History Essay

Paragraphs:
Developing Ideas, Arranging Details

A short guide by Steve Samuels

ONE

Depending on your purpose, you can develop a paragraph’s central idea in several ways.
    • Learn to narrate and describe

    • Learn ways to explain, convince and persuade

  Illustration
  Comparison or Contrast
  Definition
  Classification
  Cause and effect
  Conclusion and support

    • Learn patterns of arrangement

  General to specific

  Specific to general
  Question to answer
  Order of importance

  TWO

  Writing Introductions and Conclusions

  A good introduction captures the reader’s attention.
  A good conclusion leaves readers satisfied that the promise made in your introduction has been kept.

  Make introductions interesting and informative.
  Four uses of a formal introduction
    • To capture the readers’ attention
    • To express a central idea in a formal thesis statement
    • To prepare readers for important points
    • To provide background information to help readers understand your thesis and the details you will use to develop it.

  Several ways to write an introduction

      • Present an interesting example of your thesis
      • Use startling remarks or statistics
      • Create a vivid image tp prepare readers for what follows
      • State a problem
      • Make a comparison or a contrast
      • Cite an expert or define a term

      Write logical and effective conclusions

        • Recall your thesis and introduction
        • Ask a question
        • Offer advice or call for action
        • Look to the future
        • Explain how a problem was resolved

THREE

Writing Effective Paragraphs

A paragraph is a unit of writing that discusses or describes one limited idea. There are several kinds, the most important of which are:
    • The introductory paragraph
    • Body paragraphs
    • The concluding paragraph

Use one full paragraph to discuss...