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How to write effective body paragraphs |
| The topic of the essay was: Television has a negative impact on children and teenagers. What do you think about this? |
We had created a jot list of points-some in favor of television and some showing its negative aspects.
In the introduction, I had stated that the drawbacks of television far outweigh the merits. The body paragraphs will now elucidate this point of view in detail with examples to justify the stance. Each body paragraph will focus on one negative aspect of watching television. |
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| Note: Each body paragraph should have a topic sentence. It is like a thesis statement but applies to that paragraph only and not to the complete essay. A topic sentence encapsulates the main ideas contained in that paragraph. Ideally, the first or the second sentence of the paragraph is the topic sentence. You will know that your topic sentences are correct and you have not diverged from the topic if all your topic sentences logically add up to the thesis statement. I will show you how. |
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| The body: |
The first and the most significant disadvantage is that children are exposed to programs not meant for them at all, often causing grave harm to their psyche. Most children today, especially those without siblings and living in unitary families, have little to occupy them. They resort to playing computer games or watching TV in their spare time. If both parents happen to be working, this leaves them without any parental supervision. This often means that children surf channels and watch programs completely unsuitable for them. Since children are very impressionable and vulnerable, these programs lead to an unhealthy mental development.
This unhealthy growth can be counteracted if quality time is spent with parents and peers. However, this often does not happen. Ironically, TV, the most popular medium of communication, actually hampers communication, even between friends and family. Everyone, once their day's work is done, is engrossed in watching some television program of their choice. This means that no active communication takes place. People have ceased to exchange pleasant small talk that made family dinners special and inculcated the right values in children. Children miss out on these today. Friends call each other to discuss the latest TV idol or soap star. Hardly any fruitful information is exchanged. Television is thus gradually leading to the creation of isolated individuals who will probably forget the art of communication and making friends in the years to come.
Apart from these demerits, what is probably the most alarming is the increase in health problems associated with watching television. Some of the most crucial are increase in obesity in children, heart diseases associated with a sedentary life, eye-problems from constant exposure. A new breed of youngsters termed "couch potatoes" has risen out of the present culture of watching television while munching on junk food. Playing outdoors, reading, painting, and other active and creative leisure activities are fast being replaced by the inactive one of watching television.
To see whether the argument has built up to the thesis statement written in the introduction, carry out the following test:
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| Topic Sentence 1 |
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Topic Sentence 2 |
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Topic Sentence 3 |
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Thesis Statement |
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| The first and the most significant disadvantage is that children are exposed to programs not meant for them at all, often causing grave harm to their psyche. |
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Ironically, TV, the most popular medium of communication, actually hampers communication, even between friends and family. |
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Apart from these demerits, what is probably the most alarming is the increase in health problems associated with watching television. |
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Thus, in spite of all the advantages, TV has a number of fallout for youngsters. |
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Here, as you can see, there is no flaw in the logical flow because the topic sentences are rationally leading to the thesis statement made in the introduction.
In the next issue, I will show you how this essay can be effectively concluded.
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