Body Paragraphs

📌 Sample Thesis

Collaborative learning enhances students’ academic performance by improving critical thinking and strengthening long-term memory.

📍 Topic Sentence of the Sample Body Paragraph (One Aspect of the Thesis)

One key reason collaborative learning is so effective is that group discussion significantly boosts students’ critical thinking skills.

➡️ Thesis: your overall argument
➡️ Topic sentence: one part of that argument
➡️ Body paragraph: explains and proves the topic sentence

📝 Sample Body Paragraph (Model)

Topic Sentence: One key reason collaborative learning is so effective is that group discussion significantly boosts students’ critical thinking skills.

Explanation: When students exchange ideas in groups, they are exposed to alternative viewpoints and are encouraged to justify their reasoning. This process pushes them beyond simply recalling information and requires them to analyse, evaluate, and refine their ideas.

Example: For instance, in a classroom study at Nottingham University, students working in small groups were far more likely to question assumptions, draw connections between concepts, and generate solutions compared to those studying alone.

Linking Back: Because group work stimulates deeper evaluation and reasoning, it directly strengthens the critical thinking abilities that are essential for academic success.

A) Group discussions can sometimes help students think better because they talk to each other and exchange ideas. When students hear what their classmates say, they may change their own ideas or understand the topic differently. This can make learning more interesting and enjoyable. Also, students often feel more motivated when they study together, which can help them stay focused on the task.

Feedback for A:
This paragraph is not strong enough because it stays general, repeats simple ideas, and does not clearly explain how group discussion develops critical thinking. It also lacks an academic example.

B) Group discussion strengthens students’ critical thinking because it requires them to justify and evaluate their ideas in real time. When learners challenge one another’s assumptions, they must explain their reasoning clearly and consider alternative perspectives. For example, a study from Nottingham University showed that students in discussion-based groups produced significantly more analytical comments than those working alone, demonstrating that interaction directly stimulates deeper reasoning.

Feedback for B:
This paragraph is the stronger one because it clearly explains how group discussion develops critical thinking, includes academic justification, and provides a specific research example.