Paragraphs
How do these pages look?
The appearance of an assignment can give the impression that you haven't planned the content. Solid blocks of text can look overwhelming, and lots of short paragraphs can seem disconnected.
- Start a new paragraph for a new point.
- Group comments, evidence and examples on the same point together.
Paragraphs
They help you organise what you want to say. The key point is usually at the beginning.
- Try reading only the first sentence of each paragraph of a newspaper article. You can get a flavour of the key points of the whole text.
- Do the same for your assignment. Do your first sentences present an ordered argument? (You can use Outline view in Microsoft Word to look at them and move them round).
- Swap them around until the order seems logical.
- Some people like to start with an outline plan and then work up their paragraphs. Others find it easier to start writing and then sort out the order.
Presenting an argument
- Use your introduction to guide the reader and define key concepts.
- Keep to one main topic for each paragraph.
- Introduce your main topic in the first sentence of each paragraph.
- In the rest of the paragraph, expand on your topic and include evidence and examples.
- Include signposts to make links between paragraphs. For example, firstly, finally, on the other hand, however.
- Sum up your points in your conclusion.