Which academic phrases belong in an essay body?
This is the third of four chapters About Body Paragraphs. To complete this reader, read each chapter carefully and then unlock and complete our materials to check your understanding.
– Provide language models for the key elements of an academic body paragraph
– Discuss the academic language which should be used and the unacademic language which should be avoided
– Provide examples of cohesive devices, hedging language and reporting verbs to guide the reader
Before you begin reading...
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video and audio texts
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knowledge checks and quizzes
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skills practices, tasks and assignments
Chapter 3
In this third chapter on writing effective body paragraphs, we focus next on the type of language that students should aim to include if they wish to improve their grades. While inclusion of such language is not essential, doing so will help to clarify the academic tone of your writing and will better guide the reader through your key arguments and the sections of your essay.
Body-Paragraph Elements
As was explained in detail in Chapter 2 of this short reader, there are four key essay elements that belong in a successful body section. These are commonly topic sentences (and their main ideas), supporting details and summary-transition sentences. To form each of these elements in an academic style, there are a number of language models that students can use:
Academic Language
In addition to the key words and phrases that can be used to introduce the key elements of a body paragraph, it is important also that students pay careful attention to the common rules of formal academic language – remembering also to avoid informal and unacceptable structures. The following table briefly outlines the key language structures that should be avoided:
While the next table instead provides the seven academic structures that can be used across all paragraphs of an essay (including the introduction and conclusion), three of these language structures are particularly important for the body section. These are cohesive devices, hedging language and reporting verbs (for including source-based information):
While Academic Marker has short readers on each of these three language structures, the tables provided below briefly summarise some of the key language that should be useful when writing the body section of your essay:
Visit our readers on academic language, cohesive devices, hedging language and reporting verbs for more information about these language structures and for activities to check your progress and understanding. Alternatively, continue on to the fourth and final chapter in this short reader about body paragraphs to find out the seven best tips for writing successful academic body paragraphs.
To reference this reader:
Academic Marker (2022) About Body Paragraphs. Available at: https://academicmarker.com/essay-writing/body-paragraphs/about-body-paragraphs/ (Accessed: Date Month Year).
Downloadables
Once you’ve completed all four chapters in this short reader About Body Paragraphs, you might then wish to download our Chapter Worksheets to check your progress or print for your students. These professional PDF worksheets can be easily accessed for only a few Academic Marks
Chapter 1 explores the topic: What is the body section of an academic essay? Our Chapter 1 Worksheet (containing guidance, activities and answer keys) can be accessed here at the click of a button.
Chapter 2 explores the topic: Which elements build successful body paragraphs? Our Chapter 2 Worksheet (containing guidance, activities and answer keys) can be accessed here at the click of a button.
Chapter 3 explores the topic: Which academic phrases belong in an essay body? Our Chapter 3 Worksheet (containing guidance, activities and answer keys) can be accessed here at the click of a button.
Chapter 4 explores the topic: Which tips make for effective essay body sections? Our Chapter 4 Worksheet (containing guidance, activities and answer keys) can be accessed here at the click of a button.
To save yourself 3 Marks, click on the button below to gain unlimited access to all of our About Body Paragraphs Chapter Worksheets. This All-in-1 Pack includes every chapter, activity and answer key related this topic in one handy and professional PDF.
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