RESEARCH ESSAY

Types of Body Paragraphs

For this assignment, body paragraphs should …

1) address causes or contributing factors,

2) discuss the implications or effects,

3) lay out a plan to approach, alleviate, or help solve the problem,

4) consider the implications of your plan, and

5) respond to potential counterarguments to your proposed solutions.

1. Create a context → One or more body paragraphs should discuss what is causing the ethical

problem.

Questions you might address:

a. What kind of historical context might help explain the problem?

b. What various factors are contributing to the problem?

2. Show what’s at stake → One or more body paragraphs should discuss the implications or effects of

the problem.

Questions you might address:

a. What impact does the problem have on the economy?

b. Does the problem disproportionately effect a particular group of people?

c. What impact does the problem have on the environment?

d. What impact does the problem have on individuals’ lives?

e. What impact does the problem have on people’s finances?

f. What impact does the problem have on physical health?

g. What impact does the problem have on mental health?

h. What is preventing progress when it comes to this problem?

3. Plan your approach → One or more body paragraphs should outline a plan to address the problem.

Questions you might address:

a. How might policy changes help?

b. How might awareness and education help?

c. What can individuals do to help?

d. What can communities do to help?

e. What can institutions, organizations, or corporations do to help?

f. How might activism help?

g. What has worked in the past?

h. What has not been tried yet?

i. Are there models abroad that work well and might be adopted in the States?

j. Do the proposed solutions create other problems?

4. Consider the consequences of your plan → One or more body paragraphs should envision the

implications of your proposed plan.

Questions you might address:

a) What unintended consequences might my plan have?

b) Do my suggestions for solutions cause any new problems?

5. Anticipate obstacles → One or more body paragraphs should address potential counterarguments to

your proposed solutions.

Questions you might address:

a. Think of your proposal and try to finish the statement:

Some people might argue … .

Some people might argue … .

Some people might argue … .

Some people might argue … .

b. Why might some people argue against your plan or parts of your plan?

c. How would you respond to those arguments?