DR. MAIER

Body Paragraphs: Lesson 1

Body Paragraph Structure: Outline

Topic SentenceNarrowed FocusLead-in to QuoteClose Reading of QuoteThorough Analysis of Instance, Quote, and

Thesis.

Topic Sentence

Definition: the first sentence in your body paragraph, should present your topic and an arguable claim about the topic. It should act as a presentation of argument, not a factual

statement. NOT ACCEPTABLE: “Justice and injustice are important

themes in the novel.” This is a statement of fact, not an arguable claim.

What It Is What It Is Not

Narrow topic (Specific)Arguable Claim

“Controversial”Addresses some larger

significancePithy/To The PointGood Example:

In The Ox-Bow Incident, Walter van Tilburg Clark uses the character Sparks to present a model for how to act justly in an unjust society.

A bland introductionA statement of summary

Do not tell the reader what they already know.

Assume they have read the book.

An obvious, flat claimBad Examples:

The Ox-Bow Incident is an important book.

Art Croft narrates the story from his point of view.

Topic Sentence

Parts 2-3

Provide a lead-in sentence to contextualize your quote. Do NOT go from the topic sentence to the quote without

setting up/providing background for the quote. This sentence may contain brief summary—but only what

is necessary to understand the quote. Punctuate your lead-in sentence with a colon (or a comma,

if someone is speaking—i.e. Croft says, “). Provide a direct quote:

Should be demarcated with quotation marks. MLA Format will be covered in the coming days.

Typical citation format for novels or short stories is the author’s last name and the page number in parentheses. Example: (Clark 100).

Using Quotes: Must be relevant for your argument. Use them as support for your central claim/argument. Know what they say: you will use the actual words

after the quote.

When speaking to Croft, Sparks reveals his simple and benevolent moral philosophy: “God is in us, Mistuh Croft … He wuhks th’ough us” (Clark 131). Red = Lead-in Sentence Green = Quote

Example

Parts 4-5

Transition to next instance/quote This step can be completed in 1-2 sentences. You may briefly analyze or explain the first quote, but you must

relate the quotes with these sentences. Provide the next quote

Follow the same punctuation and lead-in guidelines as the first one.Example:

After explaining how God works through each man via conscience, Sparks goes on to express his disappointment in Croft when Croft falsely claims his support for the lynching. Croft notices Sparks’ disappointment when he then mockingly calls him “sir”: “That ‘sir’ had the politeness of grievance. It annoyed me” (Clark 132). Blue = Transition Red = Lead-in Green = Quote

After explaining how God works through each man via conscience, Sparks goes on to express his disappointment in Croft when Croft falsely claims his support for the lynching. Croft notices Sparks’ disappointment when he then mockingly calls him “sir”: “That ‘sir’ had the politeness of grievance. It annoyed me” (Clark 132). Blue = Transition Red = Lead-in Green = Quote

Example

Parts 6-7Analysis

Immediately after the two quotes, analyze the quotes and situations for significance. Connect the actual words/events/ideas of the story to your argument. Explain the theme or deeper implications of the text. Explain why this theme is important beyond the novel. Why should

your reader care about what the book says about justice/injustice?

Prove Your Point Conclude the paragraph by clearly analyzing

the instance in conjunction with the claims you make in the topic sentence.

You must relate your analysis/explanation to the overall argument of the paper. Think, but do not write, “This matters because….”

or “This proves my argument because…”

SPARKS’ ARGUMENT AB OUT MAN’S CONNECTION TO GOD AND HIS IRRITATION AT CROFT ’S

NONCOMMITTAL CONSCIENCE INDICATE HIS ROLE AS THE SOUL OF THE NOVEL. HE F INDS GOD’S TRUTH TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN

THE FLAWED, PETTY A IMS OF THE POSSE (AND SOCIETY AS A WHOLE) . BY ASKING CROFT

QUESTIONS AND EVEN MOCKING HIS ANSWERS, SPARKS STANDS ALONE AS A MORAL COMPASS,

EVEN IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY.

Example

Final Product

In The Ox-Bow Incident, Walter van Tilburg Clark uses the character Sparks to present a model for just and altruistic action in a fundamentally unjust society. When speaking to Croft, Sparks reveals his benevolent moral philosophy: “God is in us, Mistuh Croft … He wuhks th’ough us” (131). After explaining how God works through each man via conscience, Sparks goes on to express his disappointment in Croft when Croft falsely claims his support for the lynching. Croft notices Sparks’ disappointment when he then mockingly calls him “sir”: “That ‘sir’ had the politeness of grievance. It annoyed me” (132). Sparks’ argument about man’s connection to God, who “wuhks th’ough us” and his “grievance” at Croft’s noncommittal conscience indicate his role as the soul of the novel. He finds God’s truth to be more important than the flawed, petty aims of the posse (and society as a whole). By asking Croft questions and even mocking his answers, he inspires Croft to confront his own thoughts, rather than just follow the group. In this sense, Sparks stands as a moral compass in his own beliefs and for others, even in the face of extreme injustice.

Major Components and Structure

I. Topic Sentence: establish the purpose of your paragraph.

II. Narrowed Focus: hinting at major point of paragraph and specific textual instance.

III. Lead-In Sentence: provide context for your quote.

IV. Add direct quote from the text.V. Transition/Second Lead-inVI. Add second direct quote from the text. VII. Analyze the significance of the specific

instances/quotes/details through the scope of your central argument. Why does it matter?

ConnectExplainAnalyze

Paragraph Flow and Coherence

Purpose (argument)

Text Support via Instance

Context for quote Direct Quote

Connect Quote to Purpose (Close Reading)

Explain the quote in relation to deeper implications

Analyze deeper implications

Thanks!