A paragraph, excluding introductory or concluding paragraphs, treats of a single idea about the topic of the essay.

For example, the topic is “future of democracy in Pakistan”. We will have many ideas about how the outlook of democracy in Pakistan is going to be in the future, depending upon many things. Those ‘many things’, upon which the future depends, will be our ‘ideas’ about the topic. Therefore, we will treat ‘ONE’ of those ‘many ideas’ in one paragraph. For instance, the future of democracy in Pakistan depends upon the military, the judiciary, the media, the resolution of economic crisis, the Afghan war, etc. In our individual paragraphs, we will take one of those points and treat it in one paragraph to show what bearing it has on the future of democracy.

More importantly, the body paragraph will also have to support our thesis. Depending on our thesis, we have to provide a certain colour to our body paragraph. If our thesis is “Future of democracy in Pakistan (topic) is very uncertain (opinion)” our each body paragraph will show how any of those factors (military, judiciary, energy crisis etc) makes the future uncertain.

The first sentence of the body paragraph is called the ‘topic sentence’. It informs the reader of the IDEA that will be dealt with in the paragraph. It also tells the reader that this idea and the paragraph will uphold the thesis.
So our topic sentence can be: “The role of the military will decide the fate of democracy in the future.”

After the topic sentence, we can write a general sentence about the idea in it like “The military has alternated with democratic rulers in the governance of the country.”

After the general idea, we can provide three or four specific ideas about the topic that general idea:

1. “In 1958, the democratic disposition was done away with and the military stepped in.”

2. “Again in 1977, the military deposed and executed the democratic ruler. It then went on to rule the country for eleven years.”

3. “Recently, the democratic leader was deposed in 1999 and military rule installed in. That rule ended in 2008.”

Having given three or four specific details, draw a general pattern from them: “It is a notorious fact in Pakistan that, after every ten years or so, the military has taken over the reigns of government from the democratic politicians. “

You can include another sentence to make a bridge to your conclusion of the topic sentence: “The military has been in the barracks since 2008. However, the question is: Will it continue to keep away from politics?”

Conclude your argument: “It is this role of the military in the past, therefore, that makes uncertain the future of democracy in the country.”

Let us now see all our ideas.
A Body Paragraph

Topic sentence: The role of the military will decide the fate of democracy in the future.

General idea: The military has alternated with democratic rulers in the governance of the country.

Specific detail, 1: In 1958, the democratic disposition was done away with and the military stepped in.

Specific detail, 2: Again, in 1977, the military deposed and executed the democratic ruler. It then went on to rule the country for eleven years.

Specific detail, 3: and recently, the democratic leader was deposed in 1999 and military rule installed in. That rule ended in 2008.

General pattern: It is a notorious fact in Pakistan that, after every ten years or so, the military has taken over the reigns of government from the democratic politicians.

Bridge sentence: the military has been in the barracks since 2008. However, the question is ' Will it continue to keep away from politics?'

Conclusion: It is this role of the military in the past , therefore, that makes uncertain the future of democracy in the country.

As you can see this body paragraph also upholds the thesis that future of democracy in Pakistan is uncertain.

Here is the complete paragraph.

*(However, Moreover, as a result) The role of the military will decide the fate of democracy in the future. The military has alternated with democratic rulers in the governance of the country. In 1958, the democratic disposition was done away with and the military stepped in. Again in 1977, the military deposed and executed the democratic ruler. It then went on to rule the country for eleven years. Recently, the democratic leader was deposed in 1999 and military rule installed in. That rule ended in 2008. It is a notorious fact in Pakistan that, after every ten years or so, the military has taken over the reigns of government from the democratic politicians. It has been in the barracks since 2008. However, the question is ' Will it continue to keep away from politics?' It is this role of the military in the past, therefore, that makes uncertain the future of democracy in the country.

*Note: ‘Transition words’ You can use any of them or any other word to connect the paragraph depending on how this paragraph relates to the previous: opposite (however), similar (Moreover), causal (As a result).

There are, however, other details about paragraph writing not treated here, as the objective of this piece was to show a “simple paragraph”. Comments are welcomed because I know there are other faults in this piece.