A Recipe For Paragraphs in Academic Writing
Each paragraph should have a minimum of five components, often exhibited in five or more distinct sentences:
A topic sentence: In initial drafts this is often the first sentence of your writing and the one that explains the point of the paragraph.
The claim: This distinguishes itself from the topic sentence with additional specification and a particular type of reasoning -
If the topic is “climate change is harmful to the earths many diverse species” then then claim will make it clear that the paragraph is going to discuss scientific and quantitative evidence related to increasing emissions and positive correlations of species loss or alternatively discuss an example of a keystone species in a particular circumstance of environmental threat.
Then the data to substantiate the claim:
Perhaps correlations of climate change or a quote from an ornithologist if the particular species under threat was a bird.
In either instance – the quote or statistics is not enough, these may be from a particular case study, a limited sample or survey, or otherwise from a source that needs explaining to a wider audience.
The warrant provides the reasoning:
If a particular statistical correlation is occurring – what does that mean in a broader context?
What inferences are requires to establish the topic claims? If the keystone species is in jeopardy - what consequences does that have for broader ecosystems? Here, in either case – a brief explanation serves to illustrate your analytical reasoning.
The final section includes a transition that will lead you into the next paragraph smoothly usually by setting that particular subpoint up as a logical extension of the previous idea.
Note – Paragraphs should not always begin with a topic sentence – often times, it is good to direct these in ways that give motion or voice to your paper. Topic sentences can often be found in the middle, set up using a hybrid style that front-and-back loads the topic sentence, or positioned at close of the paragraph.
Variety contributes to authorial style – but in first drafts – it is encouraged to front load topic sentence to ensure clarity. Subsequent drafts can then seek to add variety and momentum by modifying these initial topic sentences.
