apa writing

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Paragraph Development WEEK

4 MEAL Plan* for

M Main Idea

Your topic sentence stating the concrete claim the paragraph is

advancing.

E Evidence

Paraphrase or direct quotations from the source material you are

using to support your topic sentence's claim.

A Analysis

Your explanation and evaluation of the evidence; explaining the evidence you provided and its relevance in your own words.

L Lead-Out

Concluding; preparing your reader to transition to the next paragraph (and the next claim).

*The MEAL plan is adapted from the Duke University Writing Studio.

See the MEAL plan in action, in this sample paragraph: Findings [of this research study] may also inspire instructors to consider students’ preferences when

of written corrective feedback (WCF) depends in part on students’ attitudes toward the type of feedback given. Amrhein and Nassaji also noted that students who do not think a certain type of WCF is needed will be less likely to use it. According to Budge (2011) and Johnson and Cooke (2015), instructor feedback plays an important role in student learning, and most students apply feedback to enhance their perfor- mance on future assignments. According to Fleming (as cited in Carless, 2006), “marking student scripts is one of the significant quality events in the lives of students and academics” (p. 220). Korte (2015) also noted that feedback constitutes a significant portion of an instructor’s workload. With an improved understanding of postsecondary online students’ preferences for electronic feedback, instructors may accommodate those preferences and thereby increase the likelihood of enhancing their students’ writing skills, which may positively impact students’ ability to achieve their academic and professional goals.

Gredler, J. J. (2016). Postsecondary online students’ preferences for instructor feedback (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. (Accession No. 10132030)

Strengthen your paragraphs! Go through your own draft and highlight each component of the MEAL plan to see what is missing. Revise accordingly.

Tips:

RESOURCERESOURCE For more resources on MEAL Plan paragraphs, go to http://waldenwritingcen- ter.blogspot.com/2016/11/breaking-down-meal-plan-four-part.html