Parts and Paragraphs in Your Paper.

First. What is a paragraph?

Definition: They develop a single main idea…
Maybe it is better to say what they are NOT:
Confusing paragraphs are often confusing because the author is out of control. He doesn’t know what he is doing here, so he merely smashes several points of evidence together. This reveals poor planning, development of the main idea, and is REALLY hard to read.

Try using topic sentences. Sentences that state what the following paragraph will be about. They should not be called insecticides. They should be called biocides. Then you would have to prove why, with evidence.
One of the first examples of X is ________.
Another instance in which X is being threatened by Y is _______.

Try using transitional paragraphs.

The paragraphs combine to make up the larger parts of your papers.


Introduction: Introduce your paper, yes. But introduce each new turn in the text, too. You are the guide here. The reader is the wide-eyed follower. Don’t lead them into a Croc nest without first telling them why you are heading there.

Context/Background. It helps, in a lot of situations, to discuss the history of your topic, the various positions held, the posed solutions, the failed plans, etc, as a lead-in to your idea on the matter.

Narration: These are parts of your paper that narrate (tell the story of) certain events or circumstances so that the reader will agree with you. In addition to citing a law, it also helps to narrate what that means (by showing how it is enforced).

Evidence/Proof Paragraphs: This is where you really make your argument. A good model to follow is this:
i. topic sentence / support thesis
ii. lead-in to concrete detail
iii. quotation/concrete detail
iv. warrant/commentary
v. transition and lead-in to next quotation/concrete detail
vi. quotation/concrete detail
vii. warrant/commentary
viii. concluding or clincher sentence (From Google Docs. )

Signal Phrases:
X States”_____”
As the prominent philosopher (list specialty) puts it “
According to X, “ “
Writing in her book _________, X maintains that “ “
X disagrees when he writes “ “

Counter Arguments and Responses to Counter Arguments: Where you consider and rebut opposing views.
Of course, many will probably disagree with this assertion that ___________. However, (your refutation of their points)

While it is true that _________, it does not necessarily follow that ________>

On the one hand, it seems logical that ___________. But on the other hand, it must be pointed out that _______________.

Disagreeing with others:
X’s claim that ____________ is mistaken because, as recent research (or whatever) suggests, ________.
By focusing on _______________, X overlooks the deeper issue of ____________.


Warrants: These are a collection of sentences at the beginning and end of a proof paragraph that explains the logical connection this proof has to your claim, and why it is important. Focus on writing warrants to explain the assumptions that make you think the information you have given reinforces your case. Remember, quotes don’t speak for themselves; if you want a reader to accept a quote as evidence that proves a claim, you must spell out how or why the quote you’ve selected supports your argument. (Helpfulhint: In your body paragraph, you should have twice as much commentary as concrete detail. In other words, for every sentence of concrete detail, you should have at least two sentences of commentary.) (

As this shows, (describe relationship/proof of thesis).
Recent studies like these shed new light on _______, which help show how __link to thesis.

Conclusion. This IN NOT merely restating your thesis. It is drawing conclusions. It is saying, “therefore, then this.” It is expanding the ramifications or consequences of your argument. If what you are saying is right, good thinking, then what. Conclusions are very hard to write. It is that final line that is so often the hardest to pen because, well, it’s the FINAL LINE. However, you also have to conclude each idea in your paper. Use words like “Therefore…,” “Thus…,” “As a result…” “This shows that…” Etc. This reconnects your evidence to your thesis.
Although X may seem trivial, it is important because
Ultimately what is at stake here is
These conclusions/This discovery will have significant applications/consequences for the broader domain of ______.

Example: From writing.csu.edu
Section One: An analysis of the weaknesses of current curricular approaches to writing

Transitional Paragraph tying analysis to thesis and next section: As the analysis above shows, none of the available curricular models address multiculturalism except in the most cursory manner. Worse, their very superficiality does more damage than good. By introducing the topic of writing for multiple communities, the pedagogies make an attempt to bring diversity into the classroom; yet their focus remains on teaching academic writing with standard usage and grammar. Although they admit that such teaching is only for this context, putting such emphasis on standard forms introduces the issue: which forms of writing have more power in society, something none of the pedagogies address. By putting forth the academic model as the one which must be taught and learned in schools, they implicitly devalue other forms. The failure to foreground these power issues, then, leads students of difference to conclude that although their language and forms of writing might be acceptable in certain places, they are not welcome in the places which count in society. The effect of such an implicit message can be devastating to maintaining cultural values and difference.

Section Two: Discussion of research on multicultural student reactions' to writing classes.

Sources:
http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/documents/arguedraft/examplecombined.cfm
http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:DZ-lMMO41VUJ:rhsweb.org/assignments/Blaber/Essay%2520Exposition/Brave%2520New%2520World/Essay%2520Outline%2520and%2520Claim%2520Evidence%2520Warrant%2520Model.pdf+sample+warrants+essays&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiRXnp_rjfp4HhFgsAICqS8vA4x3oSU4xCQV8XejoaTxrhHX0eF5uOodTe4Q0z_aq8XFnMpcPn5Q5oi0eNXtKYFUXHtSNC202HVhsYrcoZf-7Qn9HB-jlsblEdrFUM241XGOF4X&sig=AFQjCNFO4ncCaBlgGTzEsoXUvBK4OL5EQw