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Paper organization

When writing an essay, it’s important to think about which aspects you would like to include in your paper. For example, are there definitions or background information that you’d like to explain first before getting into the bulk of your paper?

Here’s a basic outline of the information that can be included in an essay.

  • Introduction: background information, context, definitions, relevancy, thesis
  • Main body paragraph 1: first subclaim of the thesis, evidence, analysis, concluding sentence
  • Main body paragraph 2: second subclaim of the thesis, evidence, analysis, concluding sentence
  • Main body paragraph 3: third subclaim of the thesis, evidence, analysis, concluding sentence
  • Main body paragraph 4 etc.: fourth, fifth, etc. subclaim of the thesis, evidence, analysis, concluding sentence
  • Conclusion: summary of paper, reiteration of thesis, significance of topic or findings, suggestions for future implications, “so what” factor

When to start new paragraphs

When revising the organization of a paper, each paragraph should serve as a building block to support the thesis of the paper.

Reasons to start a new paragraph include

  • Beginning a new idea or purpose
    • Remember there should be only one idea or purpose per paragraph
  • Separating the introduction from the main body paragraphs
  • Separating the conclusion from the main body paragraphs
  • When the paragraph is too long—this can give your reader a mini break since new paragraphs act as a “pause”

Order of ideas

The order of paragraphs is up to the writer, but try to order paragraphs in a logical way.

The paragraphs or ideas can be ordered

  • Most general to most specific (vice versa)
  • Chronologically
  • Cause and effect
  • Most important to least important (vice versa)
  • Spatially or geographically
  • Compare and contrast
  • Problem and solution

Choosing a method

Some options are stronger or better suited for certain papers or topics.

  • Example: Ordering concepts chronologically is better suited for essays about the development or history of something.
  • Example: Ordering concepts by the compare and contrast method is usually a good option for comparative essays.
  • Example: Many informative essays work well with the compare and contrast or problem solution methods.

Should you choose to switch between methods in different paragraphs, be very intentional with how you do this.

  • Each method influences the cohesiveness of the paper and how the reader understands the ideas.
  • Switching up organization methods within a paper in a way that isn’t intentional or logical can confuse the reader or disrupt the flow of the paper.
  • Example: The methods section of a scientific paper may be best organized chronologically, while the discussion section may be best organized by importance or by problem and solution. 

Reverse outlines for overall organization

To get a better understanding of how your paper is currently organized, a reverse outline could be used.

A reverse outline is a simple outline

  • Shows the main idea of each paragraph
  • Looks at each point discussed in the paper
  • Identifies how relevant points are to the purpose
  • Shows whether the ideas in the paper are ordered in the best way possible

Reverse outlines can be utilized at various stages of the writing process but are most beneficial during revision.

Creating a reverse outline

  1. Read through the first paragraph of your paper and write down what the main idea seems to be. This can be a short phrase or a complete sentence, just as long as the text accurately summarizes the main idea of that paragraph.
  2. Repeat this for the next paragraph.
  3. After writing down the main idea for every paragraph in your paper, look at all the main ideas you have written down.
  4. Think about the following questions:
    • Do the main ideas reflect what you wanted them to, or did you go off topic for some paragraphs? Do multiple paragraphs repeat the same main idea?
    • Are there some paragraphs that could use stronger or more relevant content to make the main idea more obvious?
    • When looking at the order of ideas listed in the paper is the order logical and consistent?
  5. Make note of your answers to these questions; then, go back and think about what information to add in, take out, or move around so that your ideas are expressed more effectively. 

Organization of individual paragraphs

The MEAL plan strategy, developed by Duke University, is an acronym and helps determine the organization within a paragraph.

  • Main idea: A paragraph should include a so the reader understands what the main idea of the paragraph is. Topic sentences navigate and control the paragraph, serving as subclaims, which further support the essay’s thesis statement.
  • Evidence: Following the main idea is evidence. This is a good spot for integrating sources that support your main idea and summarizing what those sources say. This section answers the what.
  • Analysis: After the evidence, analyze it. This section answers the why” Why did you include the evidence, and what makes it so significant? Explain how or why the evidence that you included helps with the understanding of the main idea. This is the spot to dig deeper into the facts and evidence that are provided.
  • Lead out: Finally, lead out with a concluding sentence. Try to link this last sentence of the paragraph to the idea that’s expressed in the next paragraph. What is the relationship between the paragraphs? Can you generalize the idea that is expressed in this paragraph in a way that guides the reader logically to the main idea in the following paragraph? The concluding sentence helps the paragraph transition smoothly into the ideas that will be brought up in the next paragraphs.

If you find that your writing doesn’t follow the MEAL plan, which aspect is missing?

  • Note: The MEAL plan strategy is merely a strategy and isn’t the only way to organize a paragraph. Deviate from the plan as needed. 
  • Note: Keep in mind that analysis is arguably the most important part of many papers, so emphasize that section (A) as opposed to only having evidence (E). A common breakdown of a paragraph is 1 sentence for the Main idea, 1-2 sentences for Evidence, 2-4 sentences for Analysis, and 1 sentence for the conclusion (Lead out).

Transitions

To further help with the flow and organization within or between paragraphs, transition words and phrases might be useful.

Transition words and phrases help to better distinguish the relationship between ideas in a paragraph. They can also help to establish the connection that’s made between paragraphs.

  • To emphasize: In fact, indeed, naturally, without a doubt, it should be noted, in particular
  • To summarize/conclude: In summary, to conclude, in conclusion, hence, therefore, as a result, thus, as I have shown, consequently
  • To give an example: For instance, for example, to demonstrate, in this case, to illustrate, in this situation, such as
  • To show time: Finally, afterwards, then, next, previously, immediately, soon, later, formerly, following
  • To prove: Furthermore, because, since, evidently, moreover, indeed, in fact, that is
  • To contrast: But, on the other hand, yet, instead, nevertheless, however, on the contrary, although, unlike, differing from, whereas, alternatively
  • To add: Additionally, also, furthermore, and, to continue, besides, nor, in addition, not only…but also, along with

References

Duke University. (2006). Paragraphing: The MEAL plan. https://twp.duke.edu/sites/twp.duke.edu/files/file-attachments/meal-plan-2-1.original.pdf

Harvard College Writing Center. (2020). Topic Sentences and Signposting. https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/topic-sentences-and-signposting 

Purdue Online Writing Lab. (2020). On Paragraphs. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/paragraphs_and_paragraphing/index.html

Purdue Online Writing Lab. (2020). Order of Ideas. https://owl.purdue.edu/engagement/ged_preparation/part_1_lessons_1_4/order_of_ideas.html

University Writing and Speaking Center. (n.d). Crafting a Thesis Statement. /writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/crafting-a-thesis-statement.

University Writing and Speaking Center. (n.d). Paragraph Structure. /writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/paragraph-structure