It is useful to envision body paragraphs as links in the chain of reasoning that forms the overall argument of your essay. In order to get to the next link, each paragraph must establish a claim that ...

Use the paragraph to provide facts and evidence to support your point, and explain how and why this supports the main point of your argument. For example: It is now less acceptable than ever to ...

Think of quote integration as a layering process: Provide the background, provide the quote, state how or why the quote relates to or supports your argument. Avoid including too many quotes or ...

Since the goal of a research paragraph is to offer a summary of the field, the topic sentence should assert a clear position about the state of current research. Simply quoting a variety of sources in ...

Do your paragraphs present arguments which support your main points as non-debatable or as facts? Do you have adequate and convincing support? Do one or two of your paragraphs present arguments which ...

In the other column, write what each paragraph is doing—for example, argument/claim/thesis, context, evidence, support, transition to new topic, recap, significance. Number the paragraphs in your ...

What to send: A 1-3 paragraph pitch. It should outline the crux of your argument, your expertise or the experience you bring to the topic and — this is important — how it will break new ground.