.
Body
The body of an essay is made up of connected paragraphs presenting your argument.
Follow the TEEL strategy when writing paragraphs.
Make sure each paragraph contains one main idea, which you express in a topic sentence. This is usually the first sentence of the paragraph. The topic sentences develop the argument (thesis) of the essay.
Expand on the topic sentence in the rest of the paragraph. Add sentences that:
- explain or elaborate on the topic sentence
- provide evidence (with references) or examples to support the topic sentence.
In the final sentence, link back to the main idea in the topic sentence. You may link to the following paragraph if it is a closely related idea This creates cohesion and logical development.
The hamburger metaphor represents how to write a paragraph using TEEL.
By reading the topic sentences only, you should be able to see the development of the argument.
Activity
Select the buttons to explore the TEEL structure within the paragraph. Notice how references have been used throughout the paragraph to support the claims.
One factor that impacts positively on team effectiveness is the notion of team cohesiveness. Team cohesiveness is the key to enabling a diverse group of individuals to work towards common goals. Mathieu et al. (2014) note that the right mix of people sets the stage for a team to be effective, resulting in improved performance quality and innovation. BJB Minerals’ project teams were established on an opt-in basis based on the idealistic model, where members were encouraged by the clear goals and knowledge of the skill sets needed (Berlin et al. 2012). The project assigned to the team was also well resourced, with clear timelines and an end date (BJB Minerals 2014). This idealistic team model validated the diverse skills that individuals brought to the team, celebrating both personal satisfaction as well as the team’s project achievements.
Activity
Read the following text and try to identify the TEEL structure within
One factor that impacts positively on team effectiveness is the notion of team cohesiveness. Team cohesiveness is the key to enabling a diverse group of individuals to work towards common goals. Mathieu et al. (2014) note that the right mix of people sets the stage for a team to be effective, resulting in improved performance quality and innovation. BJB Minerals’ project teams were established on an opt-in basis based on the idealistic model, where members were encouraged by the clear goals and knowledge of the skill sets needed (Berlin, Carlstrom & Sandberg 2012). The project assigned to the team was also well resourced, with clear timelines and an end date (BJB Minerals 2014). This idealistic team model validated the skills that individuals brought to the team, celebrating both personal satisfaction as well as the team’s project achievements.
Answer
Topic sentence: One factor that impacts positively on team effectiveness is the notion of team cohesiveness.
Explanation: Team cohesiveness is the key to enabling a diverse group of individuals to work towards common goals.
Evidence: Mathieu et al (2014) note that the right mix of people sets the stage for a team to be effective, with performance quality and innovation as a result.
Example: BJB Minerals’ project teams were established on an opt-in basis based on the idealistic model, where members were encouraged by the clear goals and knowledge of the skill sets needed (Berlin, Carlstrom & Sandberg 2012). The project assigned to the team was also well resourced, with clear timelines and an end date (BJB Minerals 2014).
Link: This idealistic team model validated the diverse skills that individuals brought to the team, celebrating both personal satisfaction as well as the team’s project achievements.