Body Paragraph

Step: Write body 1 and body 2.

Topic Sentence (general idea) __________________________________________________

a.       Detail 1 _________________________________________________________________

                                                               i.      Example 1 ________________________________________________________

b.      Detail 2 _________________________________________________________________

                                                               i.      Example 2 ________________________________________________________

                       Concluding Sentence _________________________________________________________

1.       What is a Topic Sentence?

·         First sentence in a body paragraph

·         It states one general idea

·         It DOES NOT state a detail or example

·         It often has a connector word (i.e. first, second, the most important, next, also, another)

EX: __ ________________________________________________________________________

2.       What are Details?

·         They tell more information about the topic sentence

·         They divide the topic sentence into two or more smaller parts

·         They connect the topic sentence to the specific examples

·         The second detail often starts with a connector word (furthermore, in addition, moreover, also)

EX: ___________________________________________________________________________

3.       What are specific Examples?

·         Show the reader what you mean in your details

·         The reader should see and feel your ideas

·         They describe or explain specific places, people, objects, activities, actions, events, dates/times, statistics

EX: ___________________________________________________________________________

4.       What is a Concluding Sentence?

·         It closes the door of your paragraph

·         It can give advice, summarize, or state an opinion about the general idea of the paragraph

·         It can close the door or your paragraph and open the door to the next (preview the next general idea)

EX: ___________________________________________________________________________

Thesis: People over the age of eighty should not be permitted to drive themselves due to their age

related physical and mental problems.

The primary reason that people over the age of eighty should not be permitted to drive is physical deterioration due to aging. As humans age, their bodies begin to slow down. Their reflexes are not as quick as when they were teenagers and middle-aged adults. This can lead to tragic accidents when drivers fail to use their brakes in time at pedestrian crossings and red lights, or when they lose control of the vehicles when it rains or snows. In addition, elderly adults’ limited vision can cause accidents when older drivers fail to notice drivers who want to change lanes on either side of them or children who run into the street. The possibility of accidents due to physical factors alone should be enough to make us create stricter laws about who may drive.

Topic Sentence =              Topic: _______________       Controlling Idea: ____________________________

Detail 1: ___________________________	Detail 2: ________________________________
Example 1: _________________________	Example 2: _____________________________

                Moreover, there are a number of psychological reasons why people aged eighty and over should not drive. The most serious reason is that many people over this age are forgetful. Everyone forgets things sometimes, but those eighty and over no longer simply forget where they left the car keys; they forget how to get home from the local supermarket and may even forget where they live. In addition to the confusion and fear this cause for the drivers themselves, this loss of memory also causes unnecessary worry for their family members and police officers who must try to locate them and bring them home safely. If also infuriates other drivers who must wait more or less patiently while elderly drivers move inch by inch toward intersections trying to decide whether to turn or not. Because of the dangers and frustrations associated with these citizens’ decreased mental abilities, we must protect everyone by not renewing their driver’s license.

Topic Sentence =              Topic: _______________       Controlling Idea: ____________________________

Detail 1: ___________________________	Detail 2: ________________________________
Example 1: _________________________	Example 2: _____________________________