Organise and link body paragraphs

When to use essay body paragraphs

In the middle part of every essay, between the introduction and the conclusion.

Essay body paragraphs: how to do it

Each body paragraph starts with a sentence that gives its point and links to your answer. From the second paragraph on, it also links back to the paragraph before: 'Beyond the cost, ...', 'This also explains ...'. One paragraph, one main idea, and every idea supported.

Useful language for essay body paragraphs

• The main reason for ... is ...
• Beyond ..., ...
• This also explains why ...
• A further consideration is ...
• That said, ...
• Equally important is ...

Example of essay body paragraphs

Top footballers and basketball players now earn more in a week than many nurses earn in a year, and the gap keeps growing. Critics see this as proof that society values entertainment over essential work. I believe athletes' pay reflects how the sports market works rather than a moral failure, and that the comparison with other professions is misleading. The main reason is the enormous income elite sport generates. Broadcasting deals, sponsorship and ticket sales bring billions into the leading leagues, and the players are the reason fans pay. If clubs did not pass much of that money to the players, it would go to owners and shareholders instead. This market logic also explains why comparing athletes with nurses or teachers is unfair. Nurses' and teachers' pay is set mainly by public budgets, not by global audiences. The real issue, therefore, is not what athletes earn but how little governments choose to spend on public services, a political decision rather than a sporting one. That said, very few athletes ever reach these heights. Most professionals in smaller sports earn modest wages, and careers often end in their early thirties. Focusing on a handful of superstars gives a distorted picture of the profession. Overall, huge salaries at the top are a symptom of the commercial power of sport. If they make us uncomfortable, the more useful question is why essential workers are paid so little.

Topic: Do professional athletes earn too much?

How the BetterWrite coach checks essay body paragraphs

The BetterWrite coach checks 4 points for this skill, plus accuracy and staying on topic, and quotes your own words when one is not there yet.

Try it

Write a short essay (220-280 words) for your tutor: Should all young people do a year of community service? Focus on your body paragraphs and how they link.

Write 220-280 words (a short essay (4-5 paragraphs)).

Related guides

• Repeated sentence openings: how to vary the start Common mistake
• Missing articles: when to use a, an and the Common mistake
• Subject-verb agreement mistakes and how to fix them Common mistake
• Unclear pronouns: it, this and they Common mistake
• How to write essay body paragraphs B2
• Previous skill: How to write a C1 essay introduction C1
• Next skill: How to write an essay conclusion without repeating yourself C1