The Body of an Essay

TOPIC SENTENCE: Usually the first sentence, carries the main idea of a paragraph. It tells

us what the paragraph is about. It also explains why the thesis statement is true.

SUPPORTING DETAILS: Supports the topic sentence in forms of elaborations,

explanations, examples, descriptions, etc. These supporting details should be relevant and

sufficient.

CONCLUDING SENTENCE: It is advisable but not obligatory to include a concluding

sentence at the end of a paragraph to highlight or prove the point that you are trying to make

in the paragraph. The concluding sentence can also be a rephrasing of the topic sentence.

One of the reasons why students experience a lot of stress at

Topic Sentence
school is due to excessive homework and assignments.

1. Students are taking at least seven subjects at school.

2. Homework and assignments can provide extra practice for

students.

3. However, dealing with the homework and assignments from

Supporting
Details all the subjects simultaneously will overwhelm students,

creating stress and anxiety as they have so much work to

complete within such a limited amount of time or tight

deadline.

Consequently, they cannot help but feel stressed because they

Concluding are unable to complete their endless homework and

Statement
assignments.
Exercise

Write three topic sentences for each of the following essay topics.

1. Advantages of sharing an apartment

(a)One of the advantages of sharing an apartment is can meet more buddies and
friends.
(b)The advantage of sharing an apartment is less cost.
(c) The benefit of sharing an apartment is that you will constantly have someone to talk
to about your struggles.
2. Reasons for cultivating reading habits

(a) The reason for cultivating reading habits is to keep your brain healthy.
(b) The reason for cultivating reading habits is to increase your focus.
(c) One of the reasons for reading habits is to connect with others.
Concluding Paragraph

Concluding paragraphs are just as important as introductions. The concluding paragraph:

(a) brings the issues written about in the essay to a close.

(b) convinces the reader that your essay has covered all the most important arguments
about the issue.
(c) gives your reader a good final impression of your essay.
Writing the concluding paragraph.

(a) Begin the conclusion with a sentence that is specific.

(b) Then move on to the more general sentence(s).
(c) End with a final sentence in the concluding paragraph: a final thought, a call to
action, a prediction, a question.
Some ideas on how to write the final sentence in a conclusion.

1. End with a summary and a final thought

 Use a summary statement rather than phrases such as: “In summary…”, To
conclude…”, “In conclusion…”, “In a nut shell…”. These phrases are too obvious and
vague to be effective.
 Use a transitional phrase which summarises a point in your essay instead.
Example:

Controlling idea of the thesis statement: Human cloning has benefits.

As we have seen, human cloning will benefit 1. Give a sentence that is

childless couples and medical research. specific.

The possibilities of advancement in all fields of 2. Then move onto the more
Science which benefits life are endless. general sentence(s).

Therefore, society should be open to human 3. End with a final sentence –

cloning and use this technology wisely. a final thought.

2. End with a call to action or a challenge to the reader.

 By issuing a challenge to your readers, you are helping them to rethink the
information in the essay, and how the information relates to their lives and that they
should take up the challenge.
Example:

Controlling idea of the thesis statement: We must serve the community.

Serving in a community welfare center is not

only a civic responsibility but also an enriching 1. Give a sentence that is
specific.
experience.

Many people view community service as a

chore that disrupts their jobs and the routine of
2. Then move on to the
their daily lives. However, welfare work should more general
be part of every responsible citizen’s way to sentence(s).

offer help.

Thus, community welfare service challenges

us to rally around those who are urgently in 3. End with a final sentence
– a call for action.
need of our help. It is time to lend a hand.

3. End with a prediction

 Looking to the future can emphasize the importance of your essay or redirect the
readers’ thoughts or ideas. It may help them apply the new information to their lives, or
see things on a worldwide or global scale.
Example:

Controlling idea of the thesis statement: The need for well-qualified teachers in schools.

Without well-qualified teachers, schools are

1. Give a sentence that is
little more than buildings and equipment. specific.

If higher-paying careers continue to attract

the best and the brightest students, there will
not only be a shortage of teachers, but the 2. Then move on to the more
teachers available may not have the best general sentence(s).

qualifications.

Our youth will suffer. And when they suffer,

3. End with a final sentence
our future as a nation will suffer too. – a prediction.

4. End with a question

 Putting forward questions, either to your readers or in general, may help your readers
gain a new point of view on the topic. They may not have looked at the issue in a
new way before reading your conclusion.
Example:

Controlling idea of the thesis statement: Election campaign advertisements should

give useful information about the candidate.

Election campaign advertisements should

help us understand the candidate’s 1. Give a sentence that is
specific.
qualifications and opinions on certain issues.

Instead, most tell us what a stupid person, or

what a cunning and untrustworthy person the 2. Then move on to the
more general
opposition candidate is. They present general
sentence(s).
descriptions of the ruling party candidate as a
family person or otherwise.
 Do such advertisements contribute towards
creating voters who are more informed about
their leaders, or voters who choose political 3. End with a final sentence
– a question.
leaders the same way they choose soft drinks
and soap?

Exercise

The following sentences that make up the concluding paragraphs are jumbled up. Rearrange
them.

1. The controlling idea of the thesis statement: My grandmother is my role model

3 I am glad that I have had the opportunity to know her and to use her as
a model for my own life.

1 She is a dedicated nurse, and a loving parent and grandparent. She

has fought for the rights of others all her life, and she has raised
children – both male and female – who follow her example.

2
As you can see, my grandmother is an unusual person.

2. The controlling idea of the thesis statement: The government should spend more
money on setting up childcare centers for the children of parents who study or work.
2
If the government fails to meet its obligations in this area, it will be
sacrificing the interest and welfare of parents and the mental
development of children, merely to save some government money.

3
As we have seen, it is essential that the government supports the
nation’s parents and children by funding more childcare places.
1
Thus, it’s time the government makes available more childcare places
for young children; and at the same time help parents to become
productive members of society.