Opening paragraph: Opening paragraphs are the most important part of most types of
writing because they set the tone for the entire work. You win or lose readers in this
paragraph. Long e-mails with wandering opening paragraphs meet the delete button
sooner rather than later.
Ideally your opening paragraph should capture the reader’s attention, make clear the topic
under discussion ( this translates to answering the question),
and outline the rest of the paper. It is important to provide the general framework of your
paper because this orients your reader.
Such clarity will in turn make your argument more
compelling.
Make sure that your introduction introduces your points in the order in which you intend
to address them in your paper. Logical consistency helps your reader to absorb your
argument.
Thematic Framework: In we are looking for the most direct and
compelling answer to the question. Organize your paper thematically, that is, around a list
of the specific points that you want to make. Those three or four key points may, or may
not, form a chronological sequence. Your supporting evidence within those points may
also be in chronological order. But you must not allow your paper to become a purely
historical narrative of one fact after another that leaves it up to the reader to evaluate the
significance of various facts. Any data you provide must be directly connected to
answering the question. A thematic organization forces the writer to make the necessary
logical linkages.
compelling.
Make sure that your introduction introduces your points in the order in which you intend
to address them in your paper. Logical consistency helps your reader to absorb your
argument.
Thematic Framework: In we are looking for the most direct and
compelling answer to the question. Organize your paper thematically, that is, around a list
of the specific points that you want to make. Those three or four key points may, or may
not, form a chronological sequence. Your supporting evidence within those points may
also be in chronological order. But you must not allow your paper to become a purely
historical narrative of one fact after another that leaves it up to the reader to evaluate the
significance of various facts. Any data you provide must be directly connected to
answering the question. A thematic organization forces the writer to make the necessary
logical linkages.
It also forces the writer to justify the choice of themes, which requires
marshalling evidence to prove points. These points then underpin the argument and prove
the thesis. A direct approach to answering the question usually entails a point-evidence,
point-evidence framework. .
A clear organization provided by a simple framework will help make your argument
compelling. Readers tend to find arguments consisting of three to five points easy to
remember. Therefore, a framework consisting of three to five general points should make
your argument clear to your reader. If you have more than five points, try to group them
into general categories (less than five) and present your argument in terms of these
categories. Papers without frameworks tend to be hard to understand. The reader sees a
mass of data but may not understand its purpose.
marshalling evidence to prove points. These points then underpin the argument and prove
the thesis. A direct approach to answering the question usually entails a point-evidence,
point-evidence framework. .
A clear organization provided by a simple framework will help make your argument
compelling. Readers tend to find arguments consisting of three to five points easy to
remember. Therefore, a framework consisting of three to five general points should make
your argument clear to your reader. If you have more than five points, try to group them
into general categories (less than five) and present your argument in terms of these
categories. Papers without frameworks tend to be hard to understand. The reader sees a
mass of data but may not understand its purpose.
Organize your data around the points that constitute your framework and present your
argument point by point, and within each point, sub-point by sub-point. Introduce each
main point with a topic sentence – a sub-thesis indicating what the data in that section will
prove. Without a topic sentence, the purpose of the evidence can become lost to the
reader so that it appears to be unnecessary narrative detail rather than proof of the thesis.
Then use the data to make your proof. At the end of the proof of each point, make sure
that you clinch the point. This entails your stating the obvious – meaning obvious to you,
6
but not necessarily to your reader. Your reader will perceive this as analysis. The analysis
will highlight the significance to the information. This in turn, will make the paper even
more interesting to read and the argument more compelling.
Below is a generic outline format:
Thesis
Point I
Evidence for Point I
Point 2
Evidence for Point 2
Point 3
Evidence for Point 3
etc.
Counter-argument . Evidence for counter-argument
Rebuttal
Evidence for rebuttal
Conclusion
argument point by point, and within each point, sub-point by sub-point. Introduce each
main point with a topic sentence – a sub-thesis indicating what the data in that section will
prove. Without a topic sentence, the purpose of the evidence can become lost to the
reader so that it appears to be unnecessary narrative detail rather than proof of the thesis.
Then use the data to make your proof. At the end of the proof of each point, make sure
that you clinch the point. This entails your stating the obvious – meaning obvious to you,
6
but not necessarily to your reader. Your reader will perceive this as analysis. The analysis
will highlight the significance to the information. This in turn, will make the paper even
more interesting to read and the argument more compelling.
Below is a generic outline format:
Thesis
Point I
Evidence for Point I
Point 2
Evidence for Point 2
Point 3
Evidence for Point 3
etc.
Counter-argument . Evidence for counter-argument
Rebuttal
Evidence for rebuttal
Conclusion