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Effective Writing Center (EWC)

How do I organize my essay?

Paragraph Structure (Continued ...)

Paragraph Structure PDF
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To evaluate whether your paper contains effective claims in each paragraph, read only the first sentence of each paragraph. You should be able to follow the development of the paper’s thesis by reading only the claim sentences. These should tell you the main points that you are making throughout the paper. Your claims will also prepare the reader for the second section of your paragraph.

  1. Evidence: This is how you support, or back up, your claims. The evidence will help to “prove” each claim to the reader.

    In a paper that incorporates research from secondary sources, your evidence may include information from articles, books, electronic sources, or any of the research you gathered. The evidence may take the form of a direct quotation, paraphrased material, statistical data, or any other information from one of your sources that helps to support your claim.

    Try to incorporate information from several sources into each paragraph. Avoid just “retelling” the information from a single author or article. Aim to represent a variety of opinions and views. This way, you’re not just telling the reader what one expert says, but you’re explaining how your claim is supported by research from several experts in your field. Here are some examples of weak and strong evidence sections:

    Evidence that includes information from one source (weak evidence): According to Collins, soy milk has more protein than cow’s milk, and doesn’t contain the saturated fat or cholesterol (1). Soybeans are “complete protein” because they contain all eight amino acids (Collins 1). Collins points out that “as little as 25 mg of soy protein a day may decrease levels of LDL cholesterol and Triglycerides” (1) and this may reduce the chance of heart disease. Since soy is a “low-glycemic index” food, it may help people trying to lose weight “feel more satisfied and less hungry until your next meal, which is beneficial for weight management and control” (1).

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