i would like to build a tanky melee sorc but she keeps getting destroyed

gear?

pvm or pvp?

pvp but would like to be able to clear chaos and baal

anything really i can get whatever right now i have dreams beast passion dragons forts lol ive tried seems like everyting

Pvm and pvp are very different builds.

Pvp focus on mana, and have 95% energy shield precast. With fully optimized gear and skills, you won't be able to win much duels. It's hard to play...

For pvm, things are a lot easier once you focus on life, with a strong Infinity merc on your side.
There are different setups, I like Grief-Fortitude-Laying of hands-String of ears-Raven-Dwarf (or Wisp)-Gore-Highlord's (and dual dreams of course).
Never had any problem to solo chaos and Baal with her.

how are your resists stats and skills set up

melee sorcs get destroyed in pvp because you're playing a squishy caster that has to get hit in order to deal damage.

You're also playing a build whose damage output can be blocked, defended, resisted, absorbed or negated entirely by simply walking out of phase blade attack range.

Pvm :
20 light mastery
20 enchant
20 fire mastery
20 warmth
1 teleport
1 cold mastery
remaining into Frozen Orb

75 @ res with the help of some 11 cold or poison res small charms.

Pvp :
20 telekinesis
enough into energy shield for 95% with precast gear (+9 memory etc)
20 light mastery
20 enchant
20 warmth
1 teleport
remaining into fire mastery

~75@ res with good items (like 45ias/45@res/Cham/100 life armor, or +2 skill/17+fcr/prisma amulet).

Passion, dual dreams, dual SoJ, Frostburn, mana boots, Arach...

would rather use limb for chant since it already takes several days to prebuff