Paragraph structure: A short guide: Home

You can think of paragraphs as mini essays, discussing a single idea. They will vary depending on your academic discipline and the nature of your essay, but here is a good basic paragraph structure:

• Introduce your point: the first sentence of a paragraph should signpost the point to be made, using phrases such as: 'An alternative perspective to consider is'...or 'Another key issue is...'
• Elaborate: on the point you have introduced, making sure the argument that you are trying to put forward is clear.
• Evidence: provide the evidence that supports the point you are making.
• Comment: on the evidence- criticise, analyse or engage with the evidence. How does it support your point?
• Conclude: your point and indicate what it means for your overall argument.

Some of the problems you may be having with your academic writing could be linked to your use of paragraphs. Do you ever struggle with any of the things below?

Your tutor has commented that you do not develop your point enough.

Perhaps you are trying to make too many points within one paragraph. Make sure each paragraph deals with just one point, and that you have taken that point through the stages detailed on the previous page. 

Your tutor has said that your arguments are not coherent.

Perhaps you need to think about the order in which you position your paragraphs. Try jotting down the key point that you want to explore in each paragraph. Then move these points around to find an order that will allow your argument to logically unfold. Make use of signposting words and phrases to guide the reader through your argument. See our Short Guide to Signposting in Essays for help with this.

You are unsure about when and how often you should be providing evidence or referencing other scholars.

If each paragraph explores one main point, then it follows that there should be at least one reference or piece of evidence within each paragraph. Otherwise you are in danger of making a key point without backing it up.

You often feel as if you are not answering the question you have been set.

Try looking at each paragraph and considering how it helps you to answer the question. If there are any paragraphs that seem irrelevant, consider cutting them, or making their relevance clearer to the reader. Look at the first and last sentences of your paragraphs. These should indicate a clear link to the original essay question.

You should differentiate your paragraphs by indenting them or leaving extra line space in between. Check whether your academic school has a style preference for this. Whichever style you choose, ensure that you apply consistently. Make sure your paragraphs are not too long or too short. Page-long paragraphs indicate that you are trying to make too many points in one paragraph, or perhaps not writing concisely enough. One sentence paragraphs suggest you are not developing your points properly, and will be pounced on by the marker.

University of Portsmouth. Department for Curriculum and Quality Enhancement. (2010) Better Essays: Signposting [online]. Available from: www.port.ac.uk/departments/studentsupport/ask/resources/handouts/writtenassignments/ filetodownload.32756.en.pdf [Accessed 20 May 2013] 

The Open University. Skills for OU study: Dividing your Work into Paragraphs [online]. Available from: www.open.ac.uk/skillsforstudy/dividing-your-work-inoto-paragraphs.php [Accessed 20 May 2013]

Consider the internal structure of paragraphs and how they link to one another. This is a key part if achieving an effective essay structure to convey your line of reasoning. Check each paragraph for structure, clarity, relevance and connection to its neighbours.

The PDF version of this guide is available here (136 Kb)