M.E.A.L. Plan
Consider the main idea, evidence, and analysis of a body paragraph as a simplified version of the Toulmin Model: claim, grounds, warrant, etc.
Paragraph Types
When writing
a thesis paper, there are three different types of paragraphs to consider: an Introduction
paragraph), a body
paragraph, a Transitional paragraph, and a conclusion paragraph. When writing a typical
five-paragraph essay, the same types of paragraphs apply except for the
transitional paragraph. An introductory paragraph, transitional paragraph, and
conclusion paragraph all include a thesis statement or the main idea of the
entire thesis.
MEAL plan explained
Writing
effective evidence sentences within a body paragraph using the MEAL plan (Main
idea, Evidence, Analysis, Linking) involves several key steps. The MEAL plan is
a structured approach to constructing paragraphs that clearly communicate your
arguments and analysis. Let’s break down how to write good evidence sentences:
1. Main Idea (Topic Sentence)
•
Purpose: Introduces the central idea or
argument of the paragraph.
•
Tip: Make it clear and direct, setting up
what the paragraph will discuss.
2.
Evidence Sentences
•
Purpose: Provide factual details, data,
examples, quotations, or paraphrased information to support the main idea.
•
How to Write Good Evidence Sentences:
–
Relevance: Ensure that the evidence
directly supports the main idea of the paragraph.
–
Credibility: Use evidence from credible
and authoritative sources.
–
Specificity: Choose evidence that is
specific and detailed to make a strong case.
–
Integration: Introduce evidence in a way
that flows naturally from the main idea. Use phrases like “For instance,”
“According to [source],” or “A study by [researcher] found that…”
–
Balance: Provide enough evidence to be
convincing but avoid overloading the paragraph with too many details.
–
Citation: Always give proper credit to
the original sources of your evidence, following the appropriate citation
style.
3.
Analysis Sentences
•
Purpose: Interpret, explain, or analyze
the evidence provided.
•
Tip: Show how the evidence supports your
main idea, making connections that might not be immediately obvious to the
reader.
4.
Linking Sentences
•
Purpose: Transition to the next idea or
paragraph.
•
Tip: Can reflect on the overall argument,
connect to the next paragraph’s main idea, or provide a conclusion to the
current paragraph.
Example of a MEAL Plan Paragraph:
1.
Main Idea: Increasing physical activity
in daily routines can significantly improve mental health.
2.
Evidence: A 2020 study by the University
of Oxford found that participants who engaged in moderate to vigorous physical
activity for at least 150 minutes per week reported a 30% decrease in symptoms
of depression. Additionally, a survey conducted by the World Health
Organization revealed that regular physical activity enhances cognitive
function and reduces anxiety.
3.
Analysis: These findings highlight the
dual benefits of physical exercise, not only in alleviating depressive symptoms
but also in enhancing cognitive abilities and managing anxiety. The reduction
in depressive symptoms can be attributed to the release of endorphins during
exercise, known for their mood-boosting properties.
4.
Linking: Understanding the multifaceted
benefits of physical activity can guide public health policies aimed at
improving mental health outcomes.
In summary, effective
evidence sentences are integral to supporting the main idea in your paragraph.
They should be relevant, credible, specific, well-integrated, balanced, and
properly cited. The MEAL plan provides a structured way to organize your paragraph,
ensuring that your argument is presented clearly and persuasively. # Body
Paragraph (BP) Development
Like an essay or
literature review, a BP has a beginning, middle, and end. Think of a BP as a
“mini essay”. Each paragraph should develop one main idea, describing what,
how, why, when, where, with whom, etc. about a single main idea. A section
of a literature review contains a series of main ideas that is organized in a
logical fashion: topical, categorical, process, etc. (See Developing an argument).
Thus, BPs are organized within each of the two-four sections of a (2,250-word)
literature review in a way that builds an argument related to the section title
(level II heading) that relates directly to the thesis statement (or the main
idea of the entire essay).
Consider the acronym,
M.E.A.L., as in MEAL plan, when developing a body paragraph. The MEAL Plan does
not apply to an introduction paragraph, transitional paragraph, or conclusion
paragraph.
Main Idea (Original
idea-no citation): When developing a body paragraph (BP), each sentence
serves a particular purpose. A BP typically begins with the main idea of the
paragraph, called, “the topic sentence”. A reader should be able to get the
gist of the meaning of the text by reading only the topic sentence of each BP.
It’s common for English language learning writers to find it challenging to
develop a topic sentence to begin each BP. Sometimes a topic sentence can be
determined before developing the BP, while at other times, the topic sentence
is unclear until the entire BP has been written. Either way, a topic sentence
should begin each BP and express clearly the one idea (or claim - See A claim defined
and Toulmin Method in Developing
an argument.
When developing a topic
sentence (the main idea of the BP), there are a few things to keep in mind. 1)
Try to avoid using copula
verbs, the most common being
the verb “to be”. As stated earlier, the topic sentence is a claim, a position,
an assertion, a proposition, an opinion, etc. that represents one idea. Avoid
expressing facts as a topic sentence. 2) A topic sentence should not be too
general nor too specific. A topic sentence should be more specific than the
thesis statement and section title (level II heading) and more general than the
evidence sentences within the paragraph that express examples, details, facts,
statistics, etc. To make a topic sentence more specific add prepositional
phrases, relative (adjective) clauses, and subordinating (adverbial) clauses.
3) Avoid using personal pronouns in the topic sentence and instead (re)state
its antecedent (i.e., the noun the personal pronoun represents). 4) Avoid
questions and imperatives when writing a topic sentence. As a general rule,
avoid all rhetorical questions throughout your text with the exception of
perhaps an essential question in the Introductory
Paragraph. 5) Avoid transitions to
begin a topic sentence: introductory phrases, sentence connectors, and
beginning a sentence with a subordinating clause.
Evidence (Not
an original idea: citation required): When developing a literature review,
the evidence (sentences) will be the citations used to support the writer’s
original ideas. When developing the results and discussion section of a paper,
the evidence will be the findings that result from having analyzed collected
data. A good rule of thumb is to present the evidence immediately after the
main idea of the paragraph (i.e., the topic sentence); that is, the second
sentence of the BP. After presenting the first piece of evidence in a BP, then
it’s at the discretion of the writer how evidence sentences and analysis
sentences are to be stated.
Analysis (Original
idea-no citation): The role of an analysis sentence is to connect the
evidence to the main idea of the BP. As the writer, ask yourself the following:
1.
What is the importance of the evidence as it
relates to the topic sentence (main idea of the paragraph)?
2.
What does the evidence mean to the reader of
your text?
3.
How do you as the writer interpret the evidence
as it relates to the main idea?
4.
How should the reader interpret the evidence in
lieu of the main idea from the topic sentence?
Think of the analysis
sentences as a comment, explanation, compare-and-contrast, synthesis, etc.,
using the writer’s critical thinking skills to interpret and express the point
of the evidence as it relates to the main idea of the BP. Analysis sentences can
also be used to connect ideas to other parts of the thesis paper that have
already been discussed. It’s the writer’s responsibility to express why the
evidence relates back to the main idea. An analysis sentence should always come
after the evidence it is mentioning. Stated another way, evidence sentences
should always precede an analysis sentence.
Link (Original idea-no
citation): The linking sentence connects the main idea of the current
paragraph (i.e., topic sentence) with the main idea of the next body paragraph
and should be the last sentence of the BP. Properly including linking sentences
provides flow and connects ideas throughout the section. For this reason, it’s
recommended to avoid transitions to begin topic sentences as stated earlier. As
an alternative, the final sentence of a BP could also serve as a summary,
especially in cases when a BP concludes a section.
MEAL Plan Coherence
Since
each BP sentence serves a particular purpose, the organization of how each
sentence is stated can be the difference between a coherent and incoherent
paragraph. Here are a few examples of BPs according to the MEAL plan (*
indicate incoherent BPs) - click on the comments to see further explanations: MEEAAL
ok, MEEEEAL Not ok; MEEAAAL ok; EMEAL Not ok; MEAAAL
Not ok; MEEAEAL ok; MEAEAL ok; MEAEL Not ok; MEAELA
Not ok
Transitions within Body
Paragraphs
Avoid
using any one type of transition (e.g., sentence connectors). Instead, mix it
up a bit and include Introductory phrases and subordinating
clauses (See Dependent clauses) to begin sentences
within a paragraph. Avoid transitions to begin a paragraph, however.
Paragraph Length
Think of
paragraph length in terms of sentences first. Typically, BPs with five-eight
well-constructed sentences will have a proper length. If a paragraph has 225
words or more then, it might be necessary to separate it into two or more
paragraphs.
Links
Compare how to write a
body paragraph with how to write an Introduction paragraph and Conclusion paragraph. As a general rule, it’s usually best to develop
first your body paragraphs (beginning with the easiest paragraph), and then
develop the introduction and conclusion paragraphs. The introduction paragraph
(after the hook and before the thesis statement) is dedicated to the context of
the problem (refer to the Problem statement).
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