The Five-Step Paragraph

1.  Topic Sentence

2.  Narrow Down Sentence(s)

3.  Quotation

4.  Explanation(s)

5.  Conclusion

Topic Sentence

            In the topic sentence, you should present some portion of your thesis to be proven in the paragraph.  If you are working with a thesis created from the three models, you can present the information you inserted into spaces x and y.  Each new paragraph should either develop a new portion or expand a point made in a previous paragraph.

Narrow Down Sentences

            The narrow down sentences should point the reader’s attention to a specific passage that supports your topic sentence.  You should name the source of the passage (who is speaking hereIn what context?) or describe the content of the passage (who’s doing what?  What is the speaker saying?).

Quotation

            Here you will use a quote from your text pertinent to the sup-point of the thesis—that is, the topic of this paragraph

Explanation

            In these sentences you need to explain the meaning of the passage you’ve just quoted, and/or explain how that passage supports your topic sentence.   Refer to specific words in the passage that carry special meaning or extra importance and how those words give rise to your interpretation.  This is your analysis.

Conclusion

            To conclude the body paragraph, you need to finish your explanation of the passage and sum up the points just presented.  You also need to provide a transition to the next paragraph.

Example:

Thesis statement:
Erin McGraw uses the reoccurring image of fire in “Ax of the Apostles” to suggest the internal struggle of Father Murray.

Now that I have a thesis statement, I will write a potential body paragraph for the thesis. This paragraph could fit into a larger essay using the thesis I created. Don’t worry about making a perfect paragraph; this is a draft, a starting place.

Topic sentence:
McGraw presents fire in various ways throughout the story as a way of providing insight into the life of Father Murray, in particular with one of Father Murray’s antagonist, Adreson.

Narrow down:
Adreson, one of Father Murray’s students, has a problem with acne, which Father Murray points out throughout the story every time he sees him in passing. Though a physical characteristic of which Adreson seems unable to control, the acne becomes a part of Father Murray with each encounter.

Quote:
The narrator’s ability to provide internal thoughts of Father Murray reveals to the reader: “The young man, who had been absently fingering a flaming blemish beside his nose, held out his hand toward Father Murray” (McGraw 39).

Explanation of quote:
Because Adreson extends the tainted hand to Father Murray, he unknowingly extends a part of himself to Father Murray. The pain of the blemish attaches to and stimulates the burning desires in Father Murray. He finds himself torn between reaching out to Adreson while maintaining a cloak of secrecy and endurance.

Concluding sentence:
Through the one gesture of shaking hands with Adreson, Father Murray develops a connection to him that not only fuels his desire to continue reaching out to him, but it also sheds light to the fact that his desire to change is a struggle for him.

Putting it all together:

        McGraw presents fire in various ways throughout the story as a way of providing insight into the life of Father Murray, in particular with one of Father Murray’s antagonist, Adreson. Adreson, one of Father Murray’s students, has a problem with acne, which Father Murray points out throughout the story every time he sees him in passing. Though a physical characteristic of which Adreson seems unable to control, the acne becomes a part of Father Murray with each encounter. The narrator’s ability to provide internal thoughts of Father Murray reveals to the reader: “The young man, who had been absently fingering a flaming blemish beside his nose, held out his hand toward Father Murray” (McGraw 39). Because Adreson extends the tainted hand to Father Murray, he unknowingly extends a part of himself to Father Murray. The pain of the blemish attaches to and stimulates the burning desires in Father Murray. He finds himself torn between reaching out to Adreson while maintaining a cloak of secrecy and endurance. Through the one gesture of shaking hands with Adreson, Father Murray develops a connection to him that not only fuels his desire to continue reaching out to him, but it also sheds light to the fact that his desire to change is a struggle for him.