Body Paragraphs

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Overview

Topic Listing

This paragraph serves two purposes: it gives you a chance to compose your thoughts on the work, and helps you practice writing concise body paragraphs -- the basic component of the essays you'll be writing later this semester. The paragraph should work as an independent body paragraph: think of it as part of a larger essay on a particular aspect of the literary work.

Remember that you will not be able to "say" all you want about the literary work in one paragraph: it is meant to provide practice in the art of narrowing down and discussing a single aspect of a work in detail.

When writing your paragraph, the most important things to remember is planning, drafting, revision, and proofreading; 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 it's short, you should have the time to complete them.

Specific instructions
 This assignment will consist of four distinct parts

  1. Choosing, planning and drafting a paragraph topic
  2. Getting feedback on your draft
  3. Revising and proofreading draft
  4. Submitting paragraph

See below for specific breakdown of each part.

  1. Choosing, planning and drafting a paragraph topic
    1. Select one topic sentence from list below.
    2. Even if you're comfortable with your composition skills, review the Body Paragraph Suggestions page for an idea of the level of writing expected in this class.
    3. Write out a works cited entry for your paragraph.
  2. Getting feedback on your draft
    1. Make an appointment with me at least one day before the final draft of the Body Paragraph is due to get ideas on revision.
    2. Make an appointment in the Writing Center at least one day before the final draft of the Body Paragraph is due to get additional ideas on revision.
  3. Revising and proofreading draft
    1. Using the feedback and suggestions from the course site, revise your paragraph.
  4. Submitting paragraph
    1. Copy and paste paragraph (including works cited entry/ies) into an email to me noting the paragraph number in the subject line. I will comment, grade, and send it back to you.

Topic Sentences for Body Paragraph

Below you'll find a listing of the body paragraphs. Due dates are listed in the syllabus

General Instructions
Copy and use one of the suggested sentences below as the first sentence (topic sentence) of a paragraph. Of course you'll be using quotes from the readings explaining in detail how they prove the argument you are making. Follow the links for suggestions on planning, drafting, and revising body paragraphs.

Body Paragraph #1 (choose one)
Hint: the narrower the term you use in the blank the better.

  1. The emptiness of mainstream religion is "Life" is also shown by ______.
  2. Another mechanism of oppression in "Life" is the press.
  3. The deleted paragraphs in "Life" suggest that middle class American in 1861 was ______.
  4. Becoming "respectable," according to Ragged Dick, entails dressing the part.
  5. ________ is another important part of attaining respectability in Ragged Dick.
  6. The lying and con men of the novel illustrates _______.
  7. The darkness of the Twain's view of man is also seen by/in ______.
  8. The _______ of the antebellum South is shown by ______.
  9. ____ suggests that Huckleberry Finn is/is not a racist novel.
  10. ______ is another way the novel rejects domesticity.
  11. ___ also separates/links Huck and con men such as the Duke and the Dauphin.

Body Paragraph #2 (choose one)

  1. ____ is another way the "Daisy Miller" illustrates the aesthetic movement of realism.
  2. The puritanical nature of Americans is seen in _____. ("Daisy Miller")
  3. _____ is another way Crane shows nature's indifference humans "The Open Boat."
  4. Religious belief is also challenged by ________. ("The Open Boat")
  5. The water imagery in The Awakening also suggests the theme of _______.
  6. Edna's ____ awakening is also illustrated by ______.
  7. ____ is another way the The Awakening illustrates the aesthetic movement of naturalism.
  8. _____ illustrates how late nineteenth American century culture opposed Edna's awakening.
  9. _______ is another way the narrator sympathizes with Edna's actions.
  10. _______ is another way the narrator criticizes Edna's actions.
  11. _______ is another way the narrator remains neutral regarding Edna's actions.

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© David Bordelon 2012