Developing Body Paragraphs: Example #2
Step #1 -- Decide on the main idea for the paragraph.
The main idea for a paragraph is expressed in the "topic sentence," and this sentence is normally at the beginning of the paragraph (however, in certain cases, it might also be placed in the middle or even at the end of the paragraph). The main idea should provide the focus for the entire paragraph -- everything in the paragraph should clearly relate to and support the main idea (and, anything which is tangential to the main idea or completely different than the main idea should probably be moved to another paragraph.
Example: One thing I noticed about Annie Dillard's writing is that she is a keen observer of the small details in her life.
Example: Russell Baker has a very unique sense of humor.
Example: Some parts of Joan Didion's essay, "Salvador," reminded me of my trip to Costa Rica two years ago.
Example: Scott Russell Sanders often downplays the importance of women in everyday life.
Step #2 -- Gather "evidence" to support the main idea.
The "evidence" you will gather most often depends on the type of paper you are writing. For our third essay, you should probably begin to gather "evidence" by looking at the essays of the writer you have chosen to write about.
For the Annie Dillard example topic sentence above, I would return to her essays and look for examples of Dillard's notice of "small details in her life."
For the Russell Baker example topic sentence above, I would return to his essays and look for examples of what I consider to be examples of his "unique sense of humor."
For the Joan Didion example topic sentence above, I would return to her essay and look for those parts that reminded me of my own trip to that area of the world.
For the Scott Russell Sanders example topic sentence above, I would return to his essays and look for those parts where I felt that he "downplays the importance of women in everyday life."
When you pull examples from another writer's essays to include in your own essay, you need to decide how you will "re-present" another writer's words and/or ideas in your own essay. Your three choices include quotation, paraphrase, and summary. You will need to introduce each quotation, paraphrase, or summary in your essay with a signal phrase, and you will need to "end" each quotation, paraphrase, or summary in your essay with a parenthetical citation. (We will discuss these more in class.)
Other "evidence" you may need to gather for this essay might be personal experiences and/or first-hand observations you have made. Again, any personal experiences and/or observations you include in your essay should relate directly to each paragraph's topic sentence.
Step #3 -- "Dig deeper" into your main idea by asking the question, "So what?"
As I said in class, it is not enough in a college-level paper to develop a paragraph by stating the main idea and then giving "evidence" to support the main idea. You need to "tie" the two together by commenting on the "evidence" you include in your paragraph. In the case of a quotation, paraphrase, or summary, this might mean pointing out the significance of the writer's words and/or ideas (and, no, I do not mean that you should "repeat" what the quotation, paraphrase, or summary says. In other words, you need to explain to your reader how and why the examples are important to this writer, to you, and to the reader. The best way I know how to do this is by asking "so what?" throughout each paragraph:
For the Annie Dillard example topic sentence above, she is "a keen observer of the small details in her life." SO WHAT? Who cares? How is this important or significant? Why should the reader care? Why do I care? How do the examples I've offered show this?
For the Russell Baker example topic sentence above, he has "a unique sense of humor." SO WHAT? Who cares? How is this important or significant? Why should the reader care? Why do I care? How do the examples I've offered show this?
For the Joan Didion example topic sentence above, her trip to El Salvador "reminds me of my trip to Costa Rica two years ago." SO WHAT? Who cares? How is this important or significant? Why should the reader care? Why do I care? How do the examples I've offered show this?
For the Scott Russell Sanders example topic sentence above, he seems to often "downplay the importance of women in everyday life." SO WHAT? Who cares? How is this important or significant? Why should the reader care? Why do I care? How do the examples I've offered show this?
Step #4 -- Combine these three steps together as you compose your paragraph.
Even though the topic sentence usually comes first in the paragraph, you don't necessarily need to always give the examples next and end with the comments about the significance of the main idea. A better paragraph, a more sophisticated paragraph, will blend the examples and the comments about the significance of the main idea throughout the paragraph. Variety is important here; a reader will begin to notice if your paragraphs are all constructed the same way and follow the same form.
Additional Resource:
This website from the University of Wisconsin at Waukesha also gives steps and examples for "Developing Your Essay."