Para_full

Theresa Bell

Writing centre coordinator, Royal Roads University

Writing an Academic Paragraph

1.Your academic writing should demonstrate your thinking on a topic,and in doing so, educate, persuade, or otherwise affect your reader.

2.Academic writing uses an evidence-based approach thatdemonstrates your critical thinking on a topic.

3.Claims, evidence, and analysis that will convince your reader of yourposition are presented in the body paragraphs of the paper.

Therefore:

4.Creating strong paragraphs is the best way to ensure that your pointsare clearly and convincingly communicated.

The purpose of a paragraph

An academic paragraph:

Is a series ofsentences that areconnected orrelated.

Focuses on onetopic.

Demonstrates yourcritical thinking ona topic

What doI think?Why?

What’s in an academic paragraph?

Topic sentence

Evidence

Analysis

Conclusion

Transition

The topic sentence:

•Can be placed anywhere within a paragraph; however, if the topicsentence is your first sentence, it makes it easy for your reader todetermine the focus of the paragraph.

•Usually states the argument or claim that will be proved within theparagraph.

Example: Residents of Victoria have many advantages that allow them toenjoy good health, well-being, and happiness.

Topic sentence

“Introduction to Academic Writing” & Paragraphs

What is critical thinking?

“Disciplined thinking that isclear, rational, open-minded,and informed by evidence”(“Critical thinking”, n.d.-a,para. 1).

Critical Thinking

“The process of analysinginformation in an objectiveway, in order to make ajudgement about it”(“Critical thinking”, n.d.-b,para. 1).

Research evidence

Analysis of connectionbetween evidence andclaim

Claim

Answer the “sowhat?” or “whyshould I care?” foryour reader

Your idea

Fact(s) from otherscholars’ researchthat support yourclaim

Demonstrating critical thinking

Building an Argument

E.g., Residents of Victoriahave many advantages thatallow them to enjoy goodhealth, well-being, andhappiness.

E.g., Victorians canparticipate in activitiessuch as cycling, fishing,hiking, kayaking, scubadiving and sailing (TourismVictoria, n.d.-b).

E.g., Victoria’s mild climateallows residents to enjoyoutdoor activities year-round, which means peoplecan live more active andhealthy lives.

When choosing research evidence to support your argument, consider:

•How do you know the claim is true?

•What facts can you provide to support the claim?

•What research best supports the argument?

Argument: Residents of Victoria have many advantages that allow them toenjoy good health, well-being, and happiness.

Evidence:

•Victorians can participate in activities such as cycling, fishing, hiking,kayaking, scuba diving and sailing (Tourism Victoria, n.d.-b).

•Physical activity is a key aspect of good health (Public Health Agencyof Canada, 2012, Health Benefits section, para. 3).

Research evidence

Quoting, Summarizing, and Paraphrasing & Building an Argument

The analysis demonstrates how you connected the research evidence toyour claim. To ensure your reader understands exactly what you’rethinking, consider:

•Why did you choose that specific piece of evidence?

•How does the evidence support your argument or claim?

•Why should your reader care about the evidence? Why does it matter?

Argument: Residents of Victoria have many advantages that allow them to enjoygood health, well-being, and happiness.

Evidence: Victorians can participate in activities such as cycling, fishing, hiking,kayaking, scuba diving and sailing (Tourism Victoria, n.d.-b).

Analysis: Victoria’s mild climate allows residents to enjoy outdoor activities year-round, which means people can live more active and healthy lives.

Analysis

Critical Thinking

Conclusion

The concluding sentence:

•Signals to the reader that the discussion of the topic introduced at thestart of the paragraph is ending

•Should remind your reader of your paragraph topic sentence, theargument, and the connection between the content of the paragraphand your thesis statement.

Example: Canada usually places within the top five countries in therankings of life-satisfaction and happiness (Capital Regional District et al.,2009, p. 4), so Victorians can truly enjoy world-class levels of well-beingand happiness.

•A transition is a word or phrase that improves the flow of writingbecause it connects sentences and/or paragraphs.

•A transitional sentence at the end of a paragraph shows your readerwhere your discussion is going next

Example: It’s not only access to outdoor activities that help Victoriansachieve good health and well-being; Victoria’s social and communityvitality also provide key supports.

Transition

Paragraphs

Topicsentence &argument

Sample paragraph

Residents of Victoria have many advantages that allow them to enjoy good health, well-being, and happiness. For example, Victoria’s mild climate means locals can take part in outdooractivities at all times of year, and in so doing, maintain a good quality of life. Unlike residents ofother Canadian cities who have to retreat indoors due to seasonal extreme weather, Victorians canparticipate in activities such as cycling, fishing, hiking, kayaking, scuba diving and sailing year-round (Tourism Victoria, n.d.-b). Victoria is also at the start of the Vancouver Island Golf Trail,which provides 11 golf courses (Tourism Victoria, n.d.-a, para. 2). Physical activity is a key aspect ofgood health (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2012, Health Benefits section, para. 3), and outdoorpursuits in particular have the added benefits of “fresh air, exercise, reconnecting with nature [and]rejuvenating your inner spirit” (City of Victoria, 2012, para. 1). Since regular exercise promotesgood mental health, such as reduced stress levels and higher self-esteem (Public Health Agency ofCanada, 2012, Health Benefits section, para. 3), a healthier, more active lifestyle also allowsVictorians to experience greater happiness since “research connects happiness to physical well-being, mental well-being…[and] health” (Greater Victoria Happiness Index Partnership, 2009, p. 3).In fact, in a 2009 Happiness Index Survey, respondents from Victoria assessed their own lifesatisfaction and happiness on ten-point rating scales and reported an average score in bothcategories of 7.6 out of 10 (Capital Regional District et al., 2009, p. 4), placing Victorians close tothe Canadian average of 7.7 out of 10 (p. 4). Canada usually places within the top five countries inthe rankings of life-satisfaction and happiness (p. 4), so Victorians can truly enjoy world-classlevels of well-being and happiness. It’s not only access to outdoor activities that help Victoriansachieve good health and well-being; Victoria’s social and community vitality also provide keysupports.

Social connections within a community have a significant impact on happiness and well-being (Capital Regional District et al., 2009, p. 7), and Victorians benefit from the local services andstructures that help them make those connections. [Paragraph continues]

Topicsentence &argument

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Conclusion