There’s often more than one effective way to organize an essay! Just make sure you have considered what order will best guide your readers through your ideas.
Expository Self Review: Organization Reflect
To check if your body paragraphs are in a logical order, ask yourself: “Is there a reason I put my paragraphs in this order?”
For example, did you organize your paragraphs to:
- explain the most important ideas first?
- explain more basic ideas before more complicated ideas?
- write about events or steps in the order they happen(ed)?
Tip!
Here is an example of an outline for a poorly organized essay compared to an outline for a well-organized essay.
Thesis: Over time, humans and dogs have gone from not needing each other to living deeply interconnected lives.
Body Paragraphs Are Not in a Logical Order
Body Paragraphs Are in a Logical Order
Topic Sentence 1
Over generations, the wild wolves who befriended humans changed physically and mentally into domesticated dogs.
Topic Sentence 1
Early humans did not immediately form close relationships with dogs’ ancestors, wolves.
Topic Sentence 2
Today, many humans would find it hard to imagine life without dogs.
Topic Sentence 2
Over generations, the wild wolves who befriended humans changed physically and mentally into domesticated dogs.
Topic Sentence 3
Early humans did not immediately form close relationships with dogs’ ancestors, wolves.
Topic Sentence 3
Today, many humans would find it hard to imagine life without dogs.
Tip!
Still not sure whether your body paragraphs are in a logical order? Choose “Sort of” for now and we’ll show you some tips to make your organization stronger.