2.4. Developing Body Paragraphs

The Paragraph Formula

Every body paragraph in a Task 2 essay follows the same formula:

Topic Sentence → Explanation → Example

That's it. If you can do this well, your body paragraphs will be clear, well-developed, and score highly on both Task Response and Coherence & Cohesion.

Here's what this looks like in practice, using the question: "It is irresponsible of parents to allow toddlers to use mobile phones. Why is this the case?"

Topic Sentence: Parents use mobile phones to keep their toddlers entertained while they complete household tasks.

Explanation: This is because parents cannot find the time to finish their tasks when they are consumed with looking after their toddlers. That is why they give them mobile phones to keep them occupied so they can finish whatever they need to do.

Example: For example, many parents need to cook meals for their families, which requires time and attention. This is why they give phones to their toddlers to keep them occupied so they can finish without interruptions.

Notice how each part has a clear job. The topic sentence tells you what the paragraph is about. The explanation tells you why. The example shows you what this looks like in real life. Nothing is wasted.

How to Write Effective Topic Sentences

Your topic sentence takes an idea from your plan and states it clearly in one sentence. It signals to the reader exactly what this paragraph will discuss.

Three Rules for Topic Sentences

1. It must answer the question. If the question asks "why do parents give toddlers phones?", your topic sentence should be a reason why parents give toddlers phones.

2. It should be paraphrased, not copied. If your introduction says "parents allow their children to use mobile devices," your topic sentence should restate this differently — "parents use phones to entertain their toddlers," for example.

3. It should be clear and direct. One idea, simply expressed. No need to pack everything into this sentence — the explanation and example will do the heavy lifting.

Practice: Choose the Best Topic Sentence

For a paragraph about why parents give toddlers mobile phones, which of these topic sentences is best?

The answer is A. Here's why:

• Option A is clear, direct, and answers the question. It tells the reader exactly what this paragraph will discuss: parents use phones as entertainment for toddlers. The explanation and example can now develop this idea.

• Option B says the same thing as A but is catastrophically overcomplicated. "Contemporary parental figures" instead of "parents"? "Mobile technological devices" instead of "phones"? "Facilitating their offspring's temporal engagement" instead of "entertaining their toddlers"? This is writing to impress, not to communicate. The examiner would mark this down for inappropriate vocabulary use, not up for complexity.

• Option C has a focus problem. "They enjoy playing with them" — who enjoys what? It sounds like the paragraph will be about children enjoying phones. But the question asks about parents' motivation, not children's enjoyment. This topic sentence would lead you off-topic.

Tip: After writing a topic sentence, ask yourself: "Does this directly answer the question?" If the answer is no, rewrite it. A topic sentence that drifts from the question will pull the whole paragraph off-topic with it.

How to Write Strong Explanations

The explanation is where most students struggle. They state an idea in their topic sentence and then immediately jump to an example — skipping the reasoning entirely. Or they pad it with filler sentences that don't actually explain anything.

The "Explain It to a 10-Year-Old" Technique

Imagine a child reads your topic sentence and asks: "But why?"

Your explanation is your answer to that child. It needs to be simple, logical, and complete.

Topic sentence: Parents use mobile phones to keep their toddlers entertained while they complete household tasks.

A child asks: "But why can't they just do the tasks while the toddler plays on their own?"

Your answer: "Because toddlers need constant attention. If a parent is cooking, they can't keep stopping to watch their child. The phone keeps the child's attention for long enough so the parent can actually finish what they're doing."

Now write that as your explanation:

"This is because parents cannot find the time to finish their tasks when they are consumed with looking after their toddlers. That is why they give them mobile phones to keep them occupied so they can finish whatever they need to do."

Three Rules for Explanations

1. Answer "why?" or "how?" Every explanation should respond to one of these questions. If your explanation doesn't answer either, it's probably filler.

2. Each sentence must have a job. Read each sentence in your explanation and ask: "What does this sentence add that the previous one didn't?" If the answer is nothing, cut it.

3. Stay simple and logical. If a 10-year-old would still ask "but why?" after reading your explanation, you haven't finished explaining.

How to Write Concrete Examples

Your example is where you prove your point. It needs to be specific, not vague.

The Difference Between Vague and Specific

The vague examples could mean anything. The specific examples paint a picture the reader can see.

How to Generate Specific Examples

Use this technique: start with your own life, then make it general.

1. Think of a specific moment you've seen or experienced. (Your sister giving her toddler an iPad while she cooks.)
2. Generalise it slightly so it applies to many people, not just one person. ("Many parents need to cook meals for their families...")
3. Connect it back to your point. ("...which is why they give phones to their toddlers to keep them occupied so they can finish without interruptions.")

Important: "For example, some people do X" is not an example. It's a vague restatement of your point. A real example includes who is doing what specific thing and why.

Here's the complete example sentence for our paragraph:

"For example, many parents need to cook meals for their families, which requires time and attention. This is why they give phones to their toddlers to keep them occupied so they can finish without interruptions."

Notice how "cooking meals" is doing the heavy lifting. It's a real, tangible activity that anyone can picture. Compare that to "doing things" or "completing tasks" — those are so general they mean nothing.

Sentence Pairs: How Sentences Follow Each Other

Strong body paragraphs are built from sentence pairs — two sentences that work together in a logical relationship. Understanding these patterns will make your writing flow naturally.

Pattern 1: Opinion + Supporting Reason

State what you believe, then explain why.

"I believe that mobile phones should not be given to toddlers. This is because young children's brains are still developing, and excessive screen time can interfere with their ability to concentrate."

Pattern 2: Opinion + Supporting Example

State your position, then immediately back it up with evidence.

"Products should not be tested on animals. Such items are not essential, and there is no need to make creatures suffer for the sake of making money."

Pattern 3: Argument + Counter-Argument

Present one side, then introduce the opposing view.

"It is often said that the only way to prevent crime is stricter punishments. However, statistics show that more severe punishments do nothing to reduce crime rates."

Pattern 4: Listing (Reasons or Examples)

Present multiple supporting points in sequence.

"Firstly, television news is too short to explain stories fully. Secondly, editors favour sensational stories over important ones."

These patterns are the building blocks of body paragraphs. You don't need to use all four in one paragraph — but recognising them helps you structure your sentences so each one logically follows the last.

Complex Sentences Using Linking Words

Beyond basic sentence pairs, you can build more sophisticated sentences using linking words that show the relationship between ideas. These demonstrate grammatical range to the examiner — but only use them when they feel natural.

apart from

Shows that something has an additional effect or quality beyond the main one.

"Apart from wasting water, industries are also responsible for contamination of water supplies."

This is efficient: it acknowledges one problem (wasting water) while introducing another (contamination) in a single sentence.

despite

Shows that something is true even though you'd expect the opposite.

"Despite billions of dollars having been sent to developing countries, millions still live in absolute poverty."

Note the grammar: despite is followed by a noun or gerund (-ing form), not a clause. "Despite billions of dollars having been sent..." — not "Despite billions of dollars were sent..."

not only...but also

Emphasises that two things are both true, with the second being surprising or noteworthy.

"Not only is there an epidemic of obesity amongst Western adults, but it is also becoming widespread in Western children."

Note the inverted word order after "not only" — "not only is there" rather than "not only there is." This is a common error.

contrary to

Directly opposes a common belief or assumption.

"Contrary to the popular belief that machines have replaced skilled workers, there is a huge demand for skilled artisans worldwide."

This is powerful for "discuss both views" questions where you want to challenge one side.

while

Shows a contrast between two simultaneous truths.

"While people claim to have concern for the environment, they compromise their ecological values almost daily."

Tip: Don't force these into every paragraph. One or two complex linking structures per essay is enough to show range. If the sentence sounds awkward, simplify it. A correct simple sentence always beats an incorrect complex one.

The Paragraph as a Mini-Essay

A well-developed body paragraph mirrors the structure of the essay itself:

The rounding-off sentence is optional, but it strengthens your paragraph by tying everything together. It should echo your topic sentence in different words — not repeat it exactly, but remind the reader of the point you've made.

Full Paragraph Example

Here's a complete body paragraph with each part labelled:

[Topic sentence] Parents use mobile phones to keep their toddlers entertained while they complete household tasks.

[Developing sentence 1 — explanation] This is because parents cannot find the time to finish their tasks when they are consumed with looking after their toddlers. That is why they give them mobile phones to keep them occupied so they can finish whatever they need to do.

[Developing sentence 2 — example] For example, many parents need to cook meals for their families, which requires time and attention. This is why they give phones to their toddlers to keep them occupied so they can finish without interruptions.

[Rounding-off sentence] Clearly, mobile phones serve a practical purpose for busy parents managing their daily responsibilities.

Notice the flow:

1. The topic sentence makes a claim.
2. The explanation answers "why?"
3. The example makes it real and specific.
4. The rounding-off sentence ties it back to the main point without repeating the topic sentence word-for-word.

This is the structure you should aim for in every body paragraph.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Identify the Parts

Read the paragraph below and label each sentence as Topic Sentence (TS), Explanation (E), Example (EX), or Rounding-off Sentence (R):

(1) One significant disadvantage of working from home is the lack of social interaction. (2) When employees work remotely, they miss the informal conversations and collaborative energy that come from sharing a physical workspace. (3) This isolation can lead to feelings of loneliness and reduced motivation over time. (4) For instance, a remote worker might go an entire week without speaking to a colleague face-to-face, relying solely on emails and video calls that lack the warmth of in-person communication. (5) It is therefore understandable why many employees report feeling disconnected from their teams when working from home.

Exercise 2: Fix the Weak Paragraph

This paragraph has problems. Rewrite it using the Topic Sentence → Explanation → Example formula:

"Technology is very important in education. Technology helps students. Many schools use technology. For example, technology is used in classrooms. This shows that technology is important."

Ask yourself:

• What is the actual main idea?
• Why is it true? (Explanation)
• What does this look like in real life? (Specific example)
• Does every sentence have a job?

Exercise 3: Write a Body Paragraph

Using the question below, write a complete body paragraph (4-6 sentences) following the formula:

"Many people believe that social media does more harm than good. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

Your paragraph should argue that social media harms people's mental health. Include:

• A clear topic sentence
• An explanation answering "why?" or "how?"
• A specific, concrete example
• A rounding-off sentence (optional)

Exercise 4: Choose the Better Example

For each pair, identify which example is stronger and explain why:

Pair A:

• (i) "For example, many people are affected by this issue."
• (ii) "For example, a recent study in the UK found that teenagers who spend more than three hours a day on social media are twice as likely to report symptoms of anxiety."

Pair B:

• (i) "For instance, students who are bullied online may develop depression, avoid school, and withdraw from friendships — problems that can persist well into adulthood."
• (ii) "For instance, cyberbullying is a big problem for students."

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Exercise Answers

Exercise 1:

• (1) Topic Sentence
• (2) Explanation
• (3) Explanation (continues the reasoning)
• (4) Example
• (5) Rounding-off Sentence

Exercise 4:

• Pair A: (ii) is stronger. It names a specific place (UK), a specific group (teenagers), a specific behaviour (three hours on social media), and a specific consequence (twice as likely to report anxiety). Sentence (i) is so vague it says nothing.
• Pair B: (i) is stronger. It names specific consequences (depression, avoiding school, withdrawing from friendships) and extends the impact into the future (persist into adulthood). Sentence (ii) just labels the problem without showing what it actually looks like.

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Key Takeaways

• Every body paragraph follows the same formula: Topic Sentence → Explanation → Example
• Your topic sentence should state one clear idea that directly answers the question — paraphrased, not copied from the introduction
• Your explanation should answer "why?" or "how?" — use the "explain it to a 10-year-old" technique if you get stuck
• Your example must be specific and concrete — "cooking dinner" is better than "doing things"
• Build paragraphs from sentence pairs: opinion + reason, opinion + example, argument + counter-argument, or listing
• Use complex linking words (apart from, despite, not only...but also, contrary to, while) to show grammatical range — but only when they feel natural
• Think of each body paragraph as a mini-essay: topic sentence (introduction), developing sentences (body), rounding-off sentence (conclusion)
• Every sentence must have a job — if it doesn't add new information or logic, cut it