{"id":4168,"date":"2013-06-27T20:59:25","date_gmt":"2013-06-27T20:59:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=4168"},"modified":"2026-03-26T11:57:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T16:57:48","slug":"drafting-body-paragraphs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/drafting-body-paragraphs\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Body Paragraph"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"mmDeferVideoEncompass_bNKbb2M4Gso\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\">\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"> \n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" id=\"videoThumbnailImage_bNKbb2M4Gso\" data-source-videoID=\"bNKbb2M4Gso\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" alt=\"How to Write a Body Paragraph Video\" height=\"464\" width=\"825\" class=\"size-full\" data-matomo-title = \"How to Write a Body Paragraph\">\n\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<style>img#videoThumbnailImage_bNKbb2M4Gso:hover {cursor:pointer;} img#videoThumbnailImage_bNKbb2M4Gso {background-size:contain;background-image:url(\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/updated-how-to-write-a-body-paragraph-64c01c833c71a-1.webp\");}<\/style>\n\t\t\t<script defer>\n\t\t\t  jQuery(\"img#videoThumbnailImage_bNKbb2M4Gso\").click(function() {\n\t\t\t\tlet videoId = jQuery(this).attr(\"data-source-videoID\");\n\t\t\t\tlet helpTag = '<div id=\"mmDeferVideoYTMessage_bNKbb2M4Gso\" style=\"display: none;position: absolute;top: -24px;width: 100%;text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: small;border-top: 1px solid #fc0;\">Having trouble? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v='+videoId+'\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube.<\/a><\/span><\/div>';\n\t\t\t\tlet tag = document.createElement(\"iframe\");\n\t\t\t\ttag.id = \"yt\" + videoId;\n\t\t\t\ttag.src = \"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/\" + videoId + \"?autoplay=1&controls=1&wmode=opaque&rel=0&egm=0&iv_load_policy=3&hd=0&enablejsapi=1\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.frameborder = 0;\n\t\t\t\ttag.allow = \"autoplay; fullscreen\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.width = this.width;\n\t\t\t\ttag.height = this.height;\n\t\t\t\ttag.setAttribute(\"data-matomo-title\",\"How to Write a Body Paragraph\");\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_bNKbb2M4Gso\").html(tag);\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_bNKbb2M4Gso\").prepend(helpTag);\n\t\t\t\tsetTimeout(function(){jQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoYTMessage_bNKbb2M4Gso\").css(\"display\", \"block\");}, 2000);\n\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n<p><script>\nfunction OfP_Function() {\n  var x = document.getElementById(\"OfP\");\n  if (x.style.display === \"none\") {\n    x.style.display = \"block\";\n  } else {\n    x.style.display = \"none\";\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"moc-toc hide-on-desktop hide-on-tablet\">\n<div><button onclick=\"OfP_Function()\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/toc2.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"show or hide table of contents\"><\/button><\/p>\n<p>On this page<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav id=\"OfP\" style=\"display:none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Parts_of_an_Essay\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Parts of an Essay<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Structure_of_a_Body_Paragraph\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Structure of a Body Paragraph<\/a>\n<ul><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#First_Sentence\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">First Sentence<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#Supporting_Details\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Supporting Details<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#Conclusion_Sentence\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Conclusion Sentence<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Review\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\"><input id=\"transcript\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"transcript\">Transcript<\/label>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"transcript-spoiler\">\n<p>Every essay or paper is made up of 3 main sections: the <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/introduction\/\">introduction<\/a>, the body, and the conclusion.<\/p>\n<p>Today, we\u2019re going to look specifically at body paragraphs, and learn what they\u2019re used for and how to write them.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Parts_of_an_Essay\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Parts of an Essay<\/h2>\n<p>\nImagine your essay was a meal. Now, think of your body paragraphs as the main course.<\/p>\n<p>Your introduction is an appetizer that briefly describes what your main idea of the text will be about, and the conclusion is the \u201cdessert\u201d that nicely wraps up everything you talked about. Meanwhile, your body paragraphs hold the bulk of the information and <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/supporting-details\/\">supporting details<\/a> about your main idea.<\/p>\n<p>But how do you go about creating these paragraphs? Let\u2019s take a look at how a body paragraph is structured.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Structure_of_a_Body_Paragraph\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Structure of a Body Paragraph<\/h2>\n<h3><span id=\"First_Sentence\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>First Sentence<\/h3>\n<p>\nThe first sentence of a body paragraph starts with an introduction or <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/transitions-in-writing\/\">transitions<\/a>. This can be a phrase or sentence that tells the reader what the main point of this paragraph will be.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s an example.<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Though diets are a popular form of weight loss, many diets have been proven to be unsafe ways to lose weight.<\/span> Many diets claim to help people lose weight fast, however, losing too much weight too quickly can do more harm to your body than good. Losing too much weight too fast from dieting can lead to muscle loss, gallstones and nutritional deficiencies. According to many experts, losing 1-2 pounds per week is a safe rate to lose weight. You should always be wary of diets that promise fast results or don\u2019t encourage regular exercise as part of the routine.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nIn this example, the first sentence argues that some diets aren\u2019t safe. This introductory statement lets the reader know that the rest of the paragraph should be about how diets can be unsafe.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Supporting_Details\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Supporting Details<\/h3>\n<p>\nThis is where the supporting details and evidence come in to support the topic sentence. Let\u2019s look back at our example.<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Though diets are a popular form of weight loss, many diets have proven to not be safe ways to lose weight. <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Many diets claim to help people lose weight fast, however, losing too much weight too quickly can do more harm to your body than good. Losing too much weight too fast from dieting can lead to muscle loss, gallstones, and nutritional deficiencies. According to many experts, losing 1-2 pounds per week is a safe rate to lose weight.<\/span> You should always be wary of diets that promise fast results or don\u2019t encourage regular exercise as part of the routine.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nHere, the sentences following the introduction go into detail about how diets can be dangerous and why. It also gives data to support this argument.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Conclusion_Sentence\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Conclusion Sentence<\/h3>\n<p>\nLastly, the paragraph should wrap up with a conclusion sentence that ties up the main point.<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Though diets are a popular form of weight loss, many diets have proven to not be safe ways to lose weight. Many diets claim to help people lose weight fast, however, losing too much weight too quickly can do more harm to your body than good. Losing too much weight too fast from dieting can lead to muscle loss, gallstones and nutritional deficiencies. According to many experts, losing 1-2 pounds per week is a safe rate to lose weight. <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">You should always be wary of diets that promise fast results or don\u2019t encourage regular exercise as part of the routine.<\/span><\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nIn this example, we\u2019ve wrapped up the paragraph by telling the reader to take the information they\u2019ve just read and apply it to their own life.<\/p>\n<p>After you conclude your first body paragraph, you can reuse this system as many times as possible until you have enough body paragraphs to cover all the main points of your thesis for your paper. <\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><span id=\"Review\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Review<\/h2>\n<p>\nOk, let\u2019s review before we go!<\/p>\n<p>In an essay, body paragraphs come in between the introduction and conclusion. These paragraphs will flesh out your main ideas and provide supporting details to back them up. Finally, a body paragraph should start with an introduction and end with some sort of conclusion or transition to the next paragraph.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s all for this review! Thanks for watching, and happy studying!<\/p>\n<ul class=\"citelist\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/owl.purdue.edu\/owl\/general_writing\/common_writing_assignments\/argument_papers\/body_paragraphs.html\"target=\"_blank\">\u201cBody Paragraphs \/\/ Purdue Writing Lab.\u201d<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/writing\/\">Return to Writing Videos<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to Writing Videos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":186812,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-4168","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-video-pages-for-study-course-sidebar-ad","7":"page_category-writing-videos","8":"page_type-video","9":"subject_matter-english"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4168","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4168"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4168\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":261070,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4168\/revisions\/261070"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/186812"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}