how to write a list in a paragraph examples essay

“The law of threes” surfaces in other English conventions, too. Example: All eyes share common features --- optic nerves, retinas and pupils. She holds a bachelor's degree in music therapy and creative writing. Key aids in composing lists are punctuation and parallelism in grammar. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers; Maxine Hairston and John Ruszkiewicz; 1991. Example: "Dogs can help with protection, with hunting and with detecting drugs" or "Dogs can track, swim and bark". End your first paragraph with a transitional … The conventions of English dictate that two points – no matter what the content – aren't significant enough to merit the kind of attention that lists generate among readers in the first place. The New St. Martin’s Handbook; Andrea Lunsford and Robert Connors; 1999. Keep end punctuation to a minimum with your list. Do not use more than one bulleted list in a three-page essay, if you want your composition to look like a prose composition. How to Do Bullet Statements in APA Writing, APA Format for Numbered Bullets Within the Text. Why? The Little, Brown Handbook; H. Ramsey Fowler, Jane E. Aaron and Kay Limburg; 1992. Since the first two points start with nouns, the third point should follow suit. Since 2010, Batema has been an active writer in the fields of education, parenting, science and health. Try to make a list of all the ideas, when you research the subject. If the list contains a series of one-word items, separate items with commas. Use numerals followed by periods for each step. She has a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from American University and a doctorate in studies of America from the University of Maryland. Mixing structures will cause the reader to pause and stumble, defeating the purpose of creating a list. With education, health care and small business marketing as her core interests, M.T. If possible, ask your instructor or editor for style guidelines about preferred format. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Northern Illinois University. Here's an example: “She came to class without any of the tools the teacher required: acrylic paint, brushes, poster board and paper towels.”. Use bullet points to preface each item in your list. While many lists are presented in a bulleted or numbered format, writing lists into a paragraph can allow for better flow to your paper. Decide whether your list should be integrated in a paragraph or set off with a colon, with each successive sentence or clause on a separate line. Use parallel structure, keeping all items in the list in the same form. Patricia Hunt first found her voice as a fiction and nonfiction writer in 1974. While writing your essay, include small brief explanations for each statement. Can You Use Numbered Lists in an Essay With an MLA Format? Given the increasing speed of communication – and the growing impatience of readers – lists are more commonplace today, even in essays. For example: “Use the MLA style guide to find: (1) general guidelines for research papers, including paper formatting; (2) instructions to create in-text citations; and (3) rules for Works Cited pages.” The list appears after the colon and each item in the list is marked with a number in parentheses. Bulleted lists must warrant the use of space, meaning do not use bullets for a list of two to four small items. In this case, a numbered list is a courtesy to your reader since referring to “point No. If the list requires more separation between items, use semicolons to separate individual items of more than three words and items that contain commas. Pick the strongest issues, which will then shape your arguments. Lists are often used to introduce a series of topics within one paragraph. Use transition words, when working on your second paragraph. Write an introductory sentence for steps in a sequence. Use dashes sparingly in a formal essay. Also, a period after the units should be used if they are a complete sentence. If, however, you write “For example, my friend Dave …” your essay … Wroblewski has penned pieces for Woman's Day, Family Circle, Ladies Home Journal and many newspapers and magazines. The exception: long-winded sentences and those in which the list, read as a paragraph, make punctuation a necessity for clarity's sake. Cara Batema is a musician, teacher and writer who specializes in early childhood, special needs and psychology. However, readers quickly grasp your point when you list subtopics or themes; assessment checklists; complicated lists of recommendations; steps in process analysis; or component parts of an item. Create a parallel structure for your list, ensuring that the first word on each line is a noun, verb, adverb, gerund or infinitive phrase. 6 on page 4” makes it easier for a reader to jump back than making him count the bullet points himself. Beware of punctuating merely a list of items as a complete sentence. Although, do not include excessive unnecessary details that clutter your essay and make understanding it even more difficult. These are examples of your view of the world. You can give examples but I advise you to use examples relating to the world in general: “For example, it is commonly known that ….” or “For example, the majority of people ….”. For example, in the list you just read in the first section, you wouldn't write "looking up rules for Works Cited pages” for the third bullet point. A dash has much in common with a T-shirt; neither signals high style. Introduce the list with an independent clause or a sentence with a colon before the list. Writing, "rules for Works Cited pages" keeps the three list items in the same form. For example, many teachers require at least three sources for research papers and some essays. Some style guides, such as Modern Language Association or MLA format, prefer lists to be presented in a paragraph rather than in bullet form. For example, in the list you just read in the first section, you wouldn't write "looking up rules for Works Cited pages” for the third bullet point. Create a list with multiple lines when you have lengthier information to convey, either in sentence or clause form. Set off this information with a colon, capitalize the first letter of each item and single-space the list. Use parallel structure, keeping all items in the list in the same form. Readers appreciate lists because they present information in an easy-to-digest manner. In punctuation, the colon signals that a long list follows. Each line should be self-contained and not require a semi-colon or period at the end. Put a colon to start the list. "The Bedford Handbook"; Diana Hacker and Nancy Sommers; 2010. In this case, end most lines in the list with a semi-colon; end the second-to-last line with a semicolon followed by the word “and” and place a period at the end of the last line of the list. A period and space should follow the number. Essays normally follow a strict structure, but every so often, some thing comes alongside to debris with that structure. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Education, How to Do Bullet Statements in APA Writing, APA Format for Numbered Bullets Within the Text, Purdue University Online Writing Lab: Expository Essays. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Education. If you have to choose between using a dash and using a colon before a short list, use a colon. An English teacher for over 27 years, Hunt's works have appeared in "The Alaska Quarterly Review," "The New Southern Literary Messenger" and "San Jose Studies." You can follow some guidelines for appropriately incorporating lists into paragraph format. In grammar, parallelism requires that each item in a series begin with the same kind of word. A dash has much in common with a T-shirt; neither signals high style. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Education, Purdue Online Writing Lab: APA Headings and Seriation, University of Wisconsin-Madison: Using Semicolons, Purdue Online Writing Lab: Parallel Structure. Short lists can often be contained within a paragraph. Use bullet points to preface each item in your list. Bullet points have largely replaced numbers, but there is an exception here, too: Use a numbered list only if you plan to refer to certain information in the list later in the essay. As always, provide a sentence to introduce the list to follow. Often essays incorporate lists that pose challenges to manuscript design, paragraph structure and grammar. Essays may need to encompass lists that could throw off the design, structure, and grammar of the piece. In this way, too, lists have evolved over the years. If you have to choose between using a dash and using a colon before a short list, use a colon. Other styles, such as the Chicago Manual of Style, suggest that using bullets appears cumbersome in formal papers. Use dashes sparingly in a formal essay. Write your first body paragraph, starting with restating your thesis and focusing on your first piece of supporting evidence. Set off a short list from the rest of a sentence with a dash, an informal punctuation mark that also often marks a sudden or dramatic change. Mixing structures will cause the reader to pause and stumble, defeating the purpose of creating a list. The reader may assume you are wasting space to make your essay appear longer. Introduce the series and then write out the series after a colon. While MLA prefers items in lists to include numbers in parentheses, APA style allows you to use lower-case letters for seriation with sentences. Create a parallel structure for your list, ensuring that the first word on each line is a noun, verb, adverb, gerund or infinitive phrase. Since the first two points start with nouns, the third point should follow suit. Example: All eyes share common features --- optic nerves, retinas and pupils. This example uses only two body paragraphs, but feel free to include more to ensure a better understanding and cohesive flow for your paper. One source seems insignificant, two isn't quite persuasive enough but three adds a degree of credibility and respectability. Move the units 10 spaces from the left margin to make it more visible among other paragraphs. Before discussing the conclusion you should think about the way your body paragraphs need to be built. Remember that two fundamental English principles lead the way: Choose the simplest, most direct form of communication for the reader's sake and be consistent with your choices. Example: Use bullets to list items when order is unimportant. Write an introductory paragraph, including your thesis and evidence (in order of strength). Use lists with multiple lines only when you have three or more lines of information.

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