Chapter 5 – Notes

Writing the Body of Your Composition

Introduction:

The Body of the composition should develop and support your thesis statement. It is organized in
paragraphs and each one of them should
achieve three objectives:
1. support and develop the main idea (thesis statement);
2. should be linked to the other paragraphs;
3. should introduce and develop a new idea or clarify an idea which has already been introduced in the
previous paragraph.

I. Supporting and Developing

the Thesis Statement:

A paragraph should start with

clear topic sentence, derived from
the thesis statement which states
the main point of that paragraph;
it serves to lead and direct the
reader through it, see p. 49 of the textbook

1. Description of Mars Climate Observer, its objective (studying Mars atmosphere and its climate +
sending data back to Earth) and how it failed
2. Description of Mars Polar Lander, its Objective (studying Martian weather and soil focusing on the
planet’s southern area) + reason for failure
3. The effects of the failures on NASA
and how it is criticized and will have
less money next year.

II. Linking Paragraphs:

A paragraph can usually be connected to the other paragraphs in two different ways:
* by a transitional word/ phrase;
* echoing a previous paragraph: repeating a word / phrase mentioned in the previous paragraph

II. Transitional Words:

The followings are examples of transitional words based on the particular method of development used
in your writing:
Contrast: however, nevertheless, yet,
still, while, on the other hand, etc.
Sequence: Firstly, next, then, finally, etc.
Exemplification: for example, for instance, etc.
Comparison: similarly, likewise, in the same way,
Addition: Also, moreover, in addition, furthermore, etc.
Change of time: nowadays, in the future, in the past, earlier, later, etc.

III. Presenting and Developing

New Information
Each paragraph should introduce new information about the
thesis statement and develop
it so that it contributes to the progression and development of your thoughts and argument, see e.g. on
page 51 of the textbook.

p. 51
Thesis Statement: satellites size and composition.
Topic Sentence One: develops the first point (satellites size) and gives more information about the
range of sizes.
Topic Sentence Two: develops the second point (what satellites are made of) and this depends on their
distance from the sun and their geological history.

Exercise 7, p. 53
1. It is announced through a general statement. How Earth receives energy from the sun
2. How the process works and how the radiation is converted into heat
3. How this heat can be used in three different ways.
4. topic sentence: the first technique; linking through “echoing” repetition…
5. “In addition”: coherence inside the paragraph

6. The second technique: “sunlight”: linking paragraph. Linking with transitional word “Second.”
7. topic sentence talks about the third way of using the sun’s radiation. It is linked with the transitional
word “thirdly”

Exercise 8, p. 54