Paragraph Organization The SIEL Method

Key to Idea Organization S = State it! I = Illustrate it! E = Explain it! L = Link it!

S = State it! Stating it! means 1) giving your reader the main idea of the paragraph, and/or 2) answering the prompt. Example prompt: Make a claim regarding Tannen’s central argument in “There is No Unmarked Woman.” In “There is No Unmarked Woman” Tannen uses personal observations and technical evidence to prove____________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ________________________________.

I = Illustrate it! Example: To illustrate your point or idea, you must give examples from the text to support your point of view. Example: Tannen clearly shows _______________________. For example, she intertwines her experience and knowledgeable background when she asserts “ “ (391). In addition, she includes “ “ (393). Using “for example” is a great way to include transitions. Other transitions

E = Explain it! In the explanation part, you must explain to your reader how the quote (Illustrate it!) proves your idea (State it!). This should be twice as long as your Illustrate it!. Be sure to explain each piece of evidence that you used in the Illustrate it! Example: This evidence is highly effective in proving her point because……

L = Link it! Now Link it! is the very last part of your answer or paragraph. So you must decide…are you finished, or do you need to include more examples? The answer is in your prompt and your State it!

Look at your State it! Your State it! said: In “There is No Unmarked Woman” Tannen uses personal observations and technical evidence to prove______________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________. Are you done? Have you given examples and explanation to fully address your claim? If not…go back to State it!

Helpful Hint Whether you are proving one characteristic or four, you need to be sure to always include as many examples as possible. If you are proving four characteristics, you need at least one example for each. If you are proving one characteristic, it is always a good idea to give your readers at least three or four examples (illustrations) of that characteristic!!!

Lastly…Link it! Example: When you have completed all the necessary State it!, Illustrate it!, and Explain it!, then you need to link your paragraph back to the main idea. Example: All of the evidence in Tannen’s piece prove that __________________________________________________ __________________________________________.