[V5] P3: Essay - The body paragraphs

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

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Today

An argumentative essay - Part 2

The body paragraphs

The body paragraphs

Every argument that you are going to discuss will have its own body paragraph: 1 argument = 1 paragraph.

You leave a blank line between every body paragraph. You explain your argument and back it up with reasons and evidence.

Lay-out for the body paragraphs

Thesis

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are the best sandwiches because they are healthy (1), children will eat them without complaining (2) and they can easily be turned into a gourmet meal (3).

The 3 reasons that are given in the thesis statement will each have their own body paragraph. 

Paragraph 1 will be about how healthy peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are

paragraph 2 will describe how children will eat them without complaining 

the 3rd paragraph is about turning a peanut butter and jelly sandwich into a gourmet meal. 

Example of a body paragraph

Every restaurant should add peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to their menu, especially when they often serve children. Children usually choose unhealthy, fried foods but that is because there is no alternative that they like. Adding even a simple version of a peanut butter sandwich to any menu will allow children to eat something healthy without them complaining that they do not like the food. 

The hamburger model

• The first sentence of your body paragraph should be the idea that you want to develop within that same paragraph --> the topic sentence. 
  
• Use it as a guide in writing your succeeding sentences. 
  
• Avoid drifting away from your topic sentence, stick to the point. Make sure that you write only what needs to be written. 
  
• Avoid cluttering your sentences with unnecessary words and phrases and skip any irrelevant information. 
• The supporting sentences provide examples and/or evidence and provide specific information. 
• The conclusion sentence reinforces the claim made in the topic sentence.
  

Task #1

Useful words --> Transition words, a.k.a. linking words

Transition words - words like 'however' and 'in conclusion' - help you add a nice flow to your essay. They can link your paragraphs together

Fill in the blanks with one of the following options: personally, however, for example, besides this, first of all, on the other hand, at the moment, especially. 

Living in a small town has a number of advantages. _____ there is no pollution, the air is fresh and you can even grow your own vegetables. _____ there is peace and quiet, and less stress than in a big city. _____, there are several problems to take into consideration too, _____ if you have a family. If the town is too small and far from other cities, it might be hard to find health care and good schools. 

The city has its good points too. _____, there are more job opportunities, better schools and lots of entertainment in the city. _____, the bad points outnumber the good ones when you think in terms of the quality of life you have, in terms of your physical and mental health. _____, I think I would prefer to live in a nice little town on a beach, but that will have to wait until I retire. _____, I have an office job and a promising career ahead of me.

Task #2

Previous lesson: Think of a topic that you will use to practice writing an essay throughout this booklet and this period. Come up with a good thesis statement and write an introduction. Make sure to grab the reader’s attention and to end your introduction with your thesis statement. (Example topics: Human cloning, death penalty, violence in video games, School uniforms, Abortion, Euthanasia)

Today: 

Write a body paragraph to your introduction from our previous lesson.

If you have any questions and/or comments after today's lesson, please leave them here!