{"id":7038,"date":"2018-11-06T12:00:52","date_gmt":"2018-11-06T20:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.essaypop.com\/?p=7038"},"modified":"2020-07-11T14:35:12","modified_gmt":"2020-07-11T21:35:12","slug":"body-paragraphs-the-meat-and-potatoes-of-the-essay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.essaypop.com\/style-guide\/body-paragraphs-the-meat-and-potatoes-of-the-essay","title":{"rendered":"Body Paragraphs \u2013 The Meat and Potatoes of the Essay"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Analogy time — If the introduction is the appetizer and the conclusion is dessert, then the body paragraph is the main dish; they\u2019re sort of the meat and potatoes of your essay. Body paragraphs are where you go into detail and flesh out big ideas that you presented in your POPs during your essay\u2019s introduction. They are where you introduce research and proof and sometimes the perspectives of others. They are where you actually interpret information for your reader, explain and prove things, and provide commentary and insight. For this reason body paragraphs are generally the longest paragraphs in your essay. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Remember, you promised your reader that you would talk about certain ideas in a specific order in your thesis statement and in your POPs. \u00a0In your body paragraphs you are making good on that promise. <\/span><\/p>\n Just as with the introductory paragraph, essaypop is set up so that the writer composes all of the important elements of each body paragraph (the bridges, research details interpretations, counterarguments, rebuttals and closers) into separate writing fields or boxes. With the essaypop app, the writer, at the push of a button, converts everything that\u2019s been written in these boxes into automatically-stitched-together body paragraphs that are formatted in accordance with MLA guidelines. <\/span><\/p>\n Of course, it is the writer\u2019s responsibility to make sure that the text within each box make sense and flow into the text in the adjacent box, and like any important skill worth mastering, creating this flow takes time and practice to perfect, but it will begin to happen more easily the more the writer uses the essaypop system. Our built-in transitional words and phrases known as sentence blasters will also help a great deal with this. \u00a0There are numerous ways that you can assemble and organize body paragraphs and we\u2019ll provide you with plenty of models to learn from and emulate. <\/span><\/p>\n While there are just six elements to any body paragraph in the essaypop system (bridges, research details interpretations, counterarguments, rebuttals and closers), there are an unlimited variety of ways the writer can arrange and rearrange these elements to create different kinds of body paragraphs. <\/span><\/p>\n With the app, the <\/span>action icon<\/b> which is located in the upper right corner of each writing frame, allows the writer to drop any element into the paragraph simply by selecting it. The element, whether it be a research detail or interpretation or something else, will immediately show up just below the frame you are currently working on. The writer can also easily rearrange these elements by dragging and dropping them into new locations within the paragraph. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So, depending on the purpose of your writing, with essaypop you can create an infinite combination of body paragraph types that analyze, explain, interpret and argue in any way you please. <\/span><\/p>\n Essaypop allows you to say whatever you want, while at the same time requiring you to express yourself within certain, coherent structures. We call these structures <\/span>templates<\/b>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The fact is, we all use forms, templates and structures when we create things. House builders, architects and engineers obviously do. \u00a0Think about William Shakespeare; his great sonnets were written within the confines of a <\/span>very<\/b> specific structure, and yet they are celebrated as some of the greatest and most creative works ever written. Or take the great jazzman, John Coltrane who is celebrated for his stream-of-consciousness improvisation; it is well known that beneath these wild solos lie very traditional melody and chord structures that have been around for ages.<\/span><\/p>\n Templates like the writing frames used with essaypop can be used in any way the writer pleases. The boxes don\u2019t dictate <\/span>what<\/b> you will say, they merely guide you towards <\/span>where <\/b>and<\/span> when<\/b> you will say it. With practice, you will find that the writing fields are not limiting at all. And you\u2019re going to to be very impressed with how organized, structured and coherent your essays are. Your teachers are going to be impressed too.<\/span><\/p>\n Many people are intimidated by the prospect of writing body paragraphs. They know that these paragraphs are long and have a lot of elements like quotes, facts, commentary, argument and counterargument. And while we understand that some more inexperienced essayists might share some of these fears, we also contend that body paragraphs are actually very simple structures. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n During a body paragraph, the writer basically introduces some information in the form of a quote or a statistic or an example or an argument, and then she says something original or interesting about that information. Finally she sums up her thoughts for the reader. That\u2019s essentially it. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s the basic body paragraph formula: or: The Basic Research Block (BRB) is the simplest kind of body paragraph there is. The <\/span>bridge<\/span> announces that some information is coming up, and reminds the reader about the POP, or point of paragraph, that was mentioned in the introduction. The<\/span>\u00a0research detail <\/span>presents some actual \u00a0proof or information that supports the POP.\u00a0 The <\/span>i<\/span>nterpretation <\/span><\/span>\u00a0comments about or explains the information presented. Finally, the <\/span>closer<\/span>, sums things up. <\/span><\/p>\n In her poem, \u201cMoon Tiger”, Denise Levertov provides the reader with some some very interesting clues as to the true and literal identity of the work\u2019s creeping tiger. <\/span>Consider the following \u00a0lines from the poem: “Look. Its white stripes\/ In the light that slid\/Through the jalousies”.<\/span> Levertov is inviting us to pay close attention to a very specific clue: the white stripes coming through the room\u2019s blinds. \u00a0It is a physical fact that moonlight becomes separated into lines that are projected onto the floor when they pass through louvered blinds (jalousies in this case). \u00a0The speaker in the poem seems to be a child who observes these lines of moonlight slowly travelling across her room; she imagines that they are the stripes of a tiger “prowling sleekly” across the room. \u00a0\u00a0Everything else in the poem, the small head, the large feet, the prowling , the sniffing, is all imagined by the child. The moon “tiger” is, very simply, the creation of a child’s overactive imagination and nothing else.<\/span> It’s amazing how poet’s often hide that which is obvious in plain sight, but few people seem to notice.<\/span><\/p>\n This paragraph, which is probably part of a three or four-paragraph essay, is short and simple, but it does the job. \u00a0It introduces a few lines of poetry, explains and interprets them, then sums things up. It is focused and doesn\u2019t drift off. It is a basic research block — [<\/span>B<\/span> + <\/span>RD<\/span> + <\/span>INT<\/span> + <\/span>C <\/span>] — and qualifies as a simple and coherent body paragraph. <\/span>If you can, as a developing writer, master the basic research block first, then move on to more complex paragraphs.<\/span><\/p>\n Of course this basic formula can and should be expanded upon. A writer who wishes to explain more might elect to add additional interpretations to the research block using the action icon that is located in the upper-right corner of each writing frame. The writer might decide to add additional research details or bridges or interpretations, and this, of course, will lengthen and add heft and complexity to the paragraph. <\/span><\/p>\n There are literally endless combinations the essayist can employ to create a range of very simple to very complex body paragraphs. Using the flexible writing frames, you can add and delete paragraph elements as often as you please for a variety of purposes and effects. And, don\u2019t worry, we give you plenty of models and examples to look at. Soon, with a little practice, you will become a proficient and more confident composer of body paragraphs. You will become an essayist.<\/span><\/p>\n There really are no rules that determine how many body paragraphs your essay can have. The classic essay is the 5-paragraph variety which consists of an introduction, three body paragraphs and a conclusion. A lot of teachers like to assign the five paragraph essay, probably because it\u2019s substantial enough to force the student to do a lot of research and express themselves thoroughly, but not so long that it becomes a grading nightmare. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Keep in mind that all essays automatically feature two paragraphs, the <\/span>introduction<\/b> and the <\/span>conclusion<\/b>. The number of body paragraphs you include will determine the rest of the essays length. So, a quick and simple short-response paper can be a mere three paragraphs in length (intro + 1 body paragraph + conclusion), while an extended research paper that you work on for three weeks might end up being 10 paragraphs long (intro + 8 body paragraphs + conclusion). In sum, the number of body paragraphs you include in your essay depends on the purpose and scope of your writing.<\/span><\/p>\n The short and frustrating answer is, it depends. We understand that teachers often require you to write a certain number of pages or words when they assign essays, and that this puts pressure on students to elaborate and come up with lots of things to say. So, how do you make sure that you are writing enough? \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The length of the essay will depend, obviously, on how many body paragraphs you include, and it will also be influenced by how much you say in each of the writing fields. If you write a quick essay with a short introduction, a couple of basic research blocks and a concise conclusion, your essay might end up being a page or two in MLA format (double-spaced, 12-point, Times New Roman font). \u00a0If, however, your bridges are fleshed out, your research details are thorough, and you add a few interpretations and\/or research blocks, or perhaps a counter-argument and a few rebuttals, your essay is going to grow into multiple pages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Essaypop will provide you with a suggested number of sentences to write for each writing frame which, hopefully, coax you to write a little more than you might otherwise write. If you follow these guidelines, you can expect to achieve about two or two and a half pages in a four paragraph essay (about 600-750 words). A five paragraph essay will net you about 3 to four pages (900-1200 words). <\/span><\/p>\n The writing fields or boxes for each body paragraph are written and stitched together in the following order:<\/span><\/p>\n Bridges, as the name implies, connect different parts of your essay to one another. Bridges create a sense of coherence and flow within your essay. Without them, the different elements and ideas within your writing would smash into each other and the effect would be jarring and unpleasant. A bridge can connect a paragraph to another paragraph or it can connect different ideas within the same paragraph together. One major job of the bridge is to transition or lead into research details (RDs) which are quotes, evidence, statistics, proof, or any other text evidence you will be using to demonstrate something or make a point. <\/span><\/p>\n Typically, the first bridge of each body paragraph recalls or echoes the related POP from the introduction. This helps keep the essay organized and reminds the reader where you are in your ideas. Shorter body paragraphs might have a single bridge at the beginning. More extensive body paragraphs will typically feature several bridges, some longer and some shorter, depending on how often you use research details and other paragraph elements. <\/span>For ease of identification, the bridges will always be highlighted in <\/span>light blue<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n The research detail is any kind of evidence or example the writer uses use to make a point or to provide an example to support his or her thesis. The RD can be directly quoted or paraphrased, and always needs to be properly cited. <\/span><\/p>\n The RD can be a statistic, a quote from a piece of literature or an important scientific fact. It can be the results found in a survey, an anecdote, a line from a poem or any other form of evidence. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Simply put, an RD provides proof for an assertion you are making; it is the \u201ctext\u201d in a text-based argument.<\/span> EssayPOP provides you with an impressive bundle of sentence starters to begin your research details. <\/span>For ease of identification, RDs will always be highlighted in <\/span>light green<\/span>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The interpretation (INT) portion of the body paragraph is where <\/span>you<\/b> make sense of the research detail in your own words. It might include commentary and insight about a topic or analysis of some evidence you have presented. During your interpretation, things are explained to the reader by you. This element is important because it is what makes the essay <\/span>yours<\/b>; it brings your voice into the paper. \u00a0Sure, you\u2019ll be quoting other people and bringing up ideas that you didn\u2019t invent in your research details, but the way in which you explain and interpret these quotes and ideas is what makes the essay your own, original intellectual property. Essaypop provides you with an impressive assortment of sentence starters to begin your interpretations. <\/span>For ease of identification, interpretations will always be highlighted in <\/span>light purple<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Once you have completed all the parts that make up your body paragraph, it is essential to wrap it up nicely at the end. You want don\u2019t want to \u00a0leave your reader wondering if you\u2019ve finished your thoughts. That would be rude. We call this summary sentence at the end \u201cthe closer\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n The closer is a single sentence or two at the end that<\/span> often begins with a phrase like “So, as you can see” or “It should now be clear\u201d\ufffc. (We\u2019ll provide you with a ton of closer starters that you can choose from). The closer does two principal things – It summarizes very quickly what you have discussed in the body paragraph and it acts as a signal that you are concluding your thoughts in one paragraph and that you’re ready to transition to another.<\/span> \u00a0Simply stated, the closer makes the paragraph feel finished. <\/span>For ease of identification, closers will always be highlighted in <\/span>light yellow<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Type of essay: \u00a0<\/b>response to literature Template Formula: <\/b>\u00a0<\/span>B<\/span> +<\/span> RD<\/span> + \u00a0<\/span>INT<\/span> + <\/span>C<\/span>] In her poem, \u201cMoon Tiger”, Denise Levertov provides the reader with some some very interesting clues as to the true and literal identity of the work\u2019s creeping tiger.<\/span> Consider the following \u00a0lines from the poem: “Look. Its white stripes\/ In the light that slid\/Through the jalousies”.<\/span> Levertov is inviting us to pay close attention to a very specific clue: the white stripes coming through the room\u2019s blinds. \u00a0It is a physical fact that moonlight becomes separated into lines that are projected onto the floor when they pass through louvered blinds (jalousies in this case). The speaker in the poem seems to be a child who observes these lines of moonlight slowly travelling across her room; she imagines that they are the stripes of a tiger “prowling sleekly” across the room. Everything else in the poem, the small head, the large feet, the prowling , the sniffing, is all imagined by the child. The moon “tiger” is, very simply, the creation of a child’s overactive imagination and nothing else. <\/span>It’s amazing how poet’s often hide that which is obvious in plain sight, but few people seem to notice.<\/span><\/p>\n Type of essay: \u00a0<\/b>research\/expository Template Formula: <\/b>\u00a0<\/span>B<\/span> + <\/span>RD<\/span> + \u00a0<\/span>INT<\/span> + <\/span>C<\/span>] There are, of course, a number of different rattlesnake characteristics that are repulsive to people. We’ve examined \u00a0the scaly body, the triangular head, and the ominous sound of the rattle itself. But, it is the toxic venom that, for good reason, causes the most anxiety among most people. The fear is certainly justified, as \u00a0rattlesnake venom is shockingly powerful stuff.<\/span> <\/span>According to Toxicologist, Dr. David Thoms of Northern Arizona University, \u201cSymptoms of a rattlesnake bite include temporary and\/or permanent tissue and muscle damage, loss of an extremity depending on the location of the bite, internal bleeding, and extreme pain around the injection area\u201d. (116)<\/span> Dr. Thoms evidence clearly shows the devastating toxicity of rattlesnake venom. \u00a0The idea that one might experience permanent damage, loss of feeling or even painful internal bleeding is indeed a frightening prospect. \u00a0And when you take a moment to imagine your own body succumbing to the poison and potentially failing altogether, it is a very sobering thought. <\/span>It\u2019s all about the boxes<\/span><\/h3>\n
Won\u2019t these writing fields \u201cbox\u201d me in?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Why use templates?<\/span><\/h3>\n
The Most Elementary Template \/ The Basic Research Block <\/span><\/h2>\n
\n<\/span>\u00a0Bridge<\/span><\/span> + <\/span>Research Detail<\/span> +<\/span> Interpretation<\/span> + <\/span>Closer<\/span> = <\/span>Basic Research Block<\/b><\/p>\n
\n<\/span>[<\/span>B<\/span> + <\/span>RD<\/span> + <\/span>INT<\/span> + <\/span>C <\/span>= [<\/span>BRB<\/b>] \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHere\u2019s an example of a simple body paragraph that consists of a basic research block:<\/span><\/h4>\n
How many body paragraphs am I allowed to have?<\/span><\/h3>\n
How long should my essay be? \u00a0How many pages?<\/span><\/h3>\n
The Four Elements of a Body Paragraph – Let\u2019s Take a Closer Look<\/span><\/h3>\n
The Bridge (B) <\/span><\/h3>\n
Research Details (RDs)<\/span><\/h3>\n
Interpretations (INTs) <\/span><\/h3>\n
The Closer (C)<\/span><\/h3>\n
The Body Paragraph Models<\/span><\/h2>\n
Simple Body Paragraphs based on the basic research block (BRB) <\/span><\/h3>\n
Remember, a basic research block is the simplest and most elemental type of body paragraph. \u00a0You should master the BRB first, and then move onto more complex paragraphs.<\/span><\/h4>\n
\nModel 1<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n<\/span>The prompt:<\/b> \u00a0In a concise, multiple-paragraph-essay, discuss and analyze the literal and figurative imagery used in Denise Levertov\u2019s poem, \u201cMoon Tiger\u201d.
\n<\/span>The Pop: \u00a0<\/b>The stripes on the floor are moonlight coming through the blinds as seen from the point of view of a child. <\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span>Word count: <\/b>\u00a0188<\/span><\/p>\nNotes<\/span><\/h4>\n
\n
\nModel 2<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n<\/span>The prompt:<\/b> \u00a0In class we have read a number of interesting articles about animals that use venom to hunt and\/or protect themselves. \u00a0In a concise, multiple-paragraph-essay, share some insights on one of the animals you read about. <\/span>
\n<\/b>The Pop: \u00a0<\/b>Rattlesnake venom is extraordinarily toxic.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span>Word count: <\/b>\u00a0185<\/span><\/p>\n