Paragraph Structure: Fundamentals Paragraphs usually (but not always!) present information from general to specific. General Specific Introduction to Main Idea: Identifying part or all of the Main Idea of the paragraph. Evidence: Offering Supporting Details to help prove Main Idea. QUOTES are the best type of evidence! QUOTES! QUOTES! QUOTES! Explanation: Telling why the Evidence is important.

Referring to Texts in Essays When using information from another text: Always identify who the author of that text is, first by referring to his/her full name and then to their last name for the rest of the article. Example: Jane Eisinger. is the author’s full name, so use it when you first mention her. Refer to her as Eisinger for rest of essay. Always put essay, short story, and poetry titles in quotes. Examples: “Being Da Vinci” or “The Renaissance of Renaissance” Always bold, italicize, or underline book and novel titles. Examples: A Bolt from the Blue or A Bolt from the Blue or A Bolt from the Blue

Referring to Texts in Essays When citing information from another text: For MLA, mention the author and page number after the quote. Example: (Eisinger, 58) For APA, mention the author and year the article was published after the quote. Example: (Eisinger, 2001) Pick the style guide best suited to your major and the class you take.

Referring to Texts in Essays When quoting information from another text: The shorter the quote, the better, as long as it is accurate and that you keep the meaning the same as the author intended. One sentence quotes are often as effective, and more preferable, as quoting three to four words. Your explanation should be as long as the quote you use. If your quote is several sentences, then your explanation needs to explain all of those sentences.