The following is a generic method for organizing a basic body paragraph. Master this, and you will have gone a long way towards becoming a competent academic writer. It's also, remember, a template--sensible tinkering is often justified.
1. TOPIC SENTENCE: State the point you're going to make. (It should be arguable, not obvious.) It should contain a how or why idea. Is this paragraph building off of the last paragraph?
2. EXPAND IF NECESSARY: Clarify, define, or explain the topic sentence. Is your sub-claim related to the overall thesis?
3. GIVE CONTEXT/EVIDENCE: Here you will use an example. Does it support your topic sentence? It may be a quotation, but don't forget you can also (and should, for variety or as needs must) paraphrase, summarize, or describe.
4. HOW/WHY ANALYSIS: This is you explaining how or why the evidence in 3 supports your topic sentence. Try to avoid constructions like "this means," which is really clunky, amateurish, and often unnecessary. Remember that sources not only serve to reinforce a claim, but can be contradicted, developed, or given a new context.
5. REPEAT 3-4 AS REQUIRED. While you do so, however, try not to go overboard. Ask yourself: Have I made my point sufficiently?
6. CLOSING SENTENCE: This will dovetail with the topic sentence and point forward to the next paragraph. It's not a mere restatement.
1. TOPIC SENTENCE: State the point you're going to make. (It should be arguable, not obvious.) It should contain a how or why idea. Is this paragraph building off of the last paragraph?
2. EXPAND IF NECESSARY: Clarify, define, or explain the topic sentence. Is your sub-claim related to the overall thesis?
3. GIVE CONTEXT/EVIDENCE: Here you will use an example. Does it support your topic sentence? It may be a quotation, but don't forget you can also (and should, for variety or as needs must) paraphrase, summarize, or describe.
4. HOW/WHY ANALYSIS: This is you explaining how or why the evidence in 3 supports your topic sentence. Try to avoid constructions like "this means," which is really clunky, amateurish, and often unnecessary. Remember that sources not only serve to reinforce a claim, but can be contradicted, developed, or given a new context.
5. REPEAT 3-4 AS REQUIRED. While you do so, however, try not to go overboard. Ask yourself: Have I made my point sufficiently?
6. CLOSING SENTENCE: This will dovetail with the topic sentence and point forward to the next paragraph. It's not a mere restatement.