Main body and paragraph structure
Paragraphs are the building blocks of any writing and are the key element in making sure that the main body of your essay makes sense. Getting your paragraph structure right will help ensure that your assignment is clearly laid out in a logical order and in a way that leads your reader from point to point with ease (you could also say: 'presenting your argument in a logical order'). The main point of each paragraph often comes directly from a framework plan (see the 'Planning your assignment' page); if you have done this step then you are likely to have the whole plan of the body of your essay already organised.
Paragraph Structure
Paragraphs should contain one main idea, and be structured almost as a mini essay, with an introductory sentence (topic or point), the main body (evidence and explanation), and conclusion (link or transition sentence).
Each paragraph should open with an introductory, or 'point' sentence, that says what the paragraph is about. Strong topic sentences also give the reader a sense of your opinion and where you intend to go with the point you are making e.g.
The band’s most groundbreaking album was released in 1982. (statement of fact, where is it going?)
BETTER
At the time, critics saw the band’s 1982 album as a failure, though the fact that it is seen more positively now highlights the band’s presaging a shift in attitudes to music
OR
The effects of climate change are terrible. (subjective and too brief - no justification or introduction to what might be the justification in the rest of the paragraph)
BETTER
While climate change, broadly, has had many effects on the world, some positive and many damaging, some key consequences can be identified by examining the effects and their differences across continents.
The main body of the paragraph should contain evidence in the form of quotes, paraphrases, statistics, facts, examples, illustrations or tables to back up or expand on the main point. Don't forget to use the correct format of in-text citations. Then expand on this evidence with explanations and examples.
A typical paragraph will be about 150-200 words, though some will be shorter and some longer. As a general rule of thumb, if you have a paragraph that is more than half a page long, re-read it and see if any of the content would actually fit better in another paragraph; could be condensed or form an additional paragraph.
Conversely, if you have a paragraph that is too short then it is likely that your point hasn't been expanded enough. See if you can add more evidence or explanations to expand your point. If you can't do this, then look at the point you want to make and see if it would be better included in another paragraph.
You might also want to say how your paragraphs link to each other. Link sentences or transitions help to guide the reader through the discussion about the topic that you are having.
Illustration of a sample paragraph from RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia, showing a colour visualisation of what a paragraph could look like.
I tried this with a paragraph from a third year student essay on young disabled people and their online use. As you can see from the colour coded text in this paragraph, some crucial elements are missing.
There is a strong topic sentence which builds on the previous paragraph and a good explanation of why the writer is looking particularly at loneliness in this example.
This is followed by evidence from two different sources.
However, we are not given any examples of how young people with disabilities experimented with an online identity. An example would have added strength to this paragraph and helped make the whole point more rounded and polished.
Finally, there is no link sentence - there is no summing up of the point and no link onward to the next paragraph which was about young people with ASN building social ties off line.
Activity: you try with some of your paragraphs to help you see where you might have gaps in your paragraphs.
