Shaping the Body Paragraphs
**PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO BOTH THE OUTLINE AND THE GRAPHIC ORGANIZER. YOU CAN PICK THE ONE THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU!
What is a Concrete Detail?: A concrete detail refers to specific information, facts, data, and specific knowledge offered to describe, explain, or justify your topic sentence. A concrete detail helps the reader visualize or comprehend the idea in the writer's mind.
What is Commentary?: Commentary clarifies or explains something; offers insight about why an event or facts or ideas are important; and describe how the concrete detail relates to what you are arguing. It can be TWO OR MORE sentences.
What is a Summary Sentence?: A summary sentence is ONE sentence that wraps up what you are trying to say and ties it back to your topic sentence. Words that are in your topic sentence should be used in your summary sentence.
What is Commentary?: Commentary clarifies or explains something; offers insight about why an event or facts or ideas are important; and describe how the concrete detail relates to what you are arguing. It can be TWO OR MORE sentences.
What is a Summary Sentence?: A summary sentence is ONE sentence that wraps up what you are trying to say and ties it back to your topic sentence. Words that are in your topic sentence should be used in your summary sentence.
EXAMPLE Body Paragraph #1:
1. Topic Sentence (thesis + example): When I was in high school, I wasn't good enough to start on the volleyball team, but failing or "sitting on the bench" made me realize a lot about myself.
2. Concrete Detail (a specific example that relates to the topic sentence): I was the only senior on my high school volleyball team; I thought I had earned my position as a starting defensive specialist, but that was not the case. There were other players on the team that were much better than I was, so they played while I sat the bench. In my mind, I had failed as a senior leader and a player.
3. Commentary (a sentence that explains and/or/provides additional information for the concrete detail): I used to get really upset while I was sitting on the bench. I even found it hard to cheer when my team was winning. However, I started to realize that maybe my role was not the best player on the team, but the best attitude on the team.
4. Commentary (another sentence that continues to explain the concrete detail) Instead of getting upset while sitting on the bench, I would cheer as loudly as I could and help players as they came off the court. I would tell them what was open and what they could do to get better.
5. Summary Sentence (a sentence that concludes the paragraph and refers back to the topic sentence) Through sitting on the bench or "failing" as I had thought, I actually realized how much I loved to coach other players and be a positive leader for them even if I wasn't on the court.
1. Topic Sentence (thesis + example): When I was in high school, I wasn't good enough to start on the volleyball team, but failing or "sitting on the bench" made me realize a lot about myself.
2. Concrete Detail (a specific example that relates to the topic sentence): I was the only senior on my high school volleyball team; I thought I had earned my position as a starting defensive specialist, but that was not the case. There were other players on the team that were much better than I was, so they played while I sat the bench. In my mind, I had failed as a senior leader and a player.
3. Commentary (a sentence that explains and/or/provides additional information for the concrete detail): I used to get really upset while I was sitting on the bench. I even found it hard to cheer when my team was winning. However, I started to realize that maybe my role was not the best player on the team, but the best attitude on the team.
4. Commentary (another sentence that continues to explain the concrete detail) Instead of getting upset while sitting on the bench, I would cheer as loudly as I could and help players as they came off the court. I would tell them what was open and what they could do to get better.
5. Summary Sentence (a sentence that concludes the paragraph and refers back to the topic sentence) Through sitting on the bench or "failing" as I had thought, I actually realized how much I loved to coach other players and be a positive leader for them even if I wasn't on the court.
The Difference Between Thesis Statements & Topic Sentences
Creating Your Topic Sentences
Follow the model below so that you can create your own topic sentences. Please pay attention to the highlights.