Writing Homework Help

Constructing Solid Body Paragraphs

Yum! Take a look at this great double cheeseburger from In N Out! What does it take to make it so tempting and delicious? Yes, the basic beef patties and the right extras that compliment and add flavor. Too little, blah! Too many, EEK!

A well supported body paragraph in an essay is just the same. Consider the following:

Bun: Topic sentence identifies topic This is a double cheeseburger. Main point of paragraph

Beef patty #1 First main point ( support cluster) Cheese: commentary on main point Onion: second commentary on main point. Enhances flavor of the cheese.

Beef patty #2 Second main point. Lettuce: commentary on that point. Tomato: second commentary on main point. Enhances flavor of lettuce

Bun: Concluding sentence. Holds paragraph together

Special sauce? That is your voice, your personality, your essence.

Of course, you can build your hamburger with as many patties you like!

Learning to construct solid body paragraphs is just like making a good double decker hamburger! A triple decker follows the same recipe. Experienced writers who have already mastered this are able to use the basics and weave main points and commentary together well and even get creative.

In English classes, without the hamburger, this body paragraph converts to:

Main Idea (topic sentence)

Support cluster #1 Primary support Secondary support Secondary support may add more)

Support cluster #2 Primary support Secondary support Secondary support.

Concluding sentence