1. Review the material below on what a body paragraph should contain.

2. This is the article used in the essay for referance or to add input on the essay:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/26/a-jealous-god-china-remakes-religions-in-its-own-image

3. Copy and paste essay. What can be added to the three body paragraphs to make them contain what a body paragraph should?

What a body paragraph should contain:

Each body paragraph contains a topic sentence that tells readers what the paragraph is going to be about, supporting explanation sentences that discuss the idea or ideas in the topic sentence, using examples and/or evidence to support that discussion, and a concluding sentence that emphasizes the importance of the topic.

1. Topic sentence: Start with a clear and concise topic sentence that introduces the main idea or argument of the paragraph. This sentence should relate back to your thesis statement and provide a road map for the rest of the paragraph.

2. Supporting evidence: Provide evidence or examples to support your main idea or argument. This can include facts, statistics, quotes, anecdotes, or expert opinions. Make sure that the evidence you choose is relevant, credible, and effectively supports your point.

3. Explanation and analysis: After presenting your evidence, explain and analyze how it supports your main idea or argument. This step is crucial for demonstrating your critical thinking skills and showing how the evidence connects back to your thesis. Clearly explain the significance of your evidence and its implications for your overall argument.

4. Transition: Use transitional words or phrases to smoothly connect your ideas and guide the reader through your paragraph. Transitions can help create coherence and flow between sentences and paragraphs, ensuring that your essay is well-organized and easy to follow.

5. Concluding sentence: End your body paragraph with a concluding sentence that summarizes the main points and emphasizes the significance of the information presented. This sentence should also smoothly transition to the next paragraph or topic.

The essay draft:

Intro: This contemporary news article from Jazeera, published on September 26, 2023, explores the complex relationship between religion and state authority in China, particularly highlighting the Chinese government's efforts to reshape religious practices to align with its ideology and control techniques. The narrative centers on the experiences of Chinese Catholics, who believe that religious oppression is getting worse. This is discussed within the broader context of the government's intervention in various religious communities, including Muslim Uighurs, Tibetan Buddhists, and the Hui Muslim population.

The article invokes several sociological concepts and theories articulated by Emile Durkheim, such as religion, the division of labor, and social facts. These concepts offer a valuable lens through which to examine this contemporary issue.

Body p1: Religion

Durkheim conceptualized religion as a social construct aimed at fostering social unity and solidarity, essential for maintaining societal cohesion."The government is trying to control everything about our religion - how our churches look, who our priests are, the way we pray,"said Theresa Liu, highlighting the Chinese government's relentless efforts to redefine religious practices, which could be interpreted through Durkheim's lens as an endeavor to construct a unified moral community in alignment with its ideology, thereby raising concerns regarding the freedom of religious expression.

Body p2: Division of Labor:

Durkheim's theory of the division of labor posits that social order is upheld through the interdependence of various social roles. Each individual assumes a specific role crucial for societal functioning. In the context of the article, the Chinese government's intervention in religious communities can be perceived as an attempt to delineate and regulate these roles, ensuring they conform to state objectives.

Body p3 Social Facts:

Durkheim characterized social facts as the norms, values, and structures transcending individuals, exerting social control."In real life in China, we are not seeing the government respecting freedom of religion,"noted Xi Lian, underscoring the escalating religious repression in China as a manifestation of social facts, wherein the state imposes its norms and values upon religious communities, thereby exercising control over their practices. Additionally,"The current wave of sinicisation is driven by the party-state as it seeks to change religion in China, so it aligns with the Communist Party's and Xi Jinping's interpretation of dominant Chinese culture and socialist core values,"highlighted David Stroup, emphasizing the state's deliberate efforts to reshape religious practices to align with its ideological framework.