Your essay is a journey through your argument or discussion. Your paragraphs are the stepping stones in that journey. They do essential work in helping you get your points across clearly, and should be structured so as to provide a logical and coherent argument. Signposts - smaller words or phrases that sit within paragraphs - also help to guide the reader through: they indicate what will happen; remind them of where they are at key points along the way; and indicate the direction your essay is taking.
It is important to think about the structure of your paragraphs at the planning stage, and then also when editing your draft. You also need to consider the work they do as larger building blocks within the discussion; make sure they are in an order that makes sense, and that each paragraph develops your previous points. This guide aims to help you with the following: