The document outlines four features of a strong arrangement in an academic paper: 1) It develops the thesis statement by explaining its key ideas; 2) It organizes these ideas in a logically progressive sequence building to a climax; 3) It devotes most space to the most original, interesting, and/or controversial aspects of the thesis; 4) It does not stray from the central thesis. A climactic sequence should follow an organizing principle like moving from simple to complex, cause to effect, problem to solution, or least to most controversial.

1. Arrangement
The art of organizing your discourse

2. FOUR FEATURES OF A STRONG ARRANGEMENT
1. It DEVELOPS the thesis statement by fleshing out its key
ideas.
1. It organizes those ideas in a LOGICALLY PROGRESSIVE
SEQUENCE THAT BUILDS TO A CLIMAX.
1. It devotes the MOST SPACE to the most original,
interesting, and/or controversial aspects of the thesis, and
LESS SPACE to the less original, interesting, and/or
controversial aspects of the thesis.
2. It DOESN’T STRAY from the thesis.

3. FOUR FEATURES OF A STRONG ARRANGEMENT
A “climactic” sequence has an underlying organizing
principle. For example:
Simple to complex
Cause to effect
Problem to solution
Least controversial to most controversial
Their isn’t a “right” organizing principle. The most important
thing is that you choose one and that you can put a name to
it.