https://youtu.be/svaqvWbndgE?si=3cljdMXk22aAQCAX
https://anchor.fm/benjamin-l-stewart/episodes/Thesis-Seminar-M-E-A-L--Plan-paragraph-development-eq7vdr
When writing a thesis paper, there are three different types of paragraphs to consider: an Introductory Paragraph, a body paragraph, a Transitional Paragraph, and a Conclusion Paragraph. When writing a typical five-paragraph essay, the same types of paragraphs apply except for the transitional paragraph. An introductory paragraph, transitional paragraph, and conclusion paragraph all include a thesis statement or the main idea of the entire thesis.
Writing effective evidence sentences within a body paragraph using the MEAL plan (Main idea, Evidence, Analysis, Linking) involves several key steps. The MEAL plan is a structured approach to constructing paragraphs that clearly communicate your arguments and analysis. Let's break down how to write good evidence sentences.
Main Idea (Original idea-no citation): When developing a body paragraph (BP), each sentence serves a particular purpose. A BP typically begins with the main idea of the paragraph, called, the topic sentence. A reader should be able to get the gist of the meaning of the paragraph by reading only the topic sentence. It's common for English language learning writers to find it challenging to develop a topic sentence to begin each BP. Sometimes a topic sentence can be determined before developing the BP, while other times, the topic sentence is unclear until the entire BP has been written. Either way, a topic sentence should begin each BP and express clearly the one idea (or A Claim; See Toulmin Method in Organizing an effective argument: Methods and examples.
When developing a topic sentence (the main idea of the BP), there are a few things to keep in mind. 1) Try to avoid using Copula verbs, the most common being the verb "to be". As stated earlier, the topic sentence is a claim, a position, an assertion, a proposition, an opinion, etc. that represents one idea. Avoid expressing facts as a topic sentence. 2) A topic sentence should not be too general nor too specific. A topic sentence should be more specific than the thesis statement and section title (level II heading) and more general than the evidence sentences within the paragraph that express examples, details, facts, statistics, etc. To make a topic sentence more specific add prepositional phrases, relative (adjective) clauses, and subordinating (adverbial) clauses. 3) Avoid using personal pronouns in the topic sentence and instead (re)state its antecedent (i.e., the noun the personal pronoun represents). 4) Avoid questions and imperatives when writing a topic sentence. As a general rule, avoid all rhetorical questions throughout your text with the exception of perhaps an essential question in the Introductory Paragraph. 5) Avoid transitions to begin a topic sentence: introductory phrases, sentence connectors, and beginning a sentence with a subordinating clause.
Purpose: Provide factual details, data, examples, quotations, or paraphrased information to support the main idea.
Evidence (Not an original idea: citation required): When developing a literature review, the evidence (sentences) will be the citations used to support the writer's original ideas. When developing the results and discussion section of a paper, the evidence will be the findings that result from having analyzed collected data. A good rule of thumb is to present the evidence immediately after the main idea of the paragraph (i.e., the topic sentence); that is, the second sentence of the BP. After presenting the first piece of evidence in a BP, then it's at the discretion of the writer how evidence sentences and analysis sentences are to be stated.