Once you have a solid outline, writing your paper becomes much simpler. Instead of having to wrack your brain for ideas, you simply write the paragraphs indicated by your outline. Since you’ve already thought through the best organization for your argument and made sure to include all the necessary components, you can proceed with confidence knowing that your paper will be well-organized.
Start with Your Outline
A solid strategy for ensuring that you follow your outline is to open up your outline document and create a copy. Name your new copy “Draft” to make sure you can easily tell the difference between the file names. For example, your outline might be named “Evaluation Outline,” so your draft would be named “Evaluation Draft.” Edit your heading and title accordingly, and you are ready to begin drafting.
Because you have an outline, you don’t necessarily have to start with your introduction. In fact, leaving the introduction and conclusion for last can be a really helpful strategy for drafting! Just begin with whatever point you feel most confident about. Remove the outline numbering and start creating full sentences for each of your outline points.
Evaluation Paper Outline
- Introduction
- Hook
- Intro to the topic: McAdoos
- Thesis: McAdoos is amazing because of the atmosphere, customer service, and food.
- Background
- History
- Location
- Kind of food
- McAdoos is amazing because of the atmosphere.
- Old Post Office –building has history both in and outside
- What it looks like
- Music
- McAdoos is amazing because of the customer service.
- Speed
- Responsiveness to needs
- McAdoos is amazing because of the food.
- Bread
- Seafood
- Land lovers
- Conclusion
Let’s say that I feel the most confident about point 5 in my outline, highlighted above. Here’s how my draft might look after I finish writing that paragraph:
Evaluation Paper Draft
- Introduction
- Hook
- Intro to the topic: McAdoos
- Thesis: McAdoos is amazing because of the atmosphere, customer service, and food.
- Background
- History
- Location
- Kind of food
- McAdoos is amazing because of the atmosphere.
- Old Post Office –building has history both in and outside
- What it looks like
- Music
- McAdoos is amazing because of the customer service.
- Speed
- Responsiveness to needs
In addition to the atmosphere and customer service, McAdoos’ food makes it an amazing restaurant. After being seated in the restaurant, customers are brought a basket of delicious fresh-baked bread to enjoy while they choose from a delectable menu that includes both seafood and land lovers options. A local favorite is the fried catfish, which can be ordered on its own, with shrimp, on a fish platter, as a kid’s meal, and even as an appetizer. One customer noted that “Everything was fried to perfection- served up in a giant heap of catfish that could’ve easily fed two people” (Curt C.). For those who don’t enjoy seafood, McAdoos also has some great land lover’s options, including Parmesan Crusted Chicken fettucine and Chicken Fried Ribeye, as well as other steak options. Whatever you are craving, McAdoos is sure to deliver delicious food every time and is definitely worth the visit.
- Conclusion
Tips for Writing Good Paragraphs
Begin with a Topic Sentence
Each paragraph needs to start with a topic sentence that includes an introduction, a transition, or a combination of the two. The topic sentence is, in essence, a one-sentence summary of the point of the paragraph. The first sentence of a paragraph always has to help a reader move smoothly from the last paragraph, as well as telling readers where they are in your argument.
In the example above, the topic sentence for point 5 in the evaluation essay refers back to the previous two points, making the amazing food at McAdoos seem like the icing on the cake:
Topic Sentence
Note the phrase, “in addition,” which is a transition phrase that lets readers know that I am beginning a new point in my essay, as well as connecting this new point to the previous ones. The following table provides several different transitional phrases that can be utilized to tie your essay together:
| Addition | Comparison | Contrast | Cause and Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| also
and in addition in fact indeed so too as well as furthermore moreover |
along the same lines
in the same way similarly likewise like |
although
but in contrast conversely despite even though however nevertheless whereas yet while on the other hand |
accordingly
as a result consequently hence it follows, then since so then therefore thus |
| Conclusion | Example | Concession | Elaboration |
| as a result
consequently hence in conclusion in short in sum it follow, then so therefore thus |
as an illustration
consider for example for instance specifically a case in point |
admittedly
granted of course naturally to be sure conceding that although it is true that… |
by extension
in short that is to say in other words to put it another way to put it bluntly to put it succinctly ultimately |
Transition words are useful for more than just transitioning to a new paragraph. They can also help you connect ideas to each other within paragraphs. This list gives some ideas for how to use transitions to connect ideas in different ways.
Table from Technical Writing Essentials, licensed CC BY 4.0.
Stick to One Main Idea Per Paragraph
By definition, all sentences in the paragraph should relate to one main idea. The main idea should be clear and obvious to readers and is typically presented within the topic sentence. If another main idea comes up as you are drafting a paragraph, it is time to go back to your outline to see where that idea fits in. If in revising a draft you notice that a paragraph has wandered into another main idea, you should consider splitting it into two paragraphs. The topic sentence is often the first sentence in a paragraph, but it does not have to be located there.
Note that in the example above, the entire paragraph discusses the main idea: the amazing food at the restaurant. Though I might also feel inclined to note the prices of these food options, this paragraph is not the place for that because the point is the food, not the prices. If I determine that price is actually a really important point that should be included in my essay, I can choose to discuss prices in another body paragraph or in my counterargument paragraph, depending on what I want to say about them.
Supporting the Topic Sentence
The other sentences in the paragraph should present details that clarify and support the topic sentence. Together, all the sentences within the paragraph should flow smoothly so that readers can easily grasp its meaning.
Note that my paragraph contains specific examples of the amazing food, and even an outside opinion to support my examples:
Support/Evidence
I might decide to add more specific examples or descriptions or even another quote later on, but this provides a solid paragraph for my draft.
When you choose sentences and ideas to support the topic sentence, keep in mind that paragraphs should not be overly long or overly short. A half page of double-spaced text is a nice average length for a paragraph. At a minimum, unless you are aiming for a dramatic effect, a paragraph should include at least three sentences. Although there is really no maximum size for a paragraph, keep in mind that lengthy paragraphs create confusion and reading difficulty. For this reason, try to keep all paragraphs to no more than one double-spaced page (or approximately 250 words).
Don’t Forget to Wrap it Up!
Each paragraph needs a final sentence that lets the reader know that the idea is finished and it is time to move onto a new paragraph and a new idea. A common way to close a paragraph is to reiterate the purpose of the paragraph in a way that shows the purpose has been met. For example, the final sentence in the example paragraph here ties the main idea of this paragraph–the amazing food–into the primary argument for this essay–that McAdoos is an amazing restaurant.
Wrap Up Sentence
Final Thoughts
Once you finish your first paragraph, you can go on to draft each of the other paragraphs in your essay. Because you have started with the outline, it is easier to make sure that your points stay organized and that you cover everything you intended to cover in your essay!
Attribution:
Content adapted from “Creating Paragraphs” by Saylor Academy under license CC BY NC.
