The ESOL Essayist- The Body of an Essay

What are Body Paragraphs?

The second part of the essay is called the body. In a five-paragraph essay, the body is made of 3 paragraphs. This is the main part of your essay.

Like the supporting detail sentences, these paragraphs provide the support to your introduction paragraph and to your thesis statement. They fill the essay with details and examples.

Let's look at our sample essay.

Let's look at our sample essay again. In order to understand the body of the essay, we first need to examine the introduction paragraph.

.....To become a successful writer, students should follow some important steps. Just attending the class is not enough. Learning to be a successful writer involves a lot of hard work. There is a need for a good background in grammar and vocabulary, skills in writing essays, skills in editing, and doing the homework.

There are three items listed in the thesis statement:
1) a good background in grammar and vocabulary,
2) skills in writing essays, and
3) skills in editing and doing the homework.

The body paragraphs are written in black. Since there are three items mentioned in the thesis statement there are three body paragraphs. Each of the body paragraphs explains one of the three topics mentioned in the thesis statement. Click here to view the body.

The body paragraphs should provide support to the introduction paragraph and to the thesis statement. Body paragraphs fill the essay with details and examples.

Are these good body paragraphs?

What does Sarah say?
1.Are these acceptable body paragraphs?

I think I did a good job with the body paragraphs. In my introduction paragraph I mentioned three things necessary to become a successful writer. Each body paragraph covers one of the things in the thesis.

Click here to view the body

What does Ms. Frescas say?
Click Next to find out.

What does Ms. Frescas say?
Are these acceptable body paragraphs?

introduction and the thesis. In her thesis, Sarah, mentioned three things: 1) a good background in grammar and vocabulary, 2) skills in writing essays, and 3) skills in editing and doing the homework. Each of these subtopics is covered in a body paragraph. The first body paragraph talks about a good background in grammar and vocabulary. The second body paragraph presents information on skills in writing essays. And, the third body paragraph deals with skills in editing and doing the homework.

Also, each body paragraph has a solid structure. Each paragraph has a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence. Sarah has done a good job with the body paragraphs.

Click here to view the body

Now, It's time to test yourself. Click here to begin. When you are finished, return here and click the "next" button to take a look at an example.

Your Turn
Now, it's your turn. You can download and print the "Your Turn" activities. There are three in this activity: Do it and self check and teacher check. Don't forget that you should be keeping all your "Your Turn" activities in your portfolio.