How to write a body paragraph in an essay...

Follow this easy-to-remember formula when writing a body paragraph for your essay - TEEC. Each of the letters is code for the type of sentence to be written.

T - topic sentence - this is the key point you wish to make in the paragraph. It should be in support of your hypothesis and ideally it should have been previewed in your introduction.

E - explanation - this sentence elaborates on your topic sentence, providing your reader with further understanding of the key point.

E - evidence - this sentence provides your reader with material which supports your explanation. It may be in the form of facts, statistics, an example or a quotation from your source or research (of course, referencing is required for this).

C - concluding sentence - finalise your paragraph with a rounding statement, linking back to your hypothesis and, wherever possible, including a link point to following paragraph.

Need an example? Okay, here we go:

Hypothesis (statement made in introductory paragraph) -

Australian poet, Kenneth Slessor, has explored a range of rural and urban settings in his work.

Body Paragraph 1 -

(T - topic sentence)As a younger man, Slessor explored a rural setting in his poem, 'Country Towns', which was written in 1920. (E - explanation)Within the poem, he successfully manipulates a range of images to describe a non-specific, yet easily visualised, outback Australian town. (E - evidence/examples)The approach used by Slessor to address the town directly, 'Country towns, with your willows and squares', is unconventional, direct and intimate. (C - concluding sentence)As he draws upon these common elements of such towns, he demonstrates a gentle humour and a great affection, an appreciation of place which can also be seen in his later works. (link to next body paragraph which would focus upon 'William Street' and an urban setting)

Remember, TEEC - it's all you need to write the perfect body paragraph!

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