Body Paragraphs
Submission | General info and Parts of a Paragraph | Sample Paragraph -- with Descriptive Breakdown | Suggested Steps to Write a Paragraph
These paragraphs serve two purposes: they give you a chance to compose your thoughts on the work, and they help you practice writing concise body paragraphs. Each of your paragraphs should work as an independent body paragraph: think of them as part of a larger essay on a particular aspect of the literary work.
That last sentence is so important it bears repeating: each body paragraph should be able to function as a body paragraph in an essay on the story/topic. Thus, you should think of the assignment as addressing two points – the larger point of the hypothetical essay, and the narrower point of your individual paragraph. If the point of your "essay" is that Sammy from "A&P" is a realistic hero, your paragraph should start with that basic premise, but then narrow it down to one specific aspect of the story – for instance, that he does not get the girls at the end – that proves your point. Example? How about Sammy is a realistic hero because his character is flawed. In this case, the hypothetical "essay" would argue that Sammy is a realistic hero, and the paragraph would prove that he is by showing how his character flaws make him one (a realistic hero, that is).
As you can see, these entries are designed to help you focus and develop specific, detailed responses to a topic, sharpening your thinking and writing abilities until your brain bleeds – failing that, they'll make you better person. More practically, this focus forces you to think critically about a particular work, coalescing those thoughts swirling around your head into a specific argument – which you form into a paragraph.
When writing your paragraphs, the most important things to remember are planning, drafting, and revision; in other words, the things you learned in your introductory writing course. Writing a good body paragraph will take more than one draft, but since they're short, you should have the time to complete them. For some ideas, see sample below.
Submission Requirements
Do not send as an attachment. Copy and paste your body paragraph with a works cited entry to dbordelon@ocean.edu.
Follow the directions below for more specific instructions on body paragraphs
Parts of a Body Paragraph
Incorporating Quotes
Three parts to setting up a quote
A&P Sammy is an everyday hero because his character is flawed. Writers often use character flaws – vanity, egoism, etc. – to make a particular character more realistic, more human. After all, few “real” people are without flaws and instead of making readers dislike the character, they can, if used artfully, generate a feeling of sympathy. Sammy is not perfect, nor does he pretend to be. Just like everyone else in the world, Sammy has his imperfections. This makes him a realistic hero because he is just that - real. For instance, consider his chauvinistic view of women. When he poses the question "You never know for sure how girls' minds work (do you really think it's a mind in there or just a little buzz like a bee in a glass jar?)" (15), it is clear that he is a person, like many other nineteen year old males, with a limited and stereotypical understanding of women. Even his descriptions of the girls, with their focus on the physical, illustrates his prejudiced views of women. One has "a broad soft-looking can" (15), and Queenie's chest is described as "the two smoothest scoops of vanilla [Sammy] has ever seen" (19). Instead of focusing on the girls as individuals, he divides them into parts: a "can," a chest. Yet these flaws do not negate his actions. He does, in fact, tell Lengel that what he did was wrong and that he "didn't have to embarrass them" (19). He is an ordinary boy with ordinary flaws, but he uses his courage to quit his job for the girls that got embarrassed. He would be considered a hero in everyday life. |
Paragraph above broken into parts
Topic sentence
Sammy is an everyday hero because his character is flawed.
Definition/explanation of topic sentence
Writers often use character flaws – vanity, egoism, etc. – to make a particular character more realistic, more human. After all, few “real” people are without flaws and instead of making readers dislike the character, they can, if used artfully, generate a feeling of sympathy. Sammy is not perfect, nor does he pretend to be. Just like everyone else in the world, Sammy has his imperfections. This makes him a realistic hero because he is just that - real.
Quotes – 3 part set up 1) introduction 2) quote 3) explanation
Introduction/context
For instance, consider his chauvinistic view of women. When he poses the question
Quote
"You never know for sure how girls' minds work (do you really think it's a mind in there or just a little buzz like a bee in a glass jar?)" (15),
Explanation
it is clear that he is a person, like many other nineteen year old males, with a limited and stereotypical understanding of women.
Introduction
Even his descriptions of the girls, with their focus on the physical, illustrates his prejudiced views of women.
Quote
One has "a broad soft-looking can" (15), and Queenie's chest is described as "the two smoothest scoops of vanilla [Sammy] has ever seen" (19).
Explanation
Instead of focusing on the girls as individuals, he divides them into parts: a "can," a chest. Yet these flaws do not negate his actions. He does, in fact, tell Lengel that what he did was wrong and that he "didn't have to embarrass them" (19).
Conclusion
He is an ordinary boy with ordinary flaws, but he uses his courage to quit his job for the girls that got embarrassed. He would be considered a hero in everyday life.
| Does this seem programmatic? It is. Most reasoned, academic writing follows particular formats. Your challenge is to take the form and make it sing. |