Illustration – evidence and examples that reinforce the main point; Explanation – evaluate the evidence in the illustration, discuss its significance, and show how this paragraph connects to the ...

For every paragraph: In one column, write the main point (or points) in a few words or sentences. In the other column, write what each paragraph is doing—for example, argument/claim/thesis, context, ...

For some disciplines, you should make it a clear announcement before the thesis statement, such as 'In this essay, it will be argued that…' For other disciplines, these announcements should be avoided ...