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CPT FETTERMANDATE: PERIOD:CLASS WEBSITE: http://www.fettermanvfmac.wordpress.com

You’ve done all the leg work—identified your topic, crafted the perfect thesis statement, researched like crazy, and prepared your outline. Now you sit staring at a blank screen ready to put it all together. Maybe you’ve already written an introduction, maybe not. In either case, diving into your body paragraphs, crafting the perfect paragraph structures, is next on the agenda.

The secret is in using “evidence” to support your main ideas and package it all in a fail-safe structure.

Why Paragraph Structure Matters—A LotThe right paragraph structure for body paragraphs is important for several reasons.

The obvious aside, good paragraph structure allows you to group and organize your main ideas into body paragraphs. These paragraphs, then, “prove” your thesis statement.They give your essay credibility—regardless of the type of essay you’re writing. They allow readers (and the most important reader—your instructor) to grasp your main ideas. Finally, your body paragraphs flush out the logic and support for your thesis statement.And, yes, as Instructor Obvious so deftly pointed out, they do account for a major chunk of your essay grade.To start crafting effective paragraphs, you first need to understand all the pieces that fit together to form a cohesive paragraph structure. Let’s jump in, shall we?

The Components of the Perfect Paragraph StructureEvery academic paragraph structure has three main components:

1. Topic sentence2. Support sentences3. Concluding sentence

A paragraph, according to Merriam-Webster.com, is “a part of a piece of writing that usually deals with one subject, that begins on a new line, and that is made up of one or more sentences.” While that doesn’t help us much in terms of structure, it does highlight one key point: A paragraph deals with one main idea.

A paragraph deals with one main idea.Each paragraph in any academic essay should have one—and only one—main point. This highlights the first component of the perfect paragraph structure, the topic sentence. The second component comprises the support sentences. These sentences establish the proof of, and develop, your main idea. The third component, the concluding sentence, then brings the first two components together. It synthesizes the main idea with the proof to show why it

matters. I’ve put the three main components in a handy table for you with more detail about what each entails:

Let’s break those down even more and practice with an example paragraph.Paragraph Structure Component #1: Topic Sentence

The topic sentence presents both the topic and the controlling idea of your paragraph. It also accomplishes three crucial things:

1. It connects to and supports your thesis statement.

2. It establishes what the paragraph is about.3. It unifies the content of the paragraph.

Think of the topic sentence as a mini-thesis.Everything in the rest of the paragraph must relate back to it. A good topic sentence is clear and relevant to your thesis statement.There’s one caveat here. Make sure the topic sentence is specific enough to connect to your thesis statement and provide a writable blueprint for the paragraph. But also make sure it’s broad enough that the details within it don’t make it hard to write an entire paragraph.

Let’s build an example of the first component of the perfect paragraph structure. Assume my thesis statement says this:The “over” position for toilet paper is superior because it is safer due to a shorter reach to unravel and grab tissue, it limits the spread of germs, and it is more visually appealing.(I don’t know about you, but in my house, the position of toilet paper is a serious point of contention. It’s sparked many debates and heated “discussions.”)

My topic sentence might look something like this:The “over” position for toilet paper is safer due to the shorter reach to unravel and grab the tissue.Comparing against the three things a topic sentence should do, my example does the following:

  Connects to and supports the thesis statement.

  Establishes what the paragraph is about.

  Unifies the content of the paragraph (which you’ll see in the next section!).This topic sentence sets up the lead-in to the details that form the support sentences, the second component of the perfect paragraph structure.

Paragraph Structure Component #2: Support Sentences

Support sentences are vital to supporting both your topic sentence and your thesis statement. These sentences will accomplish three things:

1. They add more detail to and/or explain your topic sentence.2. They use concrete details as “evidence” to prove, clarify, or illustrate your main point.3. They give your paragraph meaning.

How you develop the support sentences will depend on the type of essay you’re writing, though. While there are many approaches to paragraph development , answering a few questions can help you figure out what approach is best for your essay topic and structure.

Will examples, details, or reasons support your point? Do you need to analyze information or argue a point? Will quoting research help establish your point? Do you have relevant statistics or other research data available? Can or should you tie in personal experience?

By answering these questions, you can start to shape how you will develop the paragraph to create the perfect paragraph structure. Use at least two concrete details to make your paragraph effective. You can use more—let your topic and the amount of support it needs dictate that for you.If you need to analyze information from research, for example, your paragraph will likely be longer. While there’s no set number of sentences you need to include, aim for 8 supporting sentences.

You also want to present support sentences logically and systematically. For example, you don’t want to present research first and then further explain your topic sentence. The paragraph development method you select will guide you in this process.

First, I want to further explain my topic sentence and add a little more detail. I might create a sentence that looks something like this:

“Even though the distance is a matter of mere inches, research suggests it creates a safer environment.”Then, as the second step, I want to provide the evidence that supports my topic sentence and, by extension, my thesis, too. I’ll use research data and statistics to argue my point—that the “over” position for toilet paper is superior because it’s safer.

I might construct two additional support sentences that look like this:A 2014 Bathroom Safety (BS) survey found that households using the “over” position had 75% fewer falls off the toilet. Furthermore, according to the Consortium of Research About Paper Products (CRAPP), bathroom goers who use the “under” position are 30% more likely to suffer debilitating rotator cuff damage.

Notice how I’ve put “furthermore” in bold? This highlights the importance of transitioning between your support sentences. Comparing against what support sentences should do, my sentences do the following:

  Add more detail to the topic sentence.

  Use concrete details as evidence.

  Give the paragraph meaning.

Don’t just stuff facts or details into a paragraph, though. You need to show why the information is important.The concluding sentence allows you to do this in a nice neat bow to wrap up the paragraph.

Paragraph Structure Component #3: Concluding Sentence

The concluding sentence lets you show the “why.” You provided the “evidence,” but why do the details matter?The concluding sentence accomplishes three things:

1. It shows the significance of the information.2. It answers the “so what?” question.3. It synthesizes your paragraph content with your topic sentence.

In other words, you want to use wording that reinforces the main idea in your topic sentence and draws the information you presented together with that main idea. This means using similar wording (but not just restating) from your topic sentence. It also means reinforcing the relevance of the paragraph to your thesis statement. My example concluding sentence might look something like this:

Thus, while small, the shorter reach required with toilet paper in the “over” position ensures bathroom safety and prevents injury, making the “over” position superior.

Notice a few key things here that help reinforce the paragraph structure. First, I used a transitional word (“thus”) to shift into the concluding sentence. Second, I used wording that mirrors my topic sentence (“shorter reach,” “ensures bathroom safety,” and “prevents injury”).Third, the end of the sentence relates the paragraph back to my thesis statement with “making the ‘over’ position superior.”Comparing against what a concluding sentence should do, my sentence does the following:

  Explains the significance of the information (answers the “so what?” question).

  Synthesizes the supporting details with the topic sentence.

  Connects to your thesis statement.Now, let’s put it all together to view the final paragraph to see how the perfect paragraph structure looks with a full example:

That wasn’t so bad, was it? If you follow the simple steps I’ve outlined and choose the right method of paragraph development, you will craft the perfect paragraph structure every time.Perfect Paragraph Structure ChecklistBefore I send you off into the wild to write perfect paragraphs for your next essay, here’s a checklist you can use to help keep your paragraph structure on track.

Need More Help Creating Perfect Paragraph Structure?If you’re still feeling a little unsure about creating the perfect paragraph structure, check out this handout from the UNC Writing Center, try the P.I.E. approach, or read this blog on paragraph development.

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CPT FETTERMANDATE: PERIOD:CLASS WEBSITE: http://www.fettermanvfmac.wordpress.comTOPIC: The Role of College

The assignment: There is a lot of debate these days about the role of colleges in the modern world. Some people believe a university degree should simply prepare students for lucrative jobs. Others believe a college should be helping students develop a broad intellectual curiosity and a sense of social responsibility. What do you believe is the main purpose for obtaining a college education? Explain by writing a paragraph using this format…….

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CPT FETTERMANDATE: PERIOD:CLASS WEBSITE: http://www.fettermanvfmac.wordpress.comTOPIC: Heroes & HeroinesThe assignment: Every culture has heroes and heroines, people that embody certain ideals of the culture. These heroes or heroines seem to surpass the common person and to stand apart as models of excellence. Discuss someone (real or fictional) who represents, for you, the heroic ideal. Explain by writing a paragraph using this format…….

10 POINTS8-12 SENTENCES

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