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A surprising number of birds cannot fly, but they have other abilities that make up for their inability to fly. The ostrich has powerful legs that allow it to run swiftly. The penguin uses its flippers to swim underwater. Birds such as eagles fly to great heights. Another flightless bird, the kiwi, uses its extremely sharp sense of smell to find its prey at night.

A Thesis statement is a sentence that announces your paper's main idea.

This statement also tells the reader what your opinion is on your main idea. For example, a reseach paper on Poe could have the following Thesis Statement:

Edgar Allen Poe's poetry displays the sorrow he experienced throughout his life.

This is a poor Introduction because the paragraph wastes space with silly, generalities that are irrelevant to your specific job. The silliest statement is “But not everyone has a job that they like.” Duh! Instead, give the background. Where do you work? How long have you worked there? What is your job title? What are your duties?

research paper blueprint

Paragraph Building

A strong Foundation

Introduction Paragraph

Introduction Paragraph Example #1

(Is this a good or bad Intro paragraph?)

Everyone has to have a job.Whether it is a full time job or a place where you only work part time or even if you have no job at all your job is probably that of being a student or a housewife or simply doing chores around the house.For some retired Senior Citizens their hobby is their job or they may work by doing volunteer work.This is why I say that everyone has to have a job.But not everyone has a job that they like.The job that I currently have is terrible.

Identifying the Topic Sentence

Read the following paragraph. What is the main idea? Which sentence states that main idea?

Main Ideas and Topic Sentences

We hiked until late in the afternoon. We noticed that storm clouds were rolling in. Soon the wind became wild. The sky was dark by the time we pitched our tent. The tent collapsed during the night, and a nosy bear took my trail mix. My first backpacking experience was quite an adventure!

Which sentence is the topic sentence?

Paragraphs are organized around a MAIN IDEA.

  • The TOPIC SENTENCE states the main idea of the paragraph.
  • TOPIC SENTENCE is often the first sentence.
  • All sentences in the paragraph work to make the MAIN IDEA clear.

Topic Sentence

Must have three elements:

  • Catch the reader's attention

  • Set the Tone

  • Present the Thesis

We hiked until late in the afternoon. We noticed that storm clouds were rolling in. Soon the wind became wild. The sky was dark by the time we pitched our tent. The tent collapsed during the night, and a nosy bear took my trail mix. My first backpacking experience was quite an adventure!

Connect Ideas

Use transition words and phrases to show the relationship between ideas:

Showing Cause and Effect

comparing Ideas

Contrasting IDeas

For Example:

As a result of his upbringing...

...he felt abandoned by his father; consequently, he...

Although Poe never...

On the other hand, had Poe not suffered as he had...

In addition to working as an author, Edgar Allan Poe...

Another event that influenced Poe's life was...

  • as a result
  • because
  • consequently
  • for
  • since
  • so
  • therefore
  • thus
  • also
  • and
  • another
  • besides
  • in addition
  • other
  • similarly
  • too
  • although
  • but
  • however
  • in spite of
  • instead
  • nevertheless
  • on the other hand
  • still
  • yet

Paragraph recipe

Showing Importance

Showing Time

Creating a Conclusion

Identifying Unity Destroyers

For Example:

Sentence Unity

  • first
  • last
  • mainly
  • then
  • to begin with
  • more importantly

After leaving West Point, Poe...

For a time, Poe lived with...

Before marrying Virginia Clemm...

More importantly, Poe's early experiences led to...

First, Poe chose to leave West Point by purposely getting court-martialed.

  • after
  • at last
  • at once
  • at one time
  • before
  • eventually
  • finally
  • first
  • for a time
  • meanwhile
  • then
  • when

All sentences in a paragraph must relate to the main idea

When reading through a paragraph answer the following questions:

  • What is the paragraph's main topic?
  • What does this sentence say about the main topic?
  • Do I need to know this information to understand this paragraph's main topic?

Find the Destroyer

There are three main ways a paragraph can achieve sentence unity:

  • Sentences relate to a stated idea.
  • Sentences relate to an implied idea
  • Sentences relate to a sequence of events.

A conclusion leaves your reader satisfied and makes your composition feel complete. To create this sense of completion, your conclusion must reinforce the main idea while bring the composition to a definite close.

Ways to Write Conclusions

Paragraph Destroyer

Summarize Your Main Points

Close with a Final Idea or Example

Restate your Main Idea

A surprising number of birds cannot fly, but they have other abilities that make up for their inability to fly. The ostrich has powerful legs that allow it to run swiftly. The penguin uses its flippers to swim underwater. Birds such as eagles fly to great heights. Another flightless bird, the kiwi, uses its extremely sharp sense of smell to find its prey at night.

You can reinforce or pull together your main points by using a final example.

Emphasize the major points of your composition by summarizing them again.

The most direct way to end your composition is to restate the thesis in different words. Try to find a newer, stronger wording. The following conclusion restates in different words the idea that backpacking, although difficult, has its rewards.

Activity Instructions

  • Read the paragraph you built in the previous activity and find the one paragraph destroyer.
  • Remove this sentence from your paragraph.

The area called the Middle East actually consists of fifteen countries. Even though they all differ, sometimes greatly, the discovery of oil in this region affected every one of them.

When you go hiking, be prepared for anything. The weather may change; a hike may take longer than expected; or you may need emergency first aid. You may not need rain gear, extra food, a flashlight, or a first-aid kit; but why take a chance? After all, the unexpected is part of what makes hiking an adventure!

Backpacking is not a luxurious vacation. It can be difficult, unpredictable, and downright uncomfortable. Still, it is one of the best ways to get in touch with nature and discover the wilderness.

Refer to Your Introduction

Make a final Comment on the Topic

Your conclusion may make a direct reference to something in the introduction.

Give a sense of completion to your composition by ending with one final comment on your topic. You can provide a thoughtful observation, give a personal reaction, or project a vision of the future.

In Ghana, the humble yam determines the beginning of the new year. At harvest time the Ewe people hold a yam festival for a week, filling their towns with drumming and dancing. At the end of the week, the farmers bring in the crop of new yams in a parade--The new year has begun!

People may choose to mark the new year by celebrating the yam. However they choose to celebrate, it is a time of reflection and thanksgiving.

King was assassinated before he could complete his work. Each year on Martin Luther King Day, however, people pause to remember he words of his now-famous speech, "I have a dream..." By doing this, they make sure his dream stays alive.

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