Final answer:
High school English essays require well-structured body paragraphs that introduce a key idea, provide cited evidence, explain the evidence, and include a transition sentence to achieve coherence. Validity and clarity of the evidence support the overall thesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
When drafting body paragraphs for an essay, it's essential to start with a topic sentence that introduces the paragraph's main idea. This idea should reflect the overall thesis of your essay. The use of embedded cited evidence from credible sources, such as books or journal articles, is crucial to support your argument. Include 1-2 sentences to explain each piece of evidence, showing how it supports your key idea and relates back to your thesis statement.
Each body paragraph should end with a transition sentence that smoothly leads into the next paragraph, ensuring a coherent flow of ideas throughout your essay. For a persuasive or expository essay, appropriate support and clear explanation of the evidence are vital, as these elements strengthen the argument or explanation offered in your essay. Lastly, checking the validity and relevance of each paragraph's content in relation to the topic sentence is crucial for a well-developed argument.