Features of Typical Academic Body Paragraph

Features of Typical Academic Body Paragraph

1. Paragraph Topic Sentence(s)—one single sentence isn’t enough—your goal is to create 3-4-5 sentences that set up ONE specific (right-sized) concept. You can explain/explore/define (but don’t use Dictionary)/discuss the concept. You must include Keyword/Keyword Phrases. These keywords are found in the questions you are being asked to answer. If your essay doesn’t have questions for you to answer, you’ll need to create your own keywords. You don’t want a quote to start—or end—your paragraph. You want your voice to come first and last in the paragraph. The focus of Topic Sentences is to set up the concept; explain what it is; how it works; describe what you mean when you say_______; explore its different attributes.

2. Support—The most common type of support is quotes, but you can bring in stats/data/graphs/pictures/photos/paraphrase/evidence/stories. Whatever you bring in, the goal here is for the support to make your paragraph’s concept be more persuasive, more clear, more “supported.” Quote length for a 5 page paper should be rather short, no more than a sentence or two.

3. Commentary—This is the part of the paragraph where you bring in your opinion/POV/analysis/response about 1 and 2 above—the concept and the support--you have already presented. Your goal is to create 3-4-5 sentences of commentary. Commentary is more about evaluating; judging; critiquing; assessing the value of ________; deciding how you feel about __________. Students sometimes don’t feel comfortable including their opinions, or may feel they don’t know what to say. Rest assured that we (college) DO want to know what you think, and that it doesn’t have to be the “world’s greatest insight” every time you offer a commentary. It is important, however, that all—or most—of your paragraphs include your opinions. If you aren’t sure what to say, you might consider using the following questions to help get your ideas flowing. There are other questions you can ask. These can serve as a start:

How does this make me feel?
What does this remind me of?

Why is this important or significant?  
Who or what is to blame here?

What is the problem here?   
What is the solution here?

What can we learn from this?
Why does this happen?

What can this be compared/contrasted to?
Why should anyone care about this?