Turn Generic Paragraphs Into Specific Analysis
A revision method for replacing broad academic language with source-based reasoning and clearer analytical moves.
Find the broad sentence
Generic paragraphs often begin with sentences that sound reasonable but could fit almost any essay. Look for phrases such as "this shows the importance of" or "society has changed in many ways." These sentences need a sharper job.
Add a source-based anchor
Choose one piece of evidence and make it the center of the paragraph. The evidence might be a quotation, data point, method, example, or concept. A paragraph becomes more specific when it responds to something concrete.
Explain the analytical move
After the evidence, write what the reader should notice. Does the source reveal a contradiction, show a pattern, limit a common assumption, or support a causal claim? Naming the move turns summary into analysis.
End with connection, not repetition
The final sentence should connect the paragraph back to the thesis or forward to the next idea. Avoid repeating the topic sentence in different words. A useful ending shows why the paragraph changed the reader's understanding.