Think of your dissertation or thesis in terms of macro organization.
Think of individual body paragraphs in terms of micro organization.
Both macro and micro follow the same basic principles of organization.
Here's the micro (paragraph-level) arrangement:
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Paper
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Paragraph
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1.Thesis
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1. Topic Sentence
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2. Supporting Material
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2. Supporting Material
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3. Conclusion
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3. Concluding Sentence
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*2. Both offer examples, evidence, and quotations to support the assertion already presented in # 1.
3. Both reaffirm in different words the assertion under discussion.
* A special consideration: In any persuasive/argumentative work, you
should present your least important evidence first, saving your strongest
point for last. Remember, in general, readers remember best what readers
read last.
Transitions
between paragraphs ensure that the reader makes a smooth connection between
what has been said already and what is now being said. Place your transition
at the beginning of the new paragraph. A transition can take one of three
forms:
1. a single word: "Furthermore"
2. a short phrase: "In contrast to this pattern"
3. a complete sentence: "A second pattern emerges when the temperature is lowered."
On occasion and if appropriate, a rhetorical question can serve as an effective transition: "Is this, then, the only effective approach that may be taken?"
Transition words indicate relationships. Here is a list of some possible relationships:
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ADDITION:
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and, also, again, moreover, furthermore, then, in addition--etc. |
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CONTRAST:
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but, yet, however, nevertheless, in contrast, conversely--etc. |
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CAUSE:
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because, accordingly, as a result, consequently--etc. |
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ILLUSTRATION:
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for example, for instance, namely--etc. |
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SEQUENCE:
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for one thing, first, second, last, finally--etc. |
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ALTERNATIVES:
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alternately, on the other hand--etc. |
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