Here are some things to consider as you revise your body paragraphs.

1. While the best writers make varied use of transitional expressions all the way throughout their prose, it is expected that, at a very minimum, they will appear at the beginnings of body paragraphs and the conclusion.

Some might opt for a simple sequential system, as in (e.g., “First,” “Next,” “Finally,” “In conclusion”).  Others might wish to tailor their transitions for the specific needs of the topic sentence they’re writing.  For a categorized list of common transitions, please consult Transitional Expressions in Course Resrouces.

2. Each body paragraph should exhibit a three-part structure:

A topic sentence that begins with a transition and states one reason, or supporting claim, in defense of the thesis.

A series of at least five supporting sentences that develop the topic sentence through explanation, exemplification, and textual anaylsis.

A concluding sentence that makes some general statement bringing the body paragraph to a close.

(See page 2 of the Short Academic Essay Guide for a more detailed discussion of this three-part structure.)

3. Make sure that your quotations are constructed and punctuated correctly and that your MLA parenthetical citations appear as they should.  If you need a review in this, you may consult the Philip Eggers, “Quotation, Paraphrasing, and MLA Citation” document in Course Resources.  You may also consult the sample essay in the Short Academic Essay Guide, which exhibits a variety of techniques in quoting and citing sources.