BODY What are some ways to write the body to a multi-paragraph essay?

I. Review Introduction Writing II. How to Write the BodyIII.Essay Writing: The Body (Compare and

Contrast Essay)

INTRODUCTION

Write a multi-paragraph essay comparing and contrasting the short story and narrative poems by Kelsey Frost.

Some day your brain may go haywire. Both short stories and narrative poetry can tell the same story but be very different. Frost uses both forms to write about her grandfather’s brain problems. Kelsey Frost uses two different forms, narrative poetry and short story, to tell about her coming to understand that her grandfather’s Alzheimer's will only worsen, and by using two different forms, she impacts her readers in different ways.

HOW TO WRITE THE BODY OF A MULTI-PARAGRAPH ESSAY

Step 1

Make the body long enough to cover the subject well. For a short essay, one paragraph may be sufficient. A standard essay or theme paper written for junior high or high school is to be five total paragraphs, having three supporting paragraphs in the body.

HOW TO WRITE AN ESSAY INTRODUCTION INSTRUCTIONS

Step 2 

Support the thesis statement made in the introduction with each body paragraph. Each paragraph is to provide supporting evidence and justification of the thesis statement. Use facts, evidence and examples. This generally takes up at least three sentences of the body paragraph.

HOW TO WRITE AN ESSAY INTRODUCTION INSTRUCTIONS

Step 3 

Write each paragraph as a stand-alone paragraph. This means that while the paragraph supports the thesis, also it is to be complete thought in and of itself. It is to be a sub-topic within the main topic.

HOW TO WRITE AN ESSAY INTRODUCTION INSTRUCTIONS

Step 4 

Begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence clearly stating what the paragraph will be about. Follow up with at least three sentences using evidence to support the topic sentence.

HOW TO WRITE AN ESSAY INTRODUCTION INSTRUCTIONS

Step 5  

Make each paragraph a sufficient length. Generally, each paragraph will have at least four sentences: one topic sentence and at least three supporting sentences. Make sure every word counts, however. If an essay needs extra words for length, it is probably not a relevant subject to write an essay on.

REVIEW

1. Make the body a long enough to cover the subject well.

2. Support the thesis statement made in the introduction with each body paragraph

3. Write each paragraph as a stand-alone paragraph.

4. Begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence clearly stating what the paragraph will be about.

5. Make each paragraph a sufficient length.

BODY (PARAGRAPH 1)

(Topic Sentence) Narrative poetry and the short story have many common factors. (Supporting detail 1) Both forms can be used to tell stories. (SD2/3) Both forms have a beginning, middle and an end, and both involve a conflict that moves the story forward. (SD4) For example, “Dis-ease,” the poem, and "Disease, Dis-Ease," the short story, were written about a trip where Frost learns that her grandfather’s Alzheimer’s will only grow worse. This is a very sad truth and it hurts Frost to learn it. (Concluding sentence) She gets this point across in both the short story and in the poem.

BODY (PARAGRAPH 1) MODEL

Narrative poetry and the short story have many common factors. Both forms can be used to tell stories. Both forms have a beginning, middle and an end, and both involve a conflict that moves the story forward. For example, “Dis-ease,” the poem, and "Disease, Dis-Ease," the short story, were written by Kelsey Frost about a trip where she learns that her grandfather’s Alzheimer’s will only grow worse. This is a very sad truth and it hurts Frost to learn it. She gets this point across in both the short story and in the poem.

BODY (PARAGRAPH 2) STUDENT WRITING

Using paragraph one as a model, focus in on how the narrative poem and short story are different.

Student writing:

CHECK LIST

1. Is the body a long enough to cover the subject well?

2. Is the thesis statement supported by the paragraphs?

3. Does the paragraph work as a stand-alone paragraph?

4. Does each body paragraph begin with a topic sentence clearly stating what the paragraph will be about?

5. Is the paragraph a sufficient length?

BODY (PARAGRAPH 2) MODEL

While both the short story and the poem followed the same narrative, they were different in several ways. In "Disease, Dis-Ease,” the short story, Frost used well developed details that gave the narrative a powerful emotional ending. By the end of the narrative, I really felt sadness for Frost and her grandfather. “Dis-ease” was a compact telling of the same story, but it used fewer details, similes and free verse. The poem was even more direct and impactful.