Now that you have an outline, use it to guide your writing. Remember: you know what you want to say in your paper, now you just have to figure out how to say it. Keep in mind the following:
Depending on what class you are writing for, the introduction style can vary (e.g. English vs Biology paper), but an introduction for any paper has some common elements. It is not unusual to save writing the introduction for last.
Background information - these beginning sentences/paragraphs tell readers what the central issue of the paper is and provide some brief background information that will help them understand the issue. Avoid phrases such as "In this paper" or "This paper will talk about."
What's the issue - these middle sentences/paragraphs tell readers why you are research/writing on this topic. Is there a disagreement among biologists as to the cause of a disease? Is there a different interpretation of imagery in a play? What are the different points of your paper going to be?
Thesis statement - this will be the last one or two sentences of your introduction and hopefully is already written (see step 4).
A conclusion gives readers a sense of closure while highlighting the significance of your topic. It will restate your thesis, summarize the main points, and explain why your argument is important.
Restating your thesis - make sure not to restate it word for word. Rephrase it as a new sentence and in such a way you are reminding readers of both your thesis and your main point.
Summarizing the main points - you not only want to remind readers of what your major points are, you want to make sure the reader understands how those points are drawn together to make your argument. The best way to do this is tell readers what your major arguments were and then explain how each one connects to the next.
Explaining the importance - it is possible for readers to read your essay and understand your argument, but fail to see why it is important or matters. In other words, why should readers care about your argument? Will it impact them personally either now or in the future? Do you want readers to do something.
The key to an effective paper is having well-structured paragraphs. These paragraphs play a vital role in guiding your reader through your ideas, helping to clarify, support, and strengthen your thesis statement or argument.
In general, each paragraph should discuss one major point or idea (although some points may take multiple paragraphs). When writing the body of your paper, utilize the MEAL Plan for each paragraph.
"Paragraphing: MEAL Plan" by Excelsior Online Writing Lab, Excelsior College is licensed under CC BY 4.0
