Parts of a Whole

We may think of seawater as liquid and flowing, and representing a complete thing in itself. In truth, however, the water is made up of small but complete units. While these smaller units may be too small to perceive, they have a purpose and a function. These parts all come together into a coherent whole, even if they might not seem to do anything at first glance.

The essay also has smaller parts that come together to form a larger message. The larger picture of the essay might include the introductory and concluding paragraphs, held together in unity by the thesis sentence. The thesis is the larger controlling idea of the essay and holds the essay’s organization together. In addition, the thesis will often act as a purpose statement that will outline your topic and the angle you’ve chosen to explore.

But on a smaller level, body paragraphs function the same way. Much as the thesis statement is the guiding force of the entire essay, the topic sentence is the controlling idea of the individual paragraph. Each topic sentence should be focused and coherent, and should explore a single aspect of your thesis. Think of the topic sentence as a smaller thesis, except it unifies a single paragraph. However, keep in mind that the topic sentence must support the thesis statement while also bringing unity to the paragraph.

In turn, each sentence within the body paragraph must support both the topic sentence and the thesis statement. Each detail in the body paragraph needs to be related to the overall argument and the purpose of your essay. In addition, the sentences within the body paragraph should flow in a logical order that clearly expresses the ideas you’re exploring in the essay. We refer to these concepts as unity and coherence, and a good body paragraph should incorporate both elements.

Also remember to maintain consistency between paragraphs as well. The singular paragraph does not exist in a vacuum; it is surrounded by other body paragraphs that perform the same function. Consider the paragraph’s relationships with the paragraphs preceding and following the one you’re presently looking at. Your paragraph must flow smoothly, both within the current subtopic you’re exploring and between paragraphs. Use transitions to create flow between your ideas as needed; there should never be abrupt shifts in topic in your essay. If you’re interested in examples of effective transitions, a list of transitions is available in the Stone Writing Center’s handouts section.

Remember that while it may seem independent, each body paragraph forms connections with the rest of the essay to reveal a larger picture. Each paragraph must function as a unit and as linked in purpose with the other paragraphs you’ve written. Make certain that the smaller points function effectively, so that the paragraph can support the essay’s larger purpose.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!