5. Writing body paragraphs
A well-organised body paragraph supports and develops the argument expressed in the topic sentence, which substantiates the thesis statement in the introduction. You will then need to elaborate on the argument with support from sources. The following is a possible way to organize the body paragraph.
|
Body
paragraph section |
Content |
|
Topic sentence Elaboration of the topic sentence Concluding
sentence |
Introduce the argument. Elaborate on the argument with support from sources. Round up the paragraph by echoing the topic sentence. |
Body paragraph example
The following is a body paragraph of the essay on new media. Notice the content of the different sections.
|
One argument in favour of new media is
that it has contributed to a more egalitarian society. Relatively easy access to a public platform
available to all has made it possible for many more members of society to
share their ideas and express their opinions (Jackson, 2017). Whereas only the views of powerful
stakeholders such as government and big business could be heard previously,
multiple perspectives on a multitude of issues are articulated today. Wong and Williamson (2018) argue that this
more diverse discussion has the potential to create a better-informed society
that understands the complexities of living in a world of competing interest
groups. Decisions at different levels
of society can then be made that represent a broader spectrum of the
population. Therefore, new media has the promising potential in achieving
social equality. |
Topic
sentence Elaboration of topic sentence with support from sources Concluding
sentence |
About this website
EWRite is an open access online literacy platform for PolyU community that has two major objectives:
- to support PolyU students’ literacy development within and across the disciplines
- to support subject and language teachers to implement system-level measures for integrating literacy-sensitive pedagogies across the university
This platform provides access to generic genre guides representing typical university assignments as well as links to subjects offered by faculties with specific disciplinary genres and relevant support materials.
The materials can be retrieved by students by choosing the genres that interest them on the landing page. Each set of materials includes a genre guide, genre video, and a genre checklist. The genre guide and video are to summarize the genres in two different ways (i.e. textual and dynamic) to fit different learning styles. The genre checklist is for students to self-regulate their writing process. The genre guide and checklist include links to various ELC resources that can provide further explanation to language items (e.g. hedging and academic vocabulary).
The platform also acts as a one-stop-shop for writing resources for students, language teachers and subject leaders. Information about the English Writing Requirement policy can also be found on this platform. There are training materials for new colleagues joining the EWR Liaison Team.
