The easiest way to structure a paper is to use the standard five paragraph format.
This familiar structure keeps the writer focused and on topic, helps to include vital information, and makes revisions without accidentally omitting pertinent details. This organization enables students to write clearer papers. The standard five paragraph paper consists of an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs that give reasons or evidence supporting the paper’s thesis, and a concluding paragraph.
The introductory paragraph includes the thesis and forecasts evidence that will appear in the next three paragraphs. The thesis statement is the central controlling idea that focuses the paper. It serves as the blueprint for the paper. The thesis statement allows writers to narrow a broad topic into a precise statement.
The three body paragraphs each begin with a topic sentence that defines a point supporting the thesis. Every topic sentence heads its own paragraph and every sentence that follows must relate directly to the topic sentence. While it is not necessary that the topic sentence appear in the first line, inexperienced writers often prefer to focus the paragraph from its first sentence.
The concluding paragraph summarizes points covered throughout the paper. The conclusion restates reasons and ends with a closing thought. Do not introduce new ideas in the conclusion and do not restate the thesis word for word.