The body paragraphs come after the introduction and usually take up most of the essay. Paragraphs contain 3 main sections – remember the acronym PIE as a guide for developing well-structured, coherent paragraphs:
- Point – the topic sentence, which describes the focus (main point) of the paragraph
- Illustration – evidence and examples that reinforce the main point
- Explanation – evaluate the evidence in the illustration, discuss its significance, and show how this paragraph connects to the thesis statement and the other paragraphs in the essay.
Don't make your sentences too long – as a rough guide, your sentences should be 3 lines or less. If your sentences are longer than this, consider breaking them into shorter sentences or re-writing them to be more concise.
Point
Point Discuss only 1 major point in each paragraph – the point should connect with the overall focus of the essay.
The major point of the paragraph is often called the controlling idea. Every paragraph should have a different controlling idea, each discussing 1 aspect or part of the overall essay.
Begin your body paragraphs with a summary of the controlling idea. This is also known as the topic sentence. This sentence summarises the paragraph in the same way the thesis statement summarises the whole essay.
The rest of your paragraph should support the main point or topic sentence by explaining it in detail, giving examples and citing evidence from relevant references.
Illustration
Illustration Give evidence and examples that reinforce the main point.
The largest part of any body paragraph is the illustration, which uses logic, supporting evidence and examples to fully explain the main point raised in the topic sentence. It's not enough to just explain an idea – you must show that outside evidence supports it as well. Summarise and paraphrase:
- Facts
- Published opinions
- Research from books, journal articles, and websites
- Published case studies
- Research data.
Having researched your topic in preparation for writing an essay, you will have accumulated a wide range of facts, published research, and other information relevant to the topic. Don't just throw these facts together in body paragraphs – apply them to the topic or signal to the reader what the connections are between them.
Your evidence must be relevant to the topic and it must be used and credited properly.
Explanation
Explanation Evaluate the evidence in the illustration, discuss its significance, and show how this paragraph connects to the thesis statement and the other paragraphs in the essay.
The explanation should clarify:
- how the reader should interpret your illustrative evidence
- Explanation idea works to support the thesis statement.
Integrate all outside sources with your own writing. They should not appear randomly through the paragraph but should be given context and interpreted for the reader.
Transitions and essay flow
'Flow' is a word often used by lecturers to describe the way that the essay holds together and moves from point to point. In an essay it is very easy to pile facts upon facts, and lose sight of the overall cohesion of the essay. Flow can apply within individual paragraphs and between different paragraphs.
Transitions are words that can appear at the beginning or end of a paragraph and show the connections between:
- individual paragraphs in the essay
- the paragraphs and the overall focus.
If a paragraph flows well, it should be obvious to the reader when you move from one point to another.
Within paragraphs
Within paragraphs Use signposts to link information together and create a narrative in your essay.
Consider this example paragraph:
'Incorporation offers several advantages to businesses and their owners. Ownership is easy to transfer. The business is able to maintain a continuous existence even when the original owners are no longer involved. The stockholders of a corporation are not held responsible for the business's debts. If the XYZ Corporation defaults on a $1 million loan, its investors will not be held responsible for paying that liability. Incorporation enables a business to obtain professional managers with centralised authority and responsibility; the business can be run more efficiently. Incorporation gives a business certain legal rights. It can enter into contracts, own property, and borrow money.'
There are a lot of facts, but the paragraph feels jumpy and disjointed. By adding a few connecting words within the paragraph – known as “signposts” – you can make it much more readable:
'Incorporation offers several advantages to businesses and their owners. For one thing, ownership is easy to transfer. The business is able to maintain a continuous existence even when the original owners are no longer involved. In addition, the stockholders of a corporation are not held responsible for the business's debts. If the XYZ Corporation defaults on a $1 million loan, for instance, its investors will not be held responsible for paying that liability. Incorporation also enables a business to obtain professional managers with centralised authority and responsibility; therefore, the business can be run more efficiently. Finally, incorporation gives a business certain legal rights. For example, it can enter into contracts, own property, and borrow money.'
Signposts make your writing flow more smoothly and make it easier to follow. They tell the reader:
- what is going to be said
- what is being said
- what has already been said
- how the main ideas support the thesis statement
- how each group of ideas follow from the ones before.
Some of the most common signposts are listed here, according to what they do in a paragraph.
| Purpose | Signpost words and phrases |
|---|---|
| Highlighting or emphasising a point |
Importantly, Indeed, In fact, More importantly, Furthermore, Moreover, It is also important to highlight |
| Changing direction or creating a comparison |
However, Rather, In contrast, Conversely, On one hand, On the other hand, In comparison, Compared to Another point to consider is |
| Adding a similar point |
Similarly, Likewise, Again, Also, |
| Summarising |
Finally, Lastly, In conclusion, To summarise, In summary, Overall, The 3 main points are |
| Being more specific |
In particular, In relation to More specifically, With respect to In terms of |
| Giving an example |
For instance, For example, This can be illustrated by Namely, Such as |
| Acknowledging something and moving to a different point |
Although Even though Despite Notwithstanding |
| Following a line of reasoning |
Therefore, Subsequently, Hence Consequently, Accordingly, As a result, As a consequence, To this end, |
Between paragraphs
Between paragraphs Use transitions to signal the flow and the connections between paragraphs.
Each paragraph should discuss only 1 major point and must also be different from the other paragraphs. Its major point should be unique. Signpost words can be used between paragraphs, to indicate the transitions from one sub-topic or major point to another.
For example, if you are analysing one study and then comparing it to another in a later paragraph, a transition would use a word or phrase to indicate changing direction or creating a comparison:
'In contrast to the conclusion drawn by Smith (2004), Nguyen (2006) showed that the connection between the factors was not causal in most circumstances.'
A paragraph that illustrates a point with a case study or example would create a transition by giving an example:
'The interpretation in Nguyen (2006) was supported in practice, as illustrated by the fieldwork of Corelli (2008).'
Transitions show the reader the “movement” between paragraphs – they show that they follow a logical order and build on each other. They can also show the reader how the paragraphs reconnect with the overall topic of the essay as described in the thesis statement.
If you cannot identify the movement from one paragraph to another, you may need to return to the plan to see if they are actually unique. If your paragraphs jump over important points, repeat themselves, or leave gaps in the explanation, this will also undermine the flow of the essay.
Words and phrases to connect your paragraphs include the following.
| Paragraph order | Words and phrases |
|---|---|
| Chronological |
Firstly, To begin with, Following Secondly, Finally, Lastly, |
| Thematic |
In particular, In relation to More specifically, With respect to In terms of |
| Sequential |
Therefore, Subsequently, Hence Consequently, Accordingly, As a result, As a consequence, To this end, |
| Contrasting |
However, Rather, In contrast, Conversely, On one hand, On the other hand, In comparison, Compared to Another point to consider is |
Body paragraph guidelines
Develop 1 idea only in each paragraph – this is the controlling idea or point.
This idea can be summarised in a topic sentence. Develop the controlling idea in the rest of the paragraph with relevant factual details, examples, explanations, definitions, arguments or research data.
Sentences within the paragraph should be well linked so that connections between them are obvious.
Arrange your paragraphs in a logical sequence. Paragraphs should also be well linked.
Make connections between sentences and between paragraphs.
Use signposts or transitional words and phrases to indicate change, comparison, or agreement.
View our example essays for model introductions, body paragraphs & conclusions.
Related content
Introduction
Learn how to write an introduction paragraph, including context for your essay, your response to the essay question and the structure and organisation of the essay.
Thesis statement
Find out how to outline an argument, contention, or thesis that answers the question in your thesis statement.
Conclusion
Find out how to summarise the most important, relevant, and useful main points from your body paragraphs in your essay's conclusion.