How to Create Paragraphs in an Essay

Dear Student,

Have you ever tried to read a block of writing that is not divided into paragraphs? It can be overwhelming, and you have to work harder to make sense of the writing and how the ideas are connected. This is the same way a professor feels when marking a student paper with poorly done paragraphs.

In this email, we will help you understand the basics of creating paragraphs in an academic essay, or any other writing for that matter.

1. Create a Controlling Idea

Every paragraph must start with a controlling idea. This is sometimes called the topic sentence. It tells the reader what they can expect to find in the paragraph. Write this in your own words and avoid using citations at this point as you will have a chance to do so later in the paragraph.

2. Explain the Idea

Once you have introduced the controlling idea, you now need to provide a few more sentences to explain the idea from your perspective. In other words, you are helping the reader to understand the topic sentence.

3. Provide Evidence

The credibility of the topic sentence can only be strengthened with robust and credible evidence. Find evidence from books, journal papers, websites, lecture notes, or other places to support the paragraph’s main ideas. It’s vital to explain the evidence to show that you understand it. This can also be done using examples.

4. Complete the Paragraph and Move into the Next
Your final task in a paragraph is to tie everything together with a concluding sentence. Here, you remind the reader about the main point of the paragraph and give a cue that you are now moving to a different idea.

For many students, coming up with effective paragraphs can be difficult. At Virtual English Teacher, we work with highly experienced editors. They can ensure that every paragraph in your academic paper helps the reader follow your argument coherently.

Want proof of our effectiveness and efficiency. Ask for a free, no-obligation sample of your text.
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