Every strong paragraph is built on a single, clear idea. This is your point, often expressed in a topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph. A good topic sentence does two things: it makes a specific claim and it directly answers the essay prompt. It's an argument, not just a fact.

Imagine your prompt is: “Analyze how Shakespeare uses foreshadowing in Macbeth.”

A weak point would be: “Shakespeare uses foreshadowing in Macbeth.” This is a fact, not an argument. There's nothing to prove.

A strong point is: “Shakespeare uses the witches’ prophecies as a form of foreshadowing that drives Macbeth’s ambition and seals his tragic fate.” This is an assertive claim. It tells the reader exactly what the paragraph will argue and how it connects to the prompt.

Once you've made your point, you need to back it up. Evidence is the proof you offer to support your claim. It can be a direct quotation from a text, a statistic from a study, or a specific detail from a historical event. The key is selecting high-impact evidence.

Don't just grab the first fact you find. Look for evidence with analytical potential. Ask yourself: does this piece of information just state something, or does it imply something more? Good evidence opens the door for you to explain, interpret, and analyze.

Let's stick with our Macbeth example. Your point is that the witches' prophecies drive Macbeth's ambition. You need evidence to prove it.

• Low-impact evidence: "In Act 1, Scene 3, the witches appear to Macbeth." This is true, but it doesn't prove anything about his ambition.

• High-impact evidence: “After hearing the prophecy that he will be king, Macbeth immediately reflects, ‘My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, / Shakes so my single state of man.’ (1.3.139-140).” This quote is powerful. It shows his mind immediately leaping to murder, proving the prophecy is actively fueling his ambition.

When you integrate evidence, introduce it smoothly. Use a signal phrase to lead into a quote or statistic. Never just drop a piece of evidence into your paragraph without context.

By mastering the relationship between a sharp point and well-chosen evidence, you create the foundation for a persuasive and well-structured argument. The next step is to explain how that evidence proves your point, which we'll cover later.