Adding Structure and Transitions

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Assignment: Adding Structure and Transitions

For this Assignment, you will review the Learning Resources on transitions, paragraph development, and the MEAL plan. With the principles outlined in the Learning Resources in mind, you will add transitional phrases, words, or sentences that connect your three paraphrased main ideas from the Week 3 Assignment.

To prepare for this Assignment:

  • Review      the Learning Resources related to transitions, paragraph development, and      the MEAL plan.
  • Review      your three paraphrased main ideas from the Week 3      Assignment with the MEAL plan model in mind.

The Assignment: Max 550 words, APA format, 2 references.

Revise the three paraphrased main points from the Week 3 Assignment to align with MEAL plan guidelines (see attached filed for week 3 assignment).

To do so, separate each main point into its own paragraph. Add a topic sentence (the M in the MEAL plan), and add 2–3 sentences per paraphrased main point to create connection between the ideas. Be sure to review your Week 2 Assignment (see attached file for week 2 assignment) where you created a rationale for selecting each main point. That particular Assignment may help guide you in creating transitional phrases for better flow.

Use the following questions to guide the writing of your paragraphs:

1) Does each paragraph begin with a clearly stated topic sentence?

2) Does each paragraph include a paraphrased main point?

3) Does each paragraph incorporate transitional phrases to flow from one idea to the next?

Required Readings

Laureate Education. (2015). MEAL plan for paragraph development [Infographic]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Walden University Writing Center. (2015i). Walden templates: General templates: APA course paper template (6th ed.). Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates/general

Arneson, B. K. (2014, May 11). Breaking down the MEAL plan: Wrapping up with lead out sentences [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://waldenwritingcenter.blogspot.com/2014/05/breaking-down-meal-plan-wrapping-up.html

Oyler, B. (2014, April 21). Breaking down the MEAL plan: Beginning with the main idea [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://waldenwritingcenter.blogspot.com/2014/04/developing-paragraphs-with-meal-plan.html

Skarbakka, K. (2013, January 10). Steer your reader right with effective transitions [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://waldenwritingcenter.blogspot.com/2013/01/steer-your-reader-right-with-effective.html

Required Media

Walden University Writing Center (Producer). (2013, July 1). WriteCast: Creating a successful paragraph (Episode 3) [Audio file]. Retrieved from https://soundcloud.com/writecast/creating-a-successful

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 21 minutes.

Transcript: http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/transcripts/podcasts/ep003 

Walden University Writing Center. (2015). Transitions video playlist [Video files]. Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/paragraphs/transitions#s-lg-box-10235918

Note: View the entire playlist of videos on this web page. The approximate combined length is 6 minutes.