The document provides guidance on writing body paragraphs for essays. It recommends including a topic sentence first to introduce the main idea of the paragraph. Next, a direct quote or paraphrase from the text should be included, along with an explanation of how it supports the topic sentence. The paragraph should conclude by connecting the quote back to the overall point. Direct quotes should always be introduced and followed by analysis relating them to the topic sentence.

1. Body paragraphs
What do I write and in what order

2. Do Now
• What is important to include after using
quotes in your essays?

3. Objective
• SWBAT practice text evidence integration and
elaboration in order to apply it to their
expository essays.

4. Important to Remember
After you have given the topic sentence and explained what you
will be writing about in your paragraph, you should use a
direct quote or paraphrase one that proves or illustrates what
you claimed in your topic sentence.
After the quote, show how it supports your point or idea; this
will be in your own words and will demonstrate the
connection between your idea and the quote you’ve used. It
will explain to the reader why you chose the quote and why it
is relevant to your main point.
The quote does not make your point for you. Do not end a
paragraph with a quote.

5. Topic Sentence, Quotation, Relevance
• O’Brien’s character in his novel, The Things They Carried, is
able to sort through his emotions by writing about what he
experienced in Vietnam.
• The method of story-telling is effective for him,
because “by telling stories, you objectify your own
experience. You separate it from yourself. You pin
down certain truths” (158).
• His stories thus become a type of therapy for him where
O’Brien can discover the lessons he learned without feeling
directly involved.

6. Follow this Order
1. Topic Sentence: General idea of what your
paragraph will be about (which text and human
struggle(s))
2. [Opinions]: More specific descriptions of what
your major thoughts are about the topic (text
explanation and human struggle connection)
3. *Accurate Analysis:* Direct quote to
prove/support earlier statements (cited in MLA!)
4. Interpretation: Explanation and clarification of
quote
5. Insight: Deeper meaning, final connection of
quote to main question

7. Unscramble the Parts of the Paragraph
• Harry proves this when he leaves the Dursley’s in the middle
of the night with Ron and his brothers. He knows that if he
stays, his future and his true friends will be in danger.
• He does not mean actual treasure, as in gold and jewels, but
he does make a valid point about the heart. Whatever the
heart desires, that will drive a person’s emotions and actions.
• Dumbledore says it best when he explains in Harry Potter and
the Deathly Hallows, “Where your treasure is, there will your
heart be also.”
• The heart is difficult to deny. If it feels strongly enough about
something, a little rebellion may be the key to personal
success and happiness.
• One theme from the Harry Potter series is that there are
appropriate and sometimes necessary times for rebellion.

8. It should look like this
One theme from Harry Potter is that there are
appropriate and sometimes necessary times for
rebellion. Harry proves this when he leaves the
Dursley’s in the middle of the night with Ron and his
brothers. He knows that if he stays, his future and his
true friends will be in danger. Dumbledore says it best
when he explains in Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart
be also.” He does not mean actual treasure, as in gold
and jewels, but he does make a valid point about the
heart. Whatever the heart desires, that will drive a
person’s emotions and actions. The heart is difficult to
deny. If it feels strongly enough about something, a
little rebellion may be the key to personal success and
happiness.

9. Now Practice in your own Essays!
• Look in your own rough drafts and annotate your
writing for the following:
– Topic Sentence Interpretation
– [Opinions] Insight
– *Accurate Analysis*
• Now go back and add any missing aspects to your
paragraphs to elongate them.
• Don’t have a rough draft with you? Start writing
one!

10. Always introduce your quote!
Examples:
• The author states that “…”
• This is seen in the following lines: “…”
• The story/poem reads “…”

11. Words to Use instead of “says”
• adds
• admits
• agrees
• argues
• asserts
• believes
• illustrates
• implies
• insists
• notes
• observes
• points out
• reasons
• says
• states
• suggests
• thinks
• writes
• claims
• comments
• compares
• demonstrates
• denies
• emphasizes

12. Exit Slip
• What are the 5 pieces your body paragraphs
should have? Place them in the proper order
• Also, write one possible topic sentence for one
of your body paragraphs.