1. INSERT A TOPIC SENTENCE:
The main idea of your paragraph. When creating a
topic sentence, ask yourself what’s going on in your paragraph. Why you chose to
include the information you have? Why is the paragraph important in the context of
your argument or thesis statement? What point are you trying to make?
2. EXPLAIN YOUR TOPIC SENTENCE:
Does your
topic sentence require further explanation? If so, add another 1-2 sentences
explaining
your topic sentence here.
3. INTRODUCE YOUR EVIDENCE:
Most
academic papers require students to integrate evidence (often quotes, but it
can
also include
statistics, figures, common sense examples, etc.) to support the claim(s)
made in the
paragraph and/or the paper as a whole. When including evidence, make
sure it is
integrated smoothly into the text of the paper. Readers should be able to
move from
your words to your evidence without feeling a logical or mechanical jolt.
4. INSERT YOUR EVIDENCE:
Insert/drop-in
your supporting evidence (often quotes but again, evidence can also be in
the form of
personal examples, facts, statistics, etc.).
5. UNPACK YOUR EVIDENCE:
Explain what
the quote means and why it’s important to your argument. The author
should agree
with how you sum up the quotation—this will help you establish credibility,
by
demonstrating that you do know what the author is saying even if you don’t
agree.
Often 1-2
sentences tops (unless you evidence is particularly long or complicated that
is).
6. EXPLAIN YOUR EVIDENCE:
No matter how
good your evidence is, it won’t help your argument much if your reader doesn't know
why it’s important. Ask yourself: how does this evidence prove the point
you are
trying to make in this paragraph and/or your paper as a whole? Can be opinion
based and is
often at least 1-3 sentences.
7. INSERT A CONCLUDING SENTENCE:
End your
paragraph with a concluding sentence or sentences that reasserts how your paragraph contributes to the development of your argument as a whole.
