Body sentences make up most of the essay. There are three main types of body sentences:

  1. topic sentences
  2. supporting detail sentences
  3. concluding sentences

The Topic Sentence

The topic sentence introduces the main idea of the body paragraph. It often includes a transition word or phrase.

Examples

  • Elephants are very loyal creatures.
  • Pygmie rabbits are in danger of becoming extinct.

Supporting Detail Sentences

Supporting detail sentences make up the majority of the body paragraph. They support the topic sentence by:

  • providing examples
  • giving quotes
  • listing evidence
  • explaining ideas
  • describing experiences

Examples

  • There was a family of elephants in India who were separated. The mother was captured and taken to join a circus. However, she escaped and traveled many difficult miles to return to her family.
  • Currently, there are only a few pygmie rabbits in the wild because the sagebrush meadows where they live are being converted for agriculture or depleted by oil and natural gas extraction projects.

Concluding Sentences


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Exercise

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