PIE PARAGRAPH
After reading the information on PIE paragraphs, I’d like you to write one of your own. For this assignment, you will write a paragraph that explains the relationship between hard work/perseverance/grit and success as a student. Although we haven’t covered how to cite properly yet, I would like you to include a quote to the best of your current ability. You don’t need to read a scholarly report or anything, just a famous or nicely applicable quote will suffice. There is no word limit, but you should recall that a solid paragraph that supports a claim should be at least 4 sentences long. (If this is a shock, review this week’s prior materials on paragraphs.)
PIE Paragraph
PIE Paragraph
Criteria
Ratings
Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Completed by due date
5 pts
Full Marks
0 pts
No Marks
5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome At least 4 sentences long
5 pts
Full Marks
0 pts
No Marks
5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Incorporates a quote to best of ability
5 pts
Full Marks
0 pts
No Marks
5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome On topic and includes elements of a PIE paragraph
5 pts
Full Marks
0 pts
No Marks
5 pts
Total Points: 20
Pie Paragraph Example and Explanation
As you have seen on the previous page, PIE paragraphs are the building blocks of argumentation in your essays. They are where you make and support the minor claims that – taken all together – will prove your thesis correct.
Here’s an example that I’ve color coded so you can see the Point, Illustration, and Explanation at work:
I’d like you to note a few things about this example:
1) Look at the color coding and notice how very much of this paragraph is green. The rule of thumb is that for every line of quoted material, you should have 3-4 lines of explanation showing readers HOW the quote relates to or proves your claim. In other words, you’re putting that quote into the context of your paragraph. This means that it will be highly unlikely that you’ll be ending a paragraph with a quote. You simply won’t have put that quote in context. This is called a “dropped quote.”
2) Check out how many times this writer uses the word “arrogant.” It appears for the first time in the topic sentence and again several times throughout the paragraph. This creates good signal of returning to the claim. Somewhere along the line, many students pick up on the fact that they shouldn’t be too repetitive and need to differentiate language use more. This is partly true as too much use of the same word or phrase is distracting. However, selective use of a word or phrase which appears in your claim subconsciously signals to your reader that your points are being proved. If you’ve chosen the right word to perfectly convey what you mean, lean in! (To a certain extent.)
3) Review the topic sentence. Note that it promises 2 claims: Simba’s arrogance and foolishness. Yet the paragraph only covers examples and support for his arrogance. This writer has two options to correct this: modify the topic sentence to better reflect the paragraph or add another quote and analysis for the concept of foolishness to the paragraph. Your structural elements (thesis and topic sentences) are contracts with your readers. They state what you’re going to cover. If you’re not covering that in totality, consider revisions like breaking up paragraphs into smaller parts of an argument, modifying topic sentences, or adding content to ensure completeness.
You likely heard the term “topic sentences” in other English courses; here they refer to it as the “point” of the paragraph.
One caveat about the video: academic writing will never allow for using personal experience as evidence. Not only is this type of support typically anecdotal and not a good way to measure trends or statistical fact, it relies on use of “I” which is a big no-no. See the General Writing Advice Module for more on omitting self-referential language in academic writing.
In Amy Guptill’s text
, read “Chapter Six: Back to Basics: The Perfect Paragraph.”
In this chapter, she gives very valuable advice that you will be using for the rest of your academic writing career. You will learn the basic building block of argumentation: the well-structured paragraph that uses and analyzes evidence perfectly.
Then, you should be prepared to put all you’ve learned about PIE/body paragraphs and topic sentences to good use in our first mini-writing assignment.
