Moving through our essay-as-building, after the introduction entryway, body paragraphs function as interconnected rooms, each developing a key aspect of your argument while maintaining clear sight lines to the central thesis. Just as every room in a house has a specific purpose, each paragraph advances a specific claim that builds your larger argument.
What is my central claim in this paragraph? What evidence supports this point? How does this connect to my thesis? How do I guide readers from one idea to the next? These are the questions that shape effective paragraphing and transitions.
Key functions of paragraphs and transitions 🔑
🛠️ Building focused arguments
- Each paragraph should advance one clear claim that develops your thesis
- Support claims with evidence and analysis
- Maintain clear connections to your central argument
🗺️ Guiding reader understanding
- Begin paragraphs with clear topic sentences that state the main idea
- Develop ideas in a logical sequence
- Explicitly cite evidence and analyze your sources to build convincing claims
🌉 Creating smooth transitions
- Connect paragraphs with clear transitions between ideas, like hallways between rooms or bridges over a river
- Show relationships between ideas (contrast, cause/effect, example, etc.)
- Help readers follow your line of reasoning
Tips:
- Evidence and analysis provide essential support, like the beams, walls, and foundations that give a building its structural integrity. This means that citations aren't simply decorative touches—they provide the scholarly context that gives your argument meaning, just as concrete foundations and steel beams support a building's weight.
- During revision, check that each paragraph serves a clear purpose in developing your thesis. Strengthen topic sentences, smooth transitions, and ensure your evidence and analysis effectively support your claims.
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