Writing the Body of the General Paper Essay

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Chapter 3

• Writing the Body of the General Paper Essay

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Overview

• This chapter explains how to write the Body of a
  General Paper Essay.
• It covers the following areas
• The Topic sentence
• Evidence / examples
• Transitionary words
• The final slide of Chapter will allow you to link
  to Activity 2 where you will be trying your hand
  at writing Thesis Statements and Opening
  Statements.

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The Body of the Essay

• The Body of the essay fully develops the argument
  outlined in the Thesis Statement of the
  Introduction.
• The Body of the essay usually comprises 3-4
  paragraphs where you provide support for your
  thesis statement in the form of reasons,
  arguments, evidence, and so on.
• Each paragraph within the body of the essay
  elaborates on one major point of the overall
  argument.
• The most important point, or the strongest
  argument, comes in the first paragraph, and the
  rest of the points follow in order of importance.

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The Body of the Essay
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Paragraphs

•  Like an essay, a paragraph too has a beginning,
  a middle and an end.
• The beginning should include the topic sentence
  with only one main idea.
• The middle develops the idea in detail by giving
  specific support for it and discussing the
  controlling idea by providing relevant supporting
  details and examples.
•  The end shows the connection between the
  information discussed in the paragraph to the
  question.

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The beginning of the paragraphThe Topic
Sentence

• Each paragraph should begin with a topic
  sentence.
• The topic sentence shows clearly the main point
  / argument you are trying to make in the
  paragraph.
• Its like a mini-thesis statement and is usually
  the first sentence of the paragraph.
• This topic is then developed and supported with
  evidence.
• All information in the paragraph must be related
  to the Topic Sentence.

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Why a Topic Sentence?

• A reader should be able to get a good idea of the
  essays argument just by scanning the topic
  sentence(s) of the paragraphs.
• Reading the topic sentences is one way of
  checking that all paragraphs relate to the Thesis
  Statement and ensuring that the essay is not out
  of point

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The Middle Part of a paragraphThe Supporting
sentences

• The supporting sentences make up the middle part
  / body of the paragraph.
• Supporting sentences consist of more specific
  information that shows, explains, or proves the
  main idea in the topic sentence.
• This may be in the form of examples, facts,
  opinions and evidence.
• The information in the supporting sentences must
  be linked to the main point or the topic
  sentence.

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The Paragraphs in the Body of the Essay
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Example 1Title Meaningful social interaction
can only be achieved face-to-face. How far do
you agree?The Introduction

• Thesis statement
• Meaningful social interaction can only be
  achieved face-to-face amongst the deaf community
  and when the parties involved in a conversation
  or negotiation are doubtful about the sincerity
  of the other party however, under normal
  circumstances, when companies place orders for
  goods and when friends pass on news to one
  another, face-to-face communication is not a
  necessity.

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Example 1Title Meaningful social interaction
can only be achieved face-to-face. How far do
you agree?The Body

• Topic sentences
• The deaf community use either hand signs or they
  lip read and meaningful social interaction can
  only occur when they look at one another......
• When leaders of countries meet to discuss an
  issue, only face-to-face negotiation is
  meaningful there is always a need to read into
  the facial expressions and the body language of
  the other parties
• However, a simple e-mail to order goods is
  suffice It would be a complete waste of time to
  meet the customer face-to-face for simple
  transactions which can be done by a click of the
  mouse .
• Keeping in touch with friends via facebook or
  twitter makes life so much easier and more
  convenient and allows us to update one another or
  unload our problems Can log on when free and
  keep in touch with friends without the
  inconvenience of travelling miles to meet.

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Example 2Tittle Assess the advantages and
disadvantages of hydroelectric power
generationIntroduction

• Opening Statement
• Hydropower is the most important and widely-used
  renewable source of energy. It represents 20 of
  total electricity production, so there is no
  doubt that it has more advantages than
  disadvantages.
• Thesis Statement
• Hydroelectric power is renewable, reliable,
  environment friendly, cheap and easily available
  however, it cannot be denied that it involves a
  high initial investment and that its construction
  may adversely affect nature and humans .

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Example 2Assess the advantages disadvantages
of hydroelectric power generation The Body

• Advantages
• Topic Sentence Supporting ideas
• Hydroelectric power is a renewable form of energy
  with relatively low operations and maintenance
  costs Does not rely upon resources like natural
  gas or coal to generate power rainfall renews
  the water in the reservoir, so the fuel is almost
  always there doesn't require much man-power once
  station is running.
• It is a permanent and reliable source of energy
  Fossil fuel prices can go up or down. Electricity
  cost here not related to oil price water to run
  the power plant is provided free by nature. Three
  Gorges Dam provides for about 10 of local needs.
• It is environment friendly and causes minimal
  pollution Plays a major role in reducing
  greenhouse gas emissions.
• This technology is reliable and proven over time.
  Hydroelectric stations can operate for many years
  after they are built. Some hydro stations were
  constructed fifty to one-hundred years ago in
  contrast to this, the "design life" of nuclear
  power plants is generally thirty to forty years.
  Hoover Dam , Colarado River, USA was built in
  1936.

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Example 2Assess the advantages disadvantages
of hydroelectric power generation The Body

• Disadvantages
• A high initial investment is needed Three
  Gorges cost USD26 billion (2008)
• Construction may involve inundation of land and
  wildlife habitat and loss or modification of
  fish habitat.- Itaipu Dam required rerouting of
  the Parana River in Brazil.
• In some cases, local populations are displaced
  Three Gorges Dam in China, Bakun Dam in Malaysia.

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Number of paragraphs in the Body

• The number of paragraphs in the Body of a essay
  will vary.
• We normally write an essay with 3-4 paragraphs in
  the Body.
• However, when the question requires a short
  discussion of several points, or where your
  thesis statement shows you will be covering
  several points, you may need to write several
  shorter paragraphs in the essay.
• Example 2 is obviously an example of an essay
  which comprises more than 3 paragraphs.

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Transitional words and phrases

• Transitional words and phrases can create
  powerful links between ideas in your essay and
  can help your reader understand the logic of your
  essay.
• However, these words have different meanings and
  connotations.
• Before using a particular transitional word, be
  sure you understand its meaning and usage
  completely and be sure that it's the right match
  for the logic in your paper.

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Transitionary Words

• Throughout the entire essay, it is essential to
  make sure that there is smooth transition in the
  following 2 cases
• Smooth transition from one sentence to another
• and
• Smooth transition from one paragraph to another.
• Look at the youtube video on transitionary words
  after you finish these slides.

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Transitionary Words

• The following are some useful transitionary
  words. Make sure you understand them fully before
  using them.
• Time related to begin with, next, first, then,
  after.
• Comparison and contrast in the same way,
  similarly, likewise, nevertheless, however, on
  the contrary, on the other hand.
• Cause and effect therefore, accordingly, thus,
  hence, as a result .
• Order related for one thing, in addition, most
  importantly

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The End of a Paragraph

• The end of a paragraph in the Body of the essay
  shows the connection between the information
  discussed in the paragraph to the question.
• It is always important to link what you have
  included in the paragraph to the topic sentence
  or to the essay question.
• In some paragraphs, your examples and supporting
  ideas are automatically linked to the Topic
  Sentence.
• The next slide takes one paragraph from an essay
  to illustrate this point.

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Example Title Assess the advantages
disadvantages of hydroelectric power generation

• Topic Sentence A hydroelectric power generation
  plant requires a high initial investment .
• Supporting ideas Building a dam for hydro
  electric power generation is costly enough but as
  it also involves relocation of people living in
  the area. Therefore, the initial sum required is
  massive.
• The link back The Three Gorges cost USD26
  billion and that was because it was built in
  2008. It would cost much more if built today!

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Activity for Chapter 3

• Please go to Activity 5 where you can try your
  hand at preparing Topic Sentences and supporting
  evidence.