Dietel-­‐McLaughlin

 /  Spring  2011  

FIVE  STEPS  TO  PARAGRAPH  DEVELOPMENT  

 
As  we’ve  discussed  in  class,  a  strong  argument  must  have  a  clear  thesis,  good  reasoning  to  
support  that  thesis,  and  sufficient  evidence  and  analysis  to  support  each  point.  While  the  
following  guide  should  not  be  seen  as  a  formula  wherein  you  simply  “plug  in”  the  values  of  
your  argument,  this  model  outlines  the  typical  components  of  analytical  paragraphs  and  the  
sequence  in  which  those  components  usually  unfold.  
 
STEP  1:  TOPIC  SENTENCE.    The  topic  sentence  is  the  anchor  of  the  paragraph,  much  like  
your  thesis  is  the  anchor  of  your  essay.    Your  topic  sentence  should  clearly  articulate  the  
main  idea  (and,  ideally,  the  logical  connection  between  that  idea  and  the  thesis  of  your  
essay).  In  the  following  example,  readers  will  be  able  to  tell  that  the  focus  of  the  paragraph  
is  going  to  be  on  Tom  Cruise’s  role  in  an  advertisement;  the  sentence  also  links  that  point  to  
the  purpose  of  the  essay  (rhetorical  analysis).    
 
  Example:  Much  of  the  Ford  advertisement’s  rhetorical  appeal  seems  to  stem  from  its  
use  of  Tom  Cruise  as  a  celebrity  spokesperson.  
 
 
STEP  2:  EXPLANATION  OF  MAIN  IDEA’S  SIGNIFICANCE.  Once  you’ve  stated  the  main  idea  
in  your  topic  sentence(s),  you  will  probably  need  to  offer  some  explanation,  definition,  or  
rationale  for  how  the  main  idea  connects  to  the  thesis.  Don’t  assume  that  your  readers  will  
see  why  the  point  matters  to  your  argument!  
 
Example:  Celebrity  endorsements  are  a  common  strategy  of  companies  looking  to  
boost  the  appeal  of  a  product  by  “borrowing”  the  popularity  of  a  celebrity  and  
lending  it  to  the  product.  
 
STEP  3:  EVIDENCE.    In  order  to  prove  that  your  topic  sentence  is  actually  true,  you  must  
provide  compelling  examples/evidence  to  support  your  point.  Ideally,  these  examples  will  
be  memorable  to  your  readers—powerful  quotes,  notable  examples,  fascinating  case  
studies,  compelling  data,  and  key  textual  evidence  are  just  some  of  the  kinds  of  evidence  
that  can  be  useful  in  an  analytical  paragraph.  
 
Example:  Cruise  is  featured  prominently  in  nearly  every  frame  of  the  45-­‐second  
advertisement.  In  the  opening  sequence,  a  leather-­‐clad  Cruise  is  seen  walking  
confidently  down  an  urban  street.  While  the  scene  seems  to  be  one  of  mayhem  
(including  crumbling  buildings,  crashing  vehicles,  and  widespread  panic),  Cruise  
seems  unfazed  by  the  chaos  as  he  climbs  into  a  new  Ford  Mustang.    In  the  concluding  
frame,  Cruise  lowers  his  glasses  and  says  “Keep  your  cool.  Drive  a  Mustang,”  before  
speeding  away.  
 
In  this  example,  the  evidence  is  drawn  directly  from  the  text  being  analyzed  in  order  to  
illustrate  the  prominent  role  that  Tom  Cruise  played  in  the  advertisement  being  analyzed.  
Being  a  textual  analysis,  readers  will  need  sufficient  detail  drawn  from  the  advertisement  
itself  in  order  to  be  convinced—this  is  “showing,”  as  opposed  to  simply  “telling.”    
Dietel-­‐McLaughlin  /  Spring  2011  

 
STEP  4:  ANALYSIS  OF  EVIDENCE.  The  evidence  can’t  speak  for  itself;  readers  will  depend  
on  you  to  interpret  the  evidence  you  provide  in  light  of  your  main  idea  and  thesis.  
 
Example:  While  some  vehicle  advertisements  might  reference  safety  ratings,  
Consumer  Reports  data,  or  special  features  of  the  vehicle  itself,  the  Mustang  
advertisement  depends  on  Cruise’s  standing  as  an  action  star  to  deliver  the  
persuasive  punch  of  the  scenes.  Being  an  expensive  sports  car,  and  given  the  fairly  
violent  and  spectacular  quality  of  the  advertisement,  the  target  demographic  is  less  
likely  to  be  middle  class  families  who  might  be  more  persuaded  by  evidence  
suggesting  reliability  and  safety.  Instead,  this  advertisement  is  likely  geared  toward  
viewers  who  desire  the  perceived  allure,  independence,  confidence,  and  sexiness  
associated  with  expensive  sports  cars.    
 
 
STEP  5:  WRAP-­UP.  Don’t  just  restate  your  topic  sentence,  but  show  how  the  point  you’ve  
just  proven  connects  to  your  larger  argument.  
 
Example:  Therefore,  while  Cruise  is  not  famous  for  his  extensive  expertise  on  
automobiles,  he  lends  his  persona  as  an  action  star  and  sex  symbol  to  the  Mustang  
brand,  thereby  appealing  to  viewers’  desires  for  status.  
 
PUT  IT  ALL  TOGETHER!  
 
Much  of  the  Ford  advertisement’s  rhetorical  appeal  seems  to  stem  from  its  use  of  
Tom  Cruise  as  a  celebrity  spokesperson.  Celebrity  endorsements  are  a  common  
strategy  of  companies  looking  to  boost  the  appeal  of  a  product  by  “borrowing”  the  
popularity  or  credibility  of  a  celebrity  and  lending  it  to  the  product.  In  this  case,  
Cruise  is  featured  prominently  in  nearly  every  frame  of  the  45-­‐second  Ford  
advertisement.  The  opening  sequence  shows  a  leather-­‐clad  Cruise  walking  
confidently  down  an  urban  street.  While  the  scene  seems  to  be  one  of  mayhem  
(including  crumbling  buildings,  crashing  vehicles,  and  widespread  panic),  Cruise  
seems  unfazed  by  the  chaos  as  he  climbs  into  a  new  Ford  Mustang.    In  the  concluding  
frame,  Cruise  lowers  his  glasses  and  says  “Keep  your  cool.  Drive  a  Mustang,”  before  
speeding  away.  While  some  vehicle  advertisements  might  reference  safety  ratings,  
Consumer  Reports  data,  or  special  features  of  the  vehicle  itself,  the  Mustang  
advertisement  depends  on  Cruise’s  standing  as  an  action  star  to  deliver  the  
persuasive  punch  of  the  scenes.  Being  an  expensive  sports  car,  and  given  the  fairly  
violent  and  spectacular  quality  of  the  advertisement,  the  target  demographic  is  less  
likely  to  be  middle  class  families  who  might  be  more  persuaded  by  evidence  
suggesting  reliability  and  safety.  Instead,  this  advertisement  is  likely  geared  toward  
viewers  who  desire  the  perceived  allure,  independence,  confidence,  and  sexiness  
associated  with  expensive  sports  cars.  Therefore,  while  Cruise  is  not  famous  for  his  
extensive  expertise  on  automobiles,  he  lends  his  persona  as  an  action  star  and  sex  
symbol  to  the  Mustang  brand,  thereby  appealing  to  viewers’  desires  for  status.