YOU MAY NOT PRINT DURING CLASS.
If you have been absent, check yesterday's blog regarding how to turn the quotation log into an introduction for your essay and work with your homework buddies to complete this task asap as the introduction, typed and double spaced is due today!!
Today: We will follow the example and checklist below to write our first body paragraph. The body paragraph is exactly the same as the paragraphs you wrote for the two stories studied this year with TWO exceptions:
1. Make sure to mention how these points prove your thesis.
2. End with a transitional sentence (after the conclusion) to link to your next set of points.
Length 300 to 500 words per paragraph.
See the example below:
WRITING
AN EFFECTIVE BODY PARAGRAPH (Double space)
Sample:
The Pigman by Paul Zindel
John
tries to hide his true, caring self behind an uncaring front. He
does not want to feel anything other than bitterness. However,
Lorraine reveals that “he pretends he [does not] care about
anything in the world” (Zindel 10), which proves that in fact he
does care. Because of John’s dispassionate convictions, he denies
these compassionate feelings, and cannot even admit to himself that
he is not the insensitive person that he pretends to be. Furthermore,
when Lorraine mentions that “he [is not] as insensitive to Homo
sapiens as he makes believe he is” (10), it becomes clear that
she can see through his façade. It is not until John meets the
Pigman that the better side of him begins to show through even more,
a true change from the beginning of the novel where he is still
firmly entrenched in his own apathy. The teen believes that if he
does not care about anything, he will be protected from all of the
hurt and pain in the world; it simply will not affect him. In fact,
the only emotion that John allows himself to feel is hatred—he says
that “most of the time [he hates] everything” (1), and this
revulsion is so great that John feels the need to mention it in the
first few sentences of the novel. Obviously, in John’s mind, he
thinks that his life and he himself are defined by contempt. This
troubled teen is proud of contempt. John hides his caring self due to
his upbringing. The lack of love in his life, which is shown when he
eats an uncomfortable dinner with his family, leaves his anger at his
parents as one of the only emotions that he experiences on a daily
basis. Luckily, John’s lack of positive emotions changes when he
meets Mr. Pignati, who offers him an outlet for the fun-spirited boy
that has been too scared to be revealed until now. John’s habit of
hiding his caring side has turned him into a “bathroom bomber”
proud of smoking and drinking, yet, inside, there hides a frightened
young man. Obviously, John’s colossal fear of feeling causes him to
conceal his genuine self and, consequently, he acts as detached from
the world as possible. (360 words)
Analysis
of a Body Paragraph
- The purpose of a body paragraph is __________________________________
- The first sentence or two of a body paragraph has two functions: 1. _________________________________ and 2. _________________________.
- Quotations in a body paragraph must be well integrated. To do so, the writer must ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Transition words and phrases are vital to the organization of a body paragraph. Why? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- The body paragraph conclusion must __________________________________________________________________ and it is not the last sentence in the paragraph because _____________________ _________________________________________________________________
- The last sentence of body paragraph ____ and body paragraph ____ is a __________________________ sentence: The purpose of which is _________________________________________________________________
- This body paragraph is 460 words in length, yet, it doesn’t seem too long. Why? ________________________________________________________________
- One way to ensure a good length is __________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
- It is never a good idea to re-tell the story in a body paragraph because ________ ________________________________________________________________
- Always explain the quotation or example thoroughly which means __________ ________________________________________________________________
A body
paragraph must also have style (word choice, verb choice, sentence
variety, varied sentence length, creative use of punctuation, proper
citing of quotations, all verbs in the present tense and no
contractions, plus it must sound like the writer is interested in the
topic, elevated diction, insight and interesting connections between
characters and events) What do you notice about the style of this
paragraph?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Body
Paragraph Checklist
- _____ The first sentence shows clearly how this paragraph will prove my thesis.
- _____ The first sentence is broad enough to cover all the points to follow.
- _____ Transitions are used between each new point.
- _____ The second last sentence concludes the paragraph and repeats the 1st sentence so that my reader knows I mean business! My thesis is king.
- _____ The last sentence is a transitional sentence that bridges body 1 to 2.
- _____ It is evident that I am proving my thesis because I refer to my thesis several times throughout the body paragraph so my readers have to agree with me.
- _____ I have thoughtfully chosen verbs which offer the right connotation. I don’t say reveals when I mean emphasizes. I don’t say shows when I mean explains.
- _____ I have varied my sentences and added punctuation with flair.
- _____ I have integrated my quotations with my opinions and I have explained each part of the quotation thoroughly. If I can’t, I only use a piece of a quote. I cite the quote properly and include the page number. Any words that I alter from the original appear in square brackets. [ ]
- _____ I use the present tense throughout and no contractions. I proofread it carefully.
- _____ I do not use the word THIS THAT as pronouns such as This shows …. or That means . . . or This explains . . . .
- _____ I do not use the expression I think that in a literary essay because all of these ideas are my thoughts so I can skip that phrase and start my sentence.
