Use examples and illustrations • Cite data (facts, statistics, evidence, details, and others) • Examine testimony (what other people say such as quotes and paraphrases) • Use an anecdote or story • Define terms in the paragraph • Analyze the topic • Describe the topic

6. Body: Constructing Paragraphs • A good paragraph should contain at least the following four elements: Transition, Topic sentence, specific Evidence and analysis, and a Brief wrap-up sentence– TTEB!

7. Transition Sentences • A Transition sentence leading in from a previous paragraph to assure smooth reading. This acts as a hand off from one idea to the next. • Creating Transition Sentences • Picking up key phrases from the previous paragraph • Making connections • Being specific

8. Examples of Transition Sentences • Previous paragraph: Amy Tan became a famous author after her novel, The Joy Luck Club, skyrocketed up the bestseller list. • Current transition/topic sentence: There are other things to note about Tan as well. Amy Tan also participates in the satirical garage band, the Rock Bottom Remainders, with Stephen King and Dave Barry. • Revision: Though her fiction is well known, her work with the satirical garage band, the Rock Bottom Remainders, receives far less publicity.

9. Practice • Previous paragraph: : Overall, Management Systems International has logged increased sales in every sector, leading to a significant rise in third-quarter profits. • Current transition/topic sentence: Another important thing to note is that the corporation had expanded its international influence. • Revision: ?

10. Topic Sentences • A Topic sentence tells the reader what you will be discussing in the paragraph. • Summary topic sentences • Should address main idea being expressed by author • Example: Feagin discusses the reasons why whites are reluctant to endorse affirmative action • Response topic sentences • I disagree with Feagin’s claim that lower class whites are more likely to be violent towards black people. • Summary response topic sentences • Should address Feagin’s perspective and your own • Example: Feagin asserts that many white people are unable to see themselves as racist because they’re less racist than their parents, and in my experience, that is true.

11. Evidence • Personal Story or example • Information from Feagin’s text • Outside sources

12. Brief Wrap-Up Sentences • The ending sentence in a paragraph or essay should summarize what has already been said. • The ending sentence should add ZING to the paragraph or essay.

13. Are you ready to choose the best wrap up sentence? Topic: My best holidaycelebration ever Details: • Christmas last year • Remote controlled car • Visit grandparents in Florida

14. As you can see, Christmas last year was my favorite holiday since I received a remote controlled car and visited my grandparents in sunny Florida. • As you can see, Christmas last year was my favorite holiday, because I had so much fun and got to play with all my stuff; and it was cool.

15. As you can see, Christmas last year was my favorite holiday since I received a remote controlled car, visited my grandparents in sunny Florida. • As you can see, Christmas last year was my favorite holiday, because I had so much fun and got to play with all my stuff; and it was cool.

16. Click the box to choose the best wrap up sentence! 5. Topic: Babysitting my little brother Details: • Sneaky • Picky eater • Whiney

17. I’m in double trouble when I have to babysit my little brother, because he is sneaky, a picky eater, and whines like a cat. • I hate babysitting my little brother because he is sneaky, a picky eater, and whines a lot.

18. I’m in double trouble when I have to babysit my little brother, because he is sneaky, a picky eater, and whines like a cat. • I hate babysitting my little brother because he is sneaky, a picky eater, and whines a lot.

19. Body: When to start a new paragraph? • When you begin a new idea or point. • Hint: If you use a transition word within the same paragraph (i.e. however), then you’ve probably moved on to a new idea. • When your readers need a pause. • Hint: Long paragraphs are difficult for readers to manage. • When you are ending your introduction or starting your conclusion. • Hint: In longer papers, your intro and/or conclusion may be many paragraphs long.