Rules for writing body paragraphs The topics for these body paragraphs came from the old writing topics of the TOEFL’s Test of Written English. Remember these are BODY paragraphs. They support your argument. The information in these paragraphs is general knowledge, and so none of it needs to be cited. If your information is not general knowledge, it must be cited and referenced. 1. The first sentence (thesis statement) in a body paragraph identifies the answer topic and the paragraph topic. In the following sentence from TWE question # 164 (What do you do to stay healthy?), weight training is the answer topic. Control weight is the paragraph topic. Working out with weights is an excellent way to control weight. 1 st important idea last important idea Weight control is one reason why I work out with weights. 1 st important idea last important idea 2. The next sentences answer the question: “What do you mean?” You know what you are thinking; I don’t. These sentences can be a definition, explanation of, or an elaboration on the topic sentence. Here two sentences elaborate on the topic of controlling weight. This activity burns between 400 and 800 calories per hour. In addition, the more muscle mass one has, the faster one’s metabolism burns. 3. The sentences after this answer the questions: Why should I care? Why is this important? What does this have to do with the question/assignment/general topic? This means you burn more calories even when you are resting. 4. We could stop here, but it is often desirable to add one more sentence to end the thought or bring us back to the essay topic. “Why is this important?” This prevents rapid weight gains that plague middle­aged people, whose sedentary lives bring health problems like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers. The following paragraph uses logical arguments ­ facts and statistics. Every essay needs this type of argument. Working out with weights is an excellent way to control weight. This activity burns between 400 and 800 calories per hour. In addition, the more muscle mass one has, the faster one’s metabolism burns. This means you burn more calories even when you are resting. This prevents rapid weight gains that plague middle­aged people, whose sedentary lives bring health problems like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers.
Another type of argument is emotional ­ it speaks to the heart, not the head. A serious essay should never have more than one of these arguments because they are either weak, or they fight dirty. You will see this type of argument used a lot in newspapers and advertisements. The following paragraph is an example of an emotional argument. It is actually a combination of emotion and logic In addition to building a healthy body, working out with weights builds a beautiful body. If you lack physically in some areas, bodybuilding, as weight training is also known, can create the illusion of a slender waist, fill out the chest, shape the legs and buttock, and broaden shoulders. People also look more youthful. When people are happy with what they see in the mirror, they are happier and more self­confident. This contributes to a positive self­image and good mental health. !!!!!
The refutation argument anticipates that the reader will disagree with the writer’s opinion. It counters an anticipated argument – “This is what you think, but you are wrong and this is why you’re wrong.” A good essay will have at least one argument of this type. The following is an example of a refutation argument. Some people mistakenly believe that working out with weights is not good for women or that it makes them masculine. Nothing could be further from the truth. Working with weights builds bone mass that is important for warding off osteoporosis. Women also do not have the skeleton or the testosterone needed to build the musculature of a fit man. Even professional muscle builders need to follow a scientifically regimented diet and exercise schedule meticulously. Another myth suggests that muscle turns into fat when people stop lifting weights. Muscles atrophy when not used. To say that they turn into fat is as ridiculous as saying that steak can turn into butter. My final argument type shows the writer as a personal authority. The arguments in this paragraph are based on personal experience and expertise. The following is an example of a personal authority argument. This can also be used as a conclusion in a short essay. Decades of pursuing various physical activities and more than ten years of lifting weights has shown me the value of the latter activity. Through it, I have lost excess weight quickly and maintained the loss easily. It has corrected hormonal imbalances better than any other activity I know. It has eliminated chronic pain in my neck and increased mobility in my shoulder. It builds strength and agility. Moreover, the personal rhythm of the exercises is restful and relaxing. In other words, working out with weights is a perfect activity for me to stay healthy.