About This Video
Choosing a topic, crafting an opening, and forming a thesis statement are key to clear writing. But that’s just the beginning. Your points need to be backed up with well-organized details in each paragraph. This helps show your readers that your work is trustworthy. Think of each paragraph in the body of your essay as a piece of a puzzle that talks about one part of your main topic. These paragraphs should back up your main idea and guide your readers to the next piece of information. Each paragraph in your essay should clearly show what you believe, just like your thesis statement does. They need enough facts and details to convince your readers that what you’re saying makes sense. The length of your paragraph matters too. If it’s too short, it won’t give enough information. But if it’s too long, the main idea might get lost in all the words. Think of it like a goldilocks situation; your paragraph should be just right. Students often want to know the exact number of sentences they should write in a paragraph. But really, it depends on what you’re talking about and how you’re explaining it. A good rule of thumb is to aim for 5 to 7 strong sentences or more in each paragraph. However, this can change depending on the subject. You’ll know you’ve got it right when your writing flows well, each paragraph zooms in on one clear idea, explains it fully, and is arranged in a way that highlights your thoughts. Your main aim is to keep your readers hooked and get your message across loud and clear. Here’s how you can craft compelling body paragraphs: 1. Structure your body paragraphs like mini-essays: Each should have a clear beginning (topic sentence), middle (supporting details), and end (concluding sentence). 2. Choose the best pattern of development: Depending on your content, decide whether to use narration, description, process analysis, comparison and contrast, or another organizational method that best conveys your message. 3. Link your sentences: Use repeated key words, pronouns, and transition words to weave your sentences together seamlessly within each paragraph. This approach will help ensure that each paragraph is strong, clear, and effective in supporting your overall argument or narrative.