BODY PARAGRAPHS

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BODY PARAGRAPHS

• REMEMBER
• 3 main body paragraphs
• 2 3 points/proofs/comments per paragraph
• save your strongest argument for the last
  paragraph

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Sample Essay Question and Thesis

• Essay Question Is Duddy Kravitz more of a
  victim or a villain in The Apprenticeship of
  Duddy Kravitz?
• Thesis Thus, Duddy Kravitz is more of a villain
  in The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz insofar
  as he negatively affects others physically,
  emotionally, and financially.

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TOPIC SENTENCE

• 1st sentence, begins with a transition word (e.g.
  Firstly)?
• Introduces focus, limits scope, and relates to
  thesis
• Shouldn't be too broad or too specific
• e.g. Firstly, Richler villainizes Duddy by
  showing the physical harm he inflicts on others.

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POINT

• - an idea that supports your topic sentence
• - again, use transition words to help your
  writing flow and move from one idea to the next
• - remember you need at least 2 points per
  paragraph

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POINT (cont'd)

• - IMPORTANT Make sure that you are not
  confusing a point with an example! A point is a
  little argument or idea that is supported by a
  specific example and quotation.
• e.g. To begin, Duddy's antics cause a loss of
  life in the text. For example, he is responsible
  for Jenny MacPherson's death.

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PROOF

• - a quotationan excerpt from the text (dialogue,
  stage direction, descriptive passage) that helps
  prove your point and, by extension, your thesis
• -must be incorporated smoothlylead-in to your
  quotation by briefly indicating who is speaking
  to whom, when, and where
• -you must include the correct page number (for
  novels) or (Act.scene.line) reference (for plays)
  at the end of your quotation

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PROOF (continued)?

• To begin, Duddy's antics cause a loss of life in
  the text. For example, he is responsible for
  Jenny MacPherson's death. When Mr. MacPherson
  returns to school following Jenny's death, he
  accuses Duddy of killing his wife. At first, he
  indirectly blames Duddy by asking him, It was
  you who phoned, wasn't it? (38). He then
  asserts Duddy's culpability by repeating, You
  killed my wife, Kravitz....You killed my wife
  (38).

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COMMENTS

• MOST IMPORTANT PART!!!
• At least 2 sentences per point
• Sentence(s) 1() links back to your
  pointexplains how your evidence proves the point
  that you are trying to make

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COMMENTS (continued)?

• Sentence(s) 2() links back to your topic
  sentence and thesisexplains how your evidence
  proves the argument that you are trying to make
• ...shows... ...illustrates... reveals...
• Target SPECIFIC DETAILS in the quotation! Don't
  be afraid of re-quoting important words in your
  explanation

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COMMENTS (continued)?

• These quotations show that Duddy is responsible
  for Jenny MacPherson's death. Mr. MacPherson is
  certain of Duddy's guilt, as evidenced by the way
  he assigns blame to him three times. His
  repetition of my wife twice helps to reinforce
  his sense of loss and, by extension, the
  nefarious character of the individual responsible
  for her death. It is clear that Duddy is a
  villain as he is responsible for the physical
  harm that ultimately costs the invalid Jenny her
  life.

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CONCLUDING SENTENCE

• - Transition In conclusion, Thus, Therefore
• - Sums up your paragraph's main ideabasically,
  your topic sentence reworded (Use a thesaurus!
  Don't cut and paste!)
• e.g. In conclusion, Richler portrays Duddy as
  villain by showing how he is responsible for
  physically harming other people.