Use the PIE Paragraph Structure
The PIE structure can help ensure you’re effectively elaborating on your points and developing your writing in a way that makes sense to you reader. Pair each point with a “particular” (a piece of specific information), then explain how that “particular” connects to your point.
PIE
| P: Point | This is the focus of the paragraph. -What is the point of this paragraph? -What claim am I making? -What is this paragraph about? -What is this paragraph doing in my paper: how does it build into my argument or flow from my thesis? |
| I: Information | This may take many forms: -Details, facts, examples or other evidence -Statistics, data, information from credible sources -Expert opinions, personal experiences, or anecdotes |
| E: Explanation | Make it clear how the information connects to your point. -What does this information mean? -Why is it important or relevant? -How does this relate to or support your argument? -What makes this information important or significant? |
Example of a PIE paragraph
Regular physical activity significantly improves cognitive function and mental well-being in adults. A 2021 study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry tracked 1,200 participants who engaged in just 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise five days a week; the results showed a 40% reduction in self-reported anxiety and a measurable increase in prefrontal cortex activity. This data demonstrates that physical movement does more than condition the body; it directly stimulates neurological pathways responsible for emotional regulation and stress management, proving that active routines are vital for mental health. (This paragraph is borrowed from a handout on PIE by Tallahassee State College: https://www.tsc.fl.edu/media/divisions/learning-commons/resources-by-subject/writing/writing-handouts/PIE-Paragraph-Structure.pdf)
The information on PIE is adapted from a resource on body paragraphs from the University of Arizona’s writing center: https://writingcenter.uagc.edu/body-paragraphs.
Other ways to develop your writing
Use Questions to Identify Reader Needs
Your reader needs context and details that writers may not need. To understand where your reader may need additional information, consider these questions:
- How can I illustrate my point so my reader can visualize what I’m writing about?
- Will my reader find my claim credible? How can I use sources to help me make this point?
- Where can I add a specific example to illustrate my point?
- Is there anything I can define or describe for my reader so that they better understand?
- What background information might my reader need to understand this and why it is important?
- Have I made the relationships between ideas, points, or sources clear? Have I shown the reader my reasoning step-by-step?
Clarify Your Argument Structure
Another way to ensure you’re elaborating on your point or effectively developing your ideas is to evaluate your argument structure. The basic structure of any argument is a clear thesis supported by claims. Similarly to the PIE structure, each claim should be supported by evidence and explained by reasons.
Elements of an argument
| Thesis | The overall claim or stance you are making. It is the belief you want your reader to have by the end of your paper or the stance you want them to take. Example: “WSU’s administration should ban energy drinks from being sold on campus.” |
| Claim | Each claim builds into or flows from your thesis. To accept your thesis, the reader must first accept your series of claims. What does your reader have to accept or agree with before they accept your thesis? Example: “The negative health effects of energy drinks outweigh any positive effects.” |
| Reason | Each claim is supported by reasons which explain why the reader should accept your claim. If you can start a sentence with “because” it’s probably a reason. Example: “Because colleges should care about the wellbeing of their students, they should not allow easy access to a product that has negative impacts on student health.” |
| Evidence | This is information that supports your claim or proves your reasons are credible. The scope of your argument, not your word limit, determines how many claims you will need (and evidence and reasons along with them). If your scope if too large for the word limit, your argument will seem vague/generic or go unproven and need elaboration. If you’re not able to elaborate within the word limit, try narrowing your scope so that you can prove your thesis within the space allotted. Example: “Smith (2006) documented the negative health effects of excessive energy consumption, which include….” |