MEAL Paragraph Strategy

M – Main Idea: what is the main idea of this paragraph? The main idea should be clearly articulated in the first sentence.

E – Evidence: what are the specific examples, quotations, and details that support your main idea?

A – Analysis: The analysis shows how your evidence supports your main idea by answering the question “so what?”

L – Link to main topic: wrap up the paragraph by making a connection to the main idea.

MEAL Paragraph Schematic

Evidence 1

Evidence 2

Analysis 1A

Analysis 1B

Analysis

2A

Analysis

2B

Link

1. Main Idea