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P. I. P. I. E.E.

Presented by the Texas State Presented by the Texas State Writing CenterWriting Center

1 idea = 1 paragraph1 idea = 1 paragraph

It is a collection of related It is a collection of related sentences dealing with one sentences dealing with one topic. topic.

When constructing body When constructing body paragraphs, apply the P.I.E. paragraphs, apply the P.I.E. formula.formula.

WHAT IS A PARAGRAPH?

PIExplanation

llustration

oint

P = POINT

This is the This is the TOPIC SENTENCETOPIC SENTENCE of of your paragraph. Remember, each your paragraph. Remember, each of your topic sentences should of your topic sentences should be related to your thesis be related to your thesis statement. statement.

P = POINT

Ideas for making a Point:Ideas for making a Point:

Decide what you need to say to Decide what you need to say to support your thesis.support your thesis.

Try categorizing your ideas Try categorizing your ideas and commenting on recurring and commenting on recurring themes you find.themes you find.

P(oint) IN ACTION

For a paper with the following For a paper with the following thesis…thesis…

““The Adventures of Huckleberry The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should be banned from Finn should be banned from public school curriculums for public school curriculums for several reasons: the sentences several reasons: the sentences in the book contain terrible in the book contain terrible grammar, Huck is a bad role grammar, Huck is a bad role model for teenagers, and Mark model for teenagers, and Mark Twain depicts slaves as ignorant Twain depicts slaves as ignorant creatures.”creatures.”

P(oint) IN ACTION ……the P(oint) component of your the P(oint) component of your first paragraph might read as first paragraph might read as follows:follows:

““Despite its canonical status, Despite its canonical status, the book is filled with poorly the book is filled with poorly structured sentences and structured sentences and misspelled words.” misspelled words.”

Functions as a topic Functions as a topic sentence. Connects back to sentence. Connects back to the “terrible grammar” the “terrible grammar” portion of the thesis.portion of the thesis.

I = ILLUSTRATION

This is generally your in-text This is generally your in-text citation and includes evidence citation and includes evidence that supports your point. This that supports your point. This can be a quote, paraphrase, can be a quote, paraphrase, summary, or combination. Your summary, or combination. Your illustrations should support and illustrations should support and help develop your point. In help develop your point. In essence, they help you “prove” essence, they help you “prove” the claim you’ve made. the claim you’ve made.

I = ILLUSTRATION

I(llustrations) use specific I(llustrations) use specific data, quotes, experiences, or data, quotes, experiences, or other factual material such as:other factual material such as:

Personal experiences (stories, Personal experiences (stories, anecdotes, or examples from anecdotes, or examples from your life).your life).

Representation in the media Representation in the media (newspapers, magazines, (newspapers, magazines, television).television).

I = ILLUSTRATION

Elements from popular culture Elements from popular culture (songs, movies, celebrity (songs, movies, celebrity quotes).quotes).

Statistics (polls, percentages, Statistics (polls, percentages, data from research studies).data from research studies).

Conclusions reached in journal Conclusions reached in journal articles.articles.

I(llustration) IN ACTION Continuing with the Huck Finn Continuing with the Huck Finn example, the I(llustration) example, the I(llustration) component of your first component of your first paragraph might begin as paragraph might begin as follows:follows:

““Huck Finn, the narrator and Huck Finn, the narrator and main character of the story, main character of the story, frequently misuses basic frequently misuses basic English. Throughout the book, English. Throughout the book, his dialogue is littered with his dialogue is littered with grammatically incorrect grammatically incorrect expressions such as, ‘I waked expressions such as, ‘I waked up early’ and ‘looky here.’”up early’ and ‘looky here.’”

I(llustration) IN ACTION You can string together multiple You can string together multiple pieces of evidence to strengthen pieces of evidence to strengthen your argument. Continuing our your argument. Continuing our example, we might add:example, we might add:

““Jim, the slave Huck helps to Jim, the slave Huck helps to escape, has equally poor escape, has equally poor language skills. When told he language skills. When told he must have rats in his shed, he must have rats in his shed, he responds with, ‘Why, Mars Tom, I responds with, ‘Why, Mars Tom, I don’t want no rats. No, sah, don’t want no rats. No, sah, gimme garter snakes if I’s got gimme garter snakes if I’s got to have somethin’, but don’t to have somethin’, but don’t gimme no rats.’”gimme no rats.’”

E = EXPLANATION

The E(xplanation) is your The E(xplanation) is your analysis, comparison, analysis, comparison, elaboration, and/or evaluation elaboration, and/or evaluation of the Point and Illustration of the Point and Illustration given. It should connect the given. It should connect the Illustration with the Point and Illustration with the Point and Thesis of your paper.Thesis of your paper.

E = EXPLANATION

Strategies for forming an Strategies for forming an E(xplanation):E(xplanation):

Ask yourself, “What does the Ask yourself, “What does the provided information mean?provided information mean?

Interpret, analyze, explain Interpret, analyze, explain the information, opinion, or the information, opinion, or quote you’ve included.quote you’ve included.

E = EXPLANATION Comment on the accuracy (or Comment on the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of the quote, fact, inaccuracy) of the quote, fact, data, information in the data, information in the Illustration.Illustration.

Decipher the meaning or try to Decipher the meaning or try to better your understanding of better your understanding of your observation, findings, or your observation, findings, or experience.experience.

Explain to the reader how this Explain to the reader how this information relates to your information relates to your thesis.thesis.

E(xplanation) IN ACTION Continuing our Huck Finn example:Continuing our Huck Finn example:

““John Smith, a well-respected John Smith, a well-respected linguist, warns teachers that linguist, warns teachers that students often develop poor students often develop poor writing and speaking habits writing and speaking habits when they read stories that when they read stories that contain atrocious grammar. contain atrocious grammar. Consequently, it stands to Consequently, it stands to reason that exposure to Twain’s reason that exposure to Twain’s novel could have a profound novel could have a profound negative impact on the language negative impact on the language development of youngsters.”development of youngsters.”

FURTHER EXAMPLES ““Although the bald eagle is still Although the bald eagle is still listed as an endangered species, listed as an endangered species, its ever-increasing population is its ever-increasing population is very encouraging. According to very encouraging. According to ornithologist Jay Sheppard, ‘The ornithologist Jay Sheppard, ‘The bald eagle seems to have bald eagle seems to have stabilized its population, at the stabilized its population, at the very least, almost everywhere.’ very least, almost everywhere.’ We can assume then that there is We can assume then that there is hope for the longevity of this hope for the longevity of this majestic bird.”majestic bird.”

FURTHER EXAMPLES ““[Point:] [Point:] Although the bald eagle Although the bald eagle is still listed as an endangered is still listed as an endangered species, its ever-increasing species, its ever-increasing population is very encouraging. population is very encouraging. [Signal Phrase:] [Signal Phrase:] According to According to ornithologist Jay Sheppard, ornithologist Jay Sheppard, [Illustration:] [Illustration:] ‘The bald eagle ‘The bald eagle seems to have stabilized its seems to have stabilized its population, at the very least, population, at the very least, almost everywhere.’ almost everywhere.’ [In-text [In-text Citation] [Explanation:]Citation] [Explanation:] We can We can assume then that there is hope assume then that there is hope for the longevity of this for the longevity of this majestic bird.”majestic bird.”

FURTHER EXAMPLES ““Kate Chopin builds irony into Kate Chopin builds irony into every turn of ‘The Story of an every turn of ‘The Story of an Hour.’ For example, Mrs. Mallard, Hour.’ For example, Mrs. Mallard, the central character, finds joy the central character, finds joy in the death of her husband, whom in the death of her husband, whom she loves, because she she loves, because she anticipates ‘the long procession anticipates ‘the long procession of years that would belong to her of years that would belong to her absolutely.’ One would not expect absolutely.’ One would not expect a woman who loves her husband to a woman who loves her husband to look forward to life without look forward to life without him.”him.”

FURTHER EXAMPLES [Point:] [Point:] “Kate Chopin builds “Kate Chopin builds irony into every turn of ‘The irony into every turn of ‘The Story of an Hour.’ Story of an Hour.’ [Illustration:] [Illustration:] For example, Mrs. For example, Mrs. Mallard, the central character, Mallard, the central character, finds joy in the death of her finds joy in the death of her husband, whom she loves, because husband, whom she loves, because she anticipates ‘the long she anticipates ‘the long procession of years that would procession of years that would belong to her absolutely.’ belong to her absolutely.’ [Citation] [Explanation:] [Citation] [Explanation:] One One would not expect a woman who would not expect a woman who loves her husband to look forward loves her husband to look forward to life without him.”to life without him.”