You probably know that essays need an introduction, a main body and a conclusion. Here, we focus on the main body and how you can structure paragraphs within it.
Start each paragraph with a topic sentence – this is a sentence that introduces what the paragraph is about. Within this sentence or as a separate one following it, state the point that you want to make or the opinion you want to give. Next, you need some evidence or an example that supports that point or opinion you have just given. Then you need to analyse the evidence, which means you need to explain how the evidence supports your point or explain the consequences of the evidence. Here is an example broken down into these different steps:
- Topic Sentence: In my opinion, if people used transport in different ways, environmental damage would be reduced.
- Evidence: One option could be travelling to work by bike rather than in a car.
- Analysis: As a result of this, there would be fewer car fumes and the air would be cleaner, which would mean pollution would be reduced.
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