Assertion: - The assertion (or topic sentence) states the specific arguable point you will make in
the paragraph.
- Moreover, the assertion connects the paragraph to your thesis (claim).
- Generally, assertions should go at the beginning of the paragraph (the first
sentence, or – if there's a transition sentence – the second).
- Assertions must be arguable – the point that YOU are making about something.
eXample: - The examples are the evidence that supports (or "proves") your assertion.
- These could be a direct quote from the text, a detailed description of a visual
object, data, etc.
- Examples should be introduced and briefly contextualized.
Explanation: - Examples NEVER speak for themselves: you must provide explanations, which
clarify how and why the evidence relates to your assertion and subsequently your
central claim.
- For instance, in a textual analysis, an explanation of a quote pulls out particular
words, images, references, etc., from the example and shows how these
support the assertion.
- Explanation of examples and data outline the reasoning that logically links the
evidence to the assertion.
Significance: -If you simply state, support and explain the assertions, your reader may respond
with indifference unless you also tell them why they should care by showing
the significance.
- Statements of significance anticipate and answer the question "So What?" In other
words, why is the point made in the paragraph important in light of your
thesis?
- Providing significance is crucial to making an argument that says something, has a
purpose, or is interesting.
The final draft. It's the stage where you want to fix minor details before turning it in, correcting the small stuff like grammar and spelling and punctuation.
Sites like Wikipedia might contain the right answers but it is difficult to know for sure because those sites can be edited by whoever has an account for it. Because of this you never know if you're getting the facts or an opinion.
