UNIT 4: THE BODY PARAGRAPH

I. Topic sentences.

Body Paragraph Structure

Topic sentence 2-3 main ideas with supporting sentences Concluding sentence (optional)

✓ 1 topic sentence
✓ Several supporting sentences to further explain the topic sentence.
· 4Es (Explanation, Evidence, Example, Extra details)

Topic sentence (1 sentence)

Practice 1: Read the following sentences. Put them in the correct order to make a body paragraph. Arrange them
in the correct order based on the outline and the linking words.
a. GROUP 1: When designing a building, the most important factor is the intended use of the building rather than
its outward appearance. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
1/ In terms of commercial design, most shop facades, for example, have large glass Topic sentence:
windows, so that passers-by will be attracted by the goods on display.
- Main idea 1: state and
2/ The intended purpose of a building is, of course, very important.
give example
3/ In order to make city living affordable, hideous high-rise buildings are the only solution o Supporting idea 1:
to provide apartments for urban dwellers. explanation
4/ This is essential for the purpose of sales, although these shop fronts are an eyesore, and - Main idea 2:
do not blend in with the conservation of historic buildings of which they often form an
o Supporting idea 2:
ugly part.
explanation
5/ From the perspective of housing design, the population density in many cities is
extremely high, and exorbitant rents are charged for land.

b. GROUP 2: Scientific research should be carried out and controlled by the governments rather than private
companies. Do you agree or disagree?
1/ There have been numerous scandals as a result of new products being introduced Topic sentence:
hurriedly after inadequate trials.
- Main idea 1:
2/ From an ethical perspective, leaving research into areas such as genetic engineering in
the hands of corporations may have profound social consequences – such as GM crops, o Supporting idea 1:
with unproven effects which may destroy whole ecosystems as a result of meddling with evidence
nature. o Supporting idea 2:
3/ The private sector argues that it is willing to undertake scientific research, but there are example
two significant dangers in this. - Main idea 2:
4/ In terms of the quality and objectivity of the research itself, corporations which carry
this out may be tempted to manipulate results in order to maximize profits.
5/ For example thalidomide, developed by a German drug company, resulted in the birth
of thousands of malformed children.
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 SUGGESTED TOPIC SENTENCES
a/ Cause paragraph
- There are several/ some / many evident / major justifications for ………………
- The problem of ....................is caused by several distinctive reasons.
· Note:
cause of (n) = reason for = justification for = contributor to; evident (adj) = obvious = distinctive;
main (n) = major= principal = primary = fundamental
b/ Effect paragraph
- Admittedly, ……………… has several positive / negative effects on ……………
- There are various beneficial/ detrimental influences of ……….. on …………….
· Note:
To have effect on ………. = to exert effect on ……… = to affect ……… = to impact …. = to influence ……;
Effect (n) = impact = influence;
Positive (adj) = beneficial = advantageous; Negative (adj) = adverse = detrimental = harmful
c/ Solution paragraph
- Several measures should be taken so as to tackle the problem of …………….
- By ……………., governments can address the issue of …………..
- There are some feasible solutions to the problem of.................../ to this problem.
· Note: So as to = in order to; To tackle = to settle = to address = to solve = to resolve;
Problem (n) = trouble = dilemma; matter (n) = issue = phenomenon; resolution to (n) = solution to = measure
for sth
d/ (Dis)Advantage paragraph
- There are various / several / some / many advantages of ……………..
- The advantages / disadvantages of........... are obvious.
· Note
benefit (n) = plus point = advantage = merit = strong point;
drawback (n) = shortcoming = disadvantage = demerit

Practice 2: Choose the appropriate topic sentence for each topic

TOPIC 1: It is better for college students to live in schools than live at home with their parents. Do you
agree or disagree?
INTRO 1: When students enter college, they are often faced with the question of where to reside. There is a
viewpoint stating that dormitories will be a better choice of accommodation compared to their
own home. I personally agree with this opinion because of several reasons, which will be
outlined in this essay.
TOPIC 1. Firstly, students who are about to attend tertiary education might find living in
SENTENCES dormitories highly convenient.
2. When staying in the school’s hall of residence, students are usually surrounded by peers
of different races, religions and so on.
3. To explain, although students living in schools have to pay for their accommodation,
those who live with their parents usually allocate any costs to house, facilities and
service.
4. The second benefit that staying on-campus offers students is the opportunity to become
independent.

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 TOPIC 2: Some people think that governments should ban dangerous sports, while others think people
should have freedom to do any sport or activity. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

INTRO 2: The topic of sports has generated much debate over the years. One particular issue is related to
dangerous sports, as a number of people claim that these activities should be banned, while there
is another viewpoint that everyone needs to be free to choose what to play. I personally agree
with the latter opinion for several reasons, which will be outlined in this essay.
TOPIC 1. The most noteworthy reason why the prohibition toward dangerous sport should be
SENTENCES implemented is the possible injuries people may face.
2. Furthermore, some of these sports not only render the players injured, but also the
cheering spectators.
3. However, there are several reasons why these sports deserve to exist.
4. Furthermore, dangerous sport activities may have negative influence on teenagers.
TOPIC 3: Scientists say that in the future humanity will speak the same language. Do you think this is a
positive or negative social development?

INTRO 3: In our modern world, the need for a common language is becoming urgent. It has even been
predicted that one mutual language will eventually be used by everyone around the globe.
Although this trend certainly has its own benefits, I feel that there will be much more
drawbacks, which will be discussed in this essay.

TOPIC 1. Obviously, there are two major downsides of this trend. Firstly, the dominance of one
SENTENCES language might gradually eliminate the linguistic diversity in many countries across the
world.
2. Firstly, all countries would lose cultural and traditional values, which is one of the biggest
disadvantages on society.
3. Another reason is that one language would help economic growth, especially multinational
companies, business trade and global cooperation.
However, this tendency offers several practical benefits to society as a whole.

Practice 3: Write an appropriate topic sentence for each of the following paragraph.
Topic 1: Some people think that in the modern world we are more dependent on each other, while others think that
people have become more independent. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
1.

Firstly, life is more complex and difficult, especially because the cost of living has increased so dramatically. For example,
young adults tend to rely on their parents for help when buying a house. Pro perty prices are higher than ever, and without
help it would be impossible for many people to pay a deposit and a mortgage. Secondly, people seem to be more ambitious
nowadays, and they want a better quality of life for their families. This means that both parents usually need to work full-
time, and they depend on support from grandparents and babysitters for child care.

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2.

In most countries, families are becoming smaller and more dispersed, which means that people cannot count on
relatives as much as they used to. We also have more freedom to travel and live far away from our hometowns. For
example, many students choose to study abroad instead of going to their local university, and this experience makes
them more independent as they learn to live alone. Another factor in this growing independence is technology,
which allows us to work alone and from any part of the world.

Topic 2: Nowadays celebrities are more famous for their glamour and wealth than for their achievements, and this sets
a bad example to young people. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
3.________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
They may have inherited money from parents, married a famous or wealthy person, or they may have appeared in gossip
magazines or on a reality TV program. A good example would be Paris Hilton, who is rich and famous for the wrong
reasons. She spends her time attending parties and nightclubs, and her behavior promotes the idea that appearance,
glamour and media profile are more important than hard work and good character. The message to young people is that
success can be achieved easily, and that school wor k is not necessary.
4_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Actors, musicians and sports stars become famous idols because they have worked hard and applied themselves to
develop real skills and abilities. They demonstrate great effort, determinat ion and ambition, which is required for
someone who wants to be truly successful in their chosen field. An example is the actor and martial artist Jackie
Chan, who has become world famous through years of practice and hard work. This kind of self -made celebrity can
inspire children to develop their talents through application and perseverance.

Topic 3: These days more fathers stay at home and take care of their children while mothers go out to work. What
could be the reasons for this? Do you think it is a positive or a negative development?
5.________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
In recent years, parents have had to adapt to various changes in our societies with equal rights movements having made
great progress to make it normal for women to gain qualifications and pursue a career. It has also become socially
acceptable for men to stay at home and look after their children. At the same time, the rising cost of living has meant
that both marriage partners usually need to work and save money before sta rting a family. Therefore, when couples
have children, they may decide who works and who stays at home depending on the personal preference of each
partner, or based on which partner earns the most money.
6.______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
We should be happy to live in a society in which men and women have equal opportunities, and in which women
are not put under pressure to sacrifice their careers. Equally, it seems only fair that men should be free to leave their
jobs in order to assume childcare responsibilities if this is what they wish to do. Couples should be left to make their
own decisions about which parental role each partner takes, according to their particular circumstances and needs.

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 II. Supporting sentences

1. Style:

Topic sentence (positive effects) :Main idea → Explanation → Explanation → Example

Practice 1: Read the following body paragraphs and indicate the function of each sentence
Topic: People have different views about whether parents or schools should bear the responsibility for
helping children to become good citizens. Discuss and give your opinion.

(1) School teachers may contribute almost as much as parents to the development of a child. (2) Teachers
educate large groups of children together, which means that they must train pupils to work with their peers and respect
other members of the class. (3) Pupils also learn to behave sensibly in lessons, regardless of the distractions around them,
and to follow instructions given to them by teaching staff. (4) These behavioral skills will be crucial in later life. (5) In
the workplace, for example, adults are expected to work in teams, listen to each other, and follow the instructions of a
manager or company director. (105 words)

Topic: People today do not feel safe either at home or when they are out. What are the causes? What are
the solutions?

(1) There are a handful of reasons why people currently have to face serious risks no matter where they are. (2) First of
all, due to climate change that is happening all around the world, people might be confronted with the danger of natural
disasters even when they are in their own home. (3) For example, in Japan, earthquakes and tsunamis occur every year,
and many people have been killed during those calamities. (4) In addition, when being out on the street, individuals are
usually exposed to various types of pollution such as noise and air deterioration. (5) This not only might adversely affect
people’s health but also can even lead to fatal consequence. (109 words)

Topic: When designing a building, the function is normally more important than the outward appearance.
Do you agree or disagree with this idea?

(1) There is no doubt that a magnificent outer space can bring about many values. (2) A building that has an appealing
appearance may be a source of beautification of its locality that may be able to encourage people to visit it as it may serve
as an incentive for tourism, leisure or work. (3) For example, the Bath Houses of Brighton are well-known for their bright
and colorful designs and promote tourism in the state of Victoria. (4) Similarly, attractive university campuses and office
spaces are deemed to be popular study and work destinations among young adults.

Topic: Some people think that a job provides not only income but also social life. Others think it is better
to develop social life with people you do not work with. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
(1) There are strong reasons why social life should be developed outside the workplace. (2) First, when a working
environment becomes too friendly, there could be a decline in productivity as workers may fail to efficiently complete
their assigned tasks. (3) For example, they might focus more on changing pleasantries rather than finishing the heavy
workload, which would severely affect the performance of the organization. (4) Additionally, given the code of conduct
and the possible clash of personality within a workplace, it is advisable that colleagues keep a certain distance from each
other to maintain professionalism. (5) A spirit of cooperation and friendship is still possible while at the same time
retaining certain socially acceptable boundaries of formality and respect.

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2. Writing supporting sentences
Supporting sentences explain the idea expressed in the topic sentence. They are normally developed in the form of
Explanation, Evidence, and Example.
COMMON WAYS TO DEVELOP A MAIN IDEA
- Main idea + Reason (Explanation) + Explanation/ Evidence/ Example
a/ TRANSITION WORDS
Sequencing the first Adding supporting Adding a contrasting idea/ Making general
idea ideas Opposition statement
However,
Firstly,/ First of all, Furthermore, Nevertheless,
First and foremost, Besides, Despite + N/Ving As a general rule,
The main reason is… Additionally, Although + clause Generally,
The most important Another reason is…… While/Whereas + clause In most cases,
consideration is……. In the same vein, Conversely,
In contrast,
Drawing a
Giving examples Giving an explanation Clarifying an opinion conclusion/
Expressing effect
To be more precise…
The reason for this is…. As a consequence,
For instance, More specifically….
This is because…….. Therefore,
For example, By this I mean….
This is due to…. As a result,
A salient example of In other words,
Thanks to….. Hence,
this is…………….. That is to say,
Owing to……. Consequently,
This/which means that …
b/ COHESIVE DEVICES AND PHRASES
Giving advantages Giving opposing Giving supporting
To give evidence
/disadvantages arguments arguments
The primary argument is
that
………..
Opponents would argue
The advocates
A major/ One that...................
of this idea
advantage/disadvantage One argument against ….. is
claim that
of…. ………….
……………
Another/ A further/An Another refusing
There is growing One (very convincing)
additional important opinion is that.....
evidence indicating point/argument in
merit /demerit is…… Some skeptics/critics
that …….. favor of…is………….
The main/greatest/most claim/suggest/argue/feel
It is obvious that… It can / could be
serious/first that… / are of the opinion
It is evident that….. argued that.................
disadvantage /drawback that/convinced that…
It is widely argued/
of… Opponents of …
maintained that…..
Another negative aspect argue/believe/claim that…
It is generally
of… While it is true to say that…,
felt/believed that…..
in fact…
While/Although …, it
cannot
be denied that…
Practice 2: Fill in the blanks with suitable connectives
Topic 1: Some people say that E-books and modern technology will totally replace traditional newspapers and
magazines. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
There are several reasons why the traditional ways of getting news are still popular. (1)_________, reading newspaper
has become an ardent habit of many people. Everyone whether from affluent or middle class is seen desperately waiting
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for paper in the morning and enjoying reading it with a cup of tea. (2)___________, these are the portable, cheapest and
easiest way of knowing about the global activities. It can be carried from one place to other in bag and available at
economical price. It is so handy and merely continuing flip of pages can make you omniscient. (3)___________, electricity
and other appliances are not required. (4)__________, the other attachments are like icing on the cake. (5)__________,
the Hindustan Times has multiple attachments like women’s fashion, career guide, and even culinary art.

Topic 2: Do children behave better when they are physically punished or rewarded?
(1)__________, there are many advantages of conferring rewards to children. (2)_________, appreciation and verbal
praise can have a magical impact on the behavior of the children because when they are appreciated for good conduct they
come to know about value of good behavior and try to keep continuing with that. The more they brim with positive
comments, the more they are confident. (3)_____________, children who are subjected to artificial physical punishment
are seen with lack of self-confidence. A survey conducted on behavior of children revealed that a child exposed to punitive
actions by parents is more aggressive and furious than others of his age. (4)__________, beatings to child can never be
fruitful.

Topic 3: Some people think that the best way to improve road safety is to increase the minimum legal age for
driving a car or motorbike. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
I believe that better road safety can be achieved by other more effective methods without increasing the driving age. (1)
_______________, more stringent traffic regulations should be imposed, which would act as a deterrent to would-be
traffic law breakers. In Singapore, (2) __________ , people who run red lights are fined heavily, and (3) ___________
this will make them more responsible in order to avoid future punishments. (4)__________, governments should allocate
financial resources to improving public transport, which would encourage citizens to drive their private cars or motorbikes
less. (5) _____________, these residents will no longer worry about the risks that they may face when driving their own
vehicles, such as drunk driving or falling asleep.

Topic 4: The media should include more stories which report good news. To what extent do you agree
or disagree?
Bad news dominating the headlines is having an undesirable influence on society. (1) _____________, this type of news,
unless managed properly, may keep readers in a state of stress and lead them to experiencing trauma. Stories about ISIS
slaughtering innocent citizens, (2) __________ , caused massive damage to people’s mental states and instilled fear into
their minds. (3) _____________, frequent exposure to negative news can distort readers’ perception of reality. In Vietnam
(4) ___________, it seems that members of the media do not focus on keeping the public informed of current events
anymore, both locally and globally. Instead, they are trying to publish articles with the primary aim of attracting more
viewers and therefore increasing profits. This, unfortunately, shapes readers’ outlook on society in a
negative way.
Practice 3: Choose one of the following topics to write a paragraph of at least 100 words. Remember
to have appropriate structure as well as coherence and unity.

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Topic 1: Some people think that the best way to reduce crime is to give longer prison sentences. Others, however,
believe there are better alternative ways of reducing crime. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Paraphrase key words: tackle the problem, to place people in prison for longer periods, offenders = wrongdoers =
lawbreakers, commit crime = commit offence = break the law, crime reduction
Suggestions:
- Benefits of giving offenders longer prison sentences:
o Prison services can have longer time to rehabilitate a prisoner
o Act as a deterrent for people who are thinking of breaking the law
- Better alternative methods:
o Stay in prisons for a long time - mix with other criminals and the character will not improve
o Fact: many countries have lengthy prison sentences but crime continues to increase around the world
o Alternative: community services, address problem from the root: focus resources on the causes of crime
Topic 2: People in community now could buy cheaper consumer goods. Do the advantages outweigh
the disadvantages?
Paraphrase key words: affordable commodities, have a wider range of choices, advantage = benefit = plus point,
disadvantage = drawback = shortcoming, buyer = consumer
Suggestions:
- Advantages of being able to purchase cheaper merchandise
o Individuals: Customers with limited incomes can afford diverse types of goods
o Society: Affordability of consumer products - generate purchasing power/ create market’s demand → development of
the economy
- Disadvantages of cheaper commodities
o Quality of goods may be only secondary → lose customer’s trust in the brands → may jeopardize the
economy
o Increased demand →companies expand production → exploit natural resources / release toxic waste and
exhaust
Practice 4: Write a full body paragraph about one of the following topics
1. Advantages of doing multiple jobs simultaneously
2. Positive effects of telecommuting.

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