The Body Paragraph(s)

The core of the essay is the body paragraph(s). Body paragraphs usually explain and detail the information in the essay. As we have learnt during the first section of the semester one contents, the thesis statement is the most important section of the essay, yet it is not enough to elaborate what the essay contains. Often, we tend to include the major supporting ideas in the thesis, it makes it look even more specific, and that is what we are looking for in a thesis. We call that an overt thesis statement. The major supporting ideas in the thesis must be included in the body paragraphs, with more detail. Remember, they must all be mentioned and exactly as you organized them in the thesis. That is each of the paragraphs in the body must be connected to subtopics in your thesis statement.

 

Activity: Take a look at the following example.

Thesis Statement:

People can reduce the risk of heart- attack by exercising regularly, eating healthy food and not smoking.

Exercising regularly
 


PARAGRAPH – A

 

Eating healthy food
                                                                                                                                         

PARAGRAPH- B

 

Not smoking
                

PARAGRAPH- C  

 

              

   In this essay, the first body paragraph will explain how exercising regularly can reduce the risk of heart- attack. The second body paragraph will explain how eating healthy food can reduce the risk of heart- attack and the third body paragraph will explain how not smoking can reduce the risk of heart- attack. That is, all of these subtopics support the thesis statement.