How to Write

a Good Body Paragraph

Developed for:
Miss Lawson’s Classes
Sullivan High School
 What is a Body Paragraph?
• A body paragraph presents the supporting
information for the thesis in an essay.
• A body paragraph can also be a stand alone
answer to an essay question on a test.
• A body paragraph consists of several types
of sentences: topic, support, elaboration,
elaboration detail, and concluding.
 What Do These Sentences Do?
• A Topic Sentence states what the paragraph
will be about.

For Example:
• There are many reasons why dogs make good pets.

• While there are thousands of varieties of trees to

choose from, there are three particular trees that
make great additions to most residential landscapes.
 What Do These Sentences Do?
• A Support Sentence gives more specific
information about the topic in general.
For Example:
• There are many reasons why dogs make good pets.
– One reason that canines are good companions is that they
are very entertaining.
• While there are thousands of varieties of trees to
choose from, there are three particular trees that
make great additions to most residential landscapes.
– One of the best trees to plant in a yard is the Sugar Maple,
a deciduous tree that often grows to be over fifty feet tall.
 What Do These Sentences Do?
• An Elaboration Sentence gives more specific
detail about a particular Support Sentence’s
topic.
For Example:
• There are many reasons why dogs make good pets.
– One reason that canines are good companions is that they
are very entertaining.
» Pooches bring joy and improved health to people’s
lives by performing lots of tricks or making people
laugh because of the bizarre things they do.
 What Do These Sentences Do?
• An Elaboration Sentence gives more specific
detail about a particular Support Sentence’s
topic.
For Example:
• While there are thousands of varieties of trees to choose from,
there are three particular trees that make great additions to
most residential landscapes.
– One of the best trees to plant in a yard is the Sugar Maple,
a deciduous tree that often grows to be over fifty feet tall.
» This long-lived tree is prized for its dense summer
foliage, strong branches, and attractive appearance.
 What Do These Sentences Do?
• An Elaboration Detail Sentence (or Secondary Support)
gives more specific detail about a particular Elaboration
Sentence’s topic.
For Example:
• There are many reasons why dogs make good pets.
– One reason that canines are good companions is that they are very
entertaining.
» Pooches bring joy and improved health to people’s lives by
performing lots of tricks or making people laugh because of
the bizarre things they do.
» In fact, their loving and funny companionship has been
proven to lower people’s blood pressure and help ease
depression.
 What Do These Sentences Do?
• An Elaboration Detail Sentence (or Secondary Support)
gives more specific detail about a particular Elaboration
Sentence’s topic.
For Example:
• While there are thousands of varieties of trees to choose from, there
are three particular trees that make great additions to most
residential landscapes.
– One of the best trees to plant in a yard is the Sugar Maple, a
deciduous tree that often grows to be over fifty feet tall.
» This long-lived tree is prized for its dense summer foliage,
attractive fall appearance, and strength..
» While this maple is most prized because it has stunning
bright orange-yellow leaves in the fall, its ability to
withstand high winds also makes it a great pick.
Do These Sentences Look Familiar?
• A Topic Sentence (TS) is something you’ve
probably dealt with since first grade.
• A Support Sentence (SS) should also be familiar. It
is also called a Concrete Detail or CD.
• An Elaboration Sentence (ES) is also one you’ve
used. It is also called a Commentary or CM.
• A Elaboration Detail Sentence (EDS) or Secondary
Support Sentence is also one you’ve written. It is
also called a Commentary on the Commentary or
CM/CM.
 In Other Words...
Color Schaeffer Term Common Term
Black Topic Sentence (TS) Topic Sentence (TS)

Blue Concrete Detail (CD) Support Sentence (SS)

Red Commentary (CM) Elaboration Sentence (ES)

Green Commentary on Elaboration Detail Sentence

Commentary (CM/CM) (EDS) or Secondary Support
Sentence

Black Concluding Sentence (CS) Concluding Sentence (CS)

 What Do These Sentences Do?
• A Concluding Sentence summarizes the
paragraph and often helps the reader move
smoothly to the next paragraph.
For Example:
• While there are many animals people can have as
pets, dogs are definitely one of the best companions
anyone can have.

• TS: There are many reasons why dogs make good

pets.
 What Do These Sentences Do?
• A Concluding Sentence summarizes the
paragraph and often helps the reader move
smoothly to the next paragraph
For Example:
• The Sugar Maple, Blue Spruce, and White Birch are
three excellent trees to add to most people’s yards.

• TS: While there are thousands of varieties of trees

to choose from, there are three particular trees that
make great additions to most residential landscapes.
 When these sentences
are arranged appropriately,
they will form
a well-written
body paragraph.
Typical Sentence Arrangement for a
Schaeffer or
Regular Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence
Support Sentence
Elaboration Sentence
Elaboration Detail Sentence
Support Sentence
Elaboration Sentence
Elaboration Detail Sentence
Support Sentence
Elaboration Sentence
Elaboration Detail Sentence
Concluding Sentence
 In Other Words...
A body paragraph starts with…

A Topic Sentence

Then often continues with…

three chunks
(which may each have a Support,
Elaboration, and
Elaboration Detail Sentence)
And ends with…
A Concluding Sentence
 But that is the
strict Schaeffer way…
We can get a
little different now...
We can write more mature
paragraphs with more
structural variety...
We Can…Get A Little Crazy...
1. Topic Sentence
2. Support Sentence
3. Elaboration Sentence 4. Elaboration Sentence
5. Elaboration Detail Sentence
6. Support Sentence
7. Elaboration Sentence
8. Elaboration Detail Sentence
9. Elaboration Detail Detail Sentence
10. Support Sentence
11. Elaboration Sentence 13. Elaboration Sentence
12. Elaboration Detail Sentence 14. Elaboration Detail Sentence
15. Concluding Sentence
 So…most body paragraphs...
• Have eleven sentences
– One topic sentence
– Nine or so sentences (three or so in each chunk)
– One concluding sentence
• A paragraph may have more sentences if more
details are given or if structural variations are
used.
• A paragraph might also have fewer sentences
depending on writing complexity.
 A Closer Look at Chunks
• Most body paragraphs have at least three chunks
(made up of a combination of a support sentence
and elaboration sentences and elaboration detail
sentences).
• All of the sentences in a chunk must relate to each
other.
• Elaborating sentences either give more specific
information about the support sentence or a
preceding elaboration.
 A Closer Look at Chunks
• Each chunk should start with a transition or
have one imbedded early on in the sentence.
• These transitions help the paragraph have
unity and a smooth flow.
• It is important to pick transitions carefully
and not repeat them in a way that makes the
paragraph sound awkward.
 A Closer Look at Chunks
In the paragraph about dogs making good pets, the
first chunk begins with a transition at the beginning of
the Support Sentence.
One reason that canines are good companions
is that they are very entertaining.
“One reason” is a transition which suggests that there
are more reasons to come and that this is the first of
several.
This chunk will explain how dogs are entertaining and
why being entertaining makes dogs good pets.
 A Closer Look at Chunks
The Support Sentence is followed by an Elaboration
Sentence which explains how dogs are entertaining
and how being entertaining makes dogs good pets.
Pooches bring joy and improved health to people’s
lives by performing lots of tricks or making people
laugh because of the bizarre things they do.

This sentence explains how they are entertaining and

the impact that has on people.
Bringing people joy and better health are a results
many people would appreciate in a good companion or
pet.
 A Closer Look at Chunks
The Elaboration Sentence is followed by an
Elaboration Detail Sentence which explains or gives
more detail about the Elaboration Sentence .
In fact, their loving and funny companionship
has been proven to lower people’s blood
pressure and help ease depression.
This means that by doing tricks or acting in a bizarre
way dogs are good companions because they bring
joy and better health.
 A Closer Look at A Complete Chunk
TS: There are many reasons why dogs make good pets.

First Chunk:
One reason that canines are good companions is that
they are very entertaining. Pooches bring joy and
improved health to people’s lives by performing lots
of tricks or making people laugh because of the
bizarre things they do. In fact, their loving and funny
companionship has been proven to lower people’s
blood pressure and help ease depression.

A second chunk explaining a second reason would follow

this.
 We could write a
second chunk like this:
Another valuable characteristic of a dog as a pet is its loyalty
to its humans. Dogs like German Shepherds and Labrador
Retrievers have been known to risk their lives to protect or
rescue their owners. In fact, in 1998 over 154 children in the
U.S. were saved from drowning by Labs or other dogs. Many
people also value their dog’s loyalty in sad and stressful times.
Dogs seem to be keenly attuned to their owners’ emotions and
are able to sense when something is wrong. When they get that
cue, they tend to stay close or try to lure their owners into a
game or maybe even a good belly rubbing session.
Thinking About Writing a Chunk
The second example we have used is about
selecting trees to put in residential yards.
The Concluding Sentence given as an example
includes the Blue Spruce as the second
suggested tree to plant.
How can you write a chunk about planting a
Blue Spruce? What is a Blue Spruce? Why is
it a good tree?
Thinking About Writing a Chunk
A Blue Spruce is:
An Evergreen
A light greenish blue in color
Slow growing
Uniformly pyramidal in shape
Very dense
Pretty
Attractive shelter for birds
Thinking About Writing a Chunk
Why would someone want to plant one?
Makes a good privacy screen
Does not lose its leaves in the fall
Will attract birds to a yard
Is a beautiful and different looking tree
Will take a long time before getting very
big
 Writing a Second Chunk
First you need to come up with another
transition.
Then you need to state your new idea and tie it
back to your Topic Sentence.
Now write your Support Sentence.
Another good tree to plant is the slow
growing evergreen known as the Blue Spruce.
 Writing a Second Chunk
Your Support Sentence is:
Another good tree to plant is the slow growing
evergreen known as the Blue Spruce.
Now you need to add detail about it in your Elaboration
Sentence.
Because this tree keeps its foliage all year, it makes a
good privacy screen and is attractive to birds for
shelter.
 Writing a Second Chunk
Your Elaboration Sentence is:
Because this tree keeps its foliage all year, it makes a
good privacy screen and is attractive to birds for shelter.
Now you need to add more detail about it for your
Elaboration Detail Sentence.
Many people plant this tree in a two-tiered row between
houses knowing that in years to come it will become a
live and environmentally friendly barrier.
 Here’s A Second Chunk
Another good tree to plant is the slow growing
evergreen known as the Blue Spruce. Because this
tree keeps its foliage all year, it makes a good privacy
screen and is attractive to birds for shelter. Many
people plant this tree in a two-tiered row between
houses knowing that in years to come it will become
a live and environmentally friendly barrier.
Is chunking starting to make sense?
 More Thoughts on Chunking
Have you noticed?
Some sentences have facts.
Some sentences have opinions.
These kinds of information can be put in different
locations.
Most of the sentences are not simple sentences.
High school students need to write mature sentences
with structural variety and detail.
Most sentences should have 12 – 25 words.
 More Thoughts on Chunking
Hopefully, these sentences are not repetitive.
Students should not repeat or rephrase things very
much.
If they do, their writing will become boring and
wordy.
Students should try to include as much valuable
information as they can in each sentence.
 Writing A Good Body
Paragraph...
Is not impossible…
Follow the suggestions…
Follow the format…
Research and plan…
Write multiple drafts…
Evaluate and improve your own work…
Turn in a clean, typed copy when finished…
HAPPY WRITING!!!