Paragraph Structure
Have a strong argument, but want it to be clearer?
Scroll below for some good strategies for organizing your academic paper in History
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KNOW WHAT EACH PARAGRAPH IS ADDRESSING
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Outlines--even the quick, impromptu, sloppy ones--are one of the only ways to properly sketch out your paper. Knowing how many main points you need to defend your argument, or how many paragraphs the paper's word count will require, helps ensure an organized college-level paper. Think ahead. Know what paragraphs will be reserved for which parts of your argument (thesis statement) before you start writing. Perhaps even write all of your topic sentences after you write your introduction. It is difficult to organize your main points into discrete paragraphs, know what sources will be necessary to construct these paragraphs, or if you have well-balanced paper with 2-3 strong points ready to write, without an outline of some sort.
Use topic sentences that introduce the paragraph and connect to the thesis
Every paragraph should one clear sentence to start that connects the thesis statement and the subject of the paragraph. A standard strategy: answer this question - how does this paragraph illustrate one example, or part, of your thesis statement?
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If your argument is that the FIU Online Writing Tutors give the best advice, and your paragraph is going to feature the tutor's good knowledge of writing for history as one major point of support , your topic sentence could sound like: One example that the FIU Writing Tutors give effective advice is their tutor's strong understanding of writing. Connect your thesis, and the paragraph's subject in one go. Be direct if you're having trouble.
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keep your paragraphs
about one thesis point
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One of the most common issues plaguing FIU students writing History papers is attempting to include too much in individual paragraphs. If you've outlined your paper ahead of time, or know what 2 to 3 main points you want to feature as support for your thesis, you want to make sure to give them their own featured sections. Including too many "main ideas" in individual paragraphs, no less more than one, can muddle your argument. Building on the last examples, if you're writing a paper about the FIU History Tutors, and have 3 main examples, give each its own section/paragraph. This way each gets a dedicated topic sentence, with a clear focus.
keep your paragraphs sizes balanced
Another of the common issues plaguing history papers we see is paper's with paragraphs of different lengths. What this looks like: a few very robust sized paragraphs with one or two mixed in that are half, or less than half, the size of the longer paragraphs. Why is this typically an issue? Because it tends to mean larger issues exist in the paper. Shorter paragraphs typically do not have the same amount of analysis as a longer paper. Perhaps the longer paragraphs spend too much describing the basics, and not supporting a clear argument. Sometimes paragraph size imbalances suggest that you may not have paid as much attention to one of your major points. Make an effort to provide the same amount of attention, and space, to each of the parts of your main body paragraphs. If you have issues with this, perhaps take a look at our outline creation tutorial link above.
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KNOW WHAT EACH PARAGRAPH IS ADDRESSING
Before you start writing, especially your first paragraph, make sure your know what your argument is. You want to know what part of your argument the paragraph is addressing.
Use topic sentences that introduce the paragraph and connect to the thesis
A good topic sentence will explain how the upcoming paragraph represents one point of support for your thesis.
keep your paragraphs
about one thesis point
Focusing your paragraph on one of your thesis points, and not many at the same time, helps
keep your paragraphs sizes balanced
A good thesis statement to a college level history paper makes sure give a direct answer to the question, with mention of the two to three main parts of the argument.