The document provides an explanation and examples of the MEAL (Main idea, Evidence, Analysis, Link) plan for writing effective paragraphs. It defines each component of the MEAL plan and demonstrates how it can be applied in both a simple and more sophisticated paragraph. The document also discusses how the topic sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph and relates it to the overall essay. Examples are given to illustrate how sources can be evidence, their analysis, and how the paragraph links to the broader argument.

1. T O P I C
S E N T E N C E S
&
B O D Y
P A R A G R A P H S
( T H E M E A L P L A N )
T A L I A A R G O N D E Z Z I
& C A R V E R W O L F E

2. What is a
topic
sentence?
Must be both general and specific:
General enough to let the reader know
the paragraph’s principal subject.
Specific enough that the it applies to
the individual paragraph, not the paper
as a whole, like a thesis does.
Communicates the paragraph’s main
idea to the reader
Usually the first sentence of a paragraph

3. Paragraph
Structure:
The MEAL
Plan
Main idea
Evidence
Analysis
Link

4. MEAL:
Main Idea
Main idea:
What claim are you making in this
paragraph?
The rules of St. John’s High School are very fair, with
the exception of the rule requiring students to not
chew gum on property.
With these trends in mind, one may foresee a new union
between Church and State: the complete eradication of all
forms of traditional religion from government, to be replaced
by the Worship of Government itself. This seemingly
farfetched idea finds its historical roots in an obvious and
powerful reality: the ancient Roman Empire.

5. MEAL:
Evidence
Evidence:
What sources do you have that support,
refute, or complicate your main idea?
The handbook states, “students found
in violation of this rule may receive an
administrative detention” (24).
According to early twentieth-century historian Louis
Sweet, the “Worship of Roma” was indeed quite
common in the Roman Empire. This worship, which
Sweet refers to as the “Romacult,” started most
clearly “immediately after the entrance of the Romans
into Asiatic affairs.”

6. MEAL:
Analysis
Analysis:
What your evidence mean? What is
interesting or noteworthy about your
evidence?
An administrative detention is too severe for
something as insignificant as chewing gum. Teachers
should simply remind students to not chew gum rather
than force them to have detention when they have
more important things to do.
The similarities between such ancient, pagan patriotic
worship and the current American situation cannot be
overlooked. Just as Rome developed nation worship after its
conquest of Asian lands, so the United States seems to be
entering a similar stage of paganism during its conquest of
the Middle East.

7. MEAL: Link
Link:
How does this relate to the overall main
idea of your essay? How does this relate to
other ideas in your essay?
If this rule were to be amended, St.
John’s would become a more positive
learning environment for teachers and
students alike.
Will the vague patriotic monotheism of
America, stripped of traditional religion,
become her vague patriotic paganism as
she continues on her imperialistic crusade?

8. The MEAL
Plan
Main idea: What claim are you making in
this paragraph?
Evidence: What sources do you have that
support, refute, or complicate your main
idea?
Analysis: What does your evidence mean?
What is interesting or noteworthy about your
evidence?
Link: How does this relate to the overall
main idea of your essay? How does this
relate to other ideas in your essay?

9. The MEAL Plan in Action: Simple
Paragraph
• The rules of St. John’s High School are very fair, with the
exception of the rule requiring students to not chew gum on
property. The handbook states, “students found in violation of
this rule may receive an administrative detention” (24). An
administrative detention is too severe for something as
insignificant as chewing gum. Teachers should simply remind
students to not chew gum rather than force them to have
detention when they have more important things to do. If this
rule were to be amended, St. John’s would become a more
positive learning environment for teachers and students alike.

10. The MEAL Plan in Action: Sophisticated
Paragraph
With these trends in mind, one may foresee a new union between Church
and State: the complete eradication of all forms of traditional religion from
government, to be replaced by the Worship of Government itself. This
seemingly farfetched idea finds its historical roots in an obvious and
powerful reality: the ancient Roman Empire. According to early twentieth-
century historian Louis Sweet, the “Worship of Roma” was indeed quite
common in the Roman Empire. This worship, which Sweet refers to as the
“Romacult,” started most clearly “immediately after the entrance of the
Romans into Asiatic affairs.” The similarities between such ancient, pagan
patriotic worship and the current American situation cannot be overlooked.
Just as Rome developed nation worship after its conquest of Asian lands, so
the United States seems to be entering a similar stage of paganism during
its conquest of the Middle East. “The Romacult is interlocked from the
beginning with the imperial,” Sweet reminds his readers. Will the vague
patriotic monotheism of America, stripped of traditional religion, become her
vague patriotic paganism as she continues on her imperialistic crusade?

11. Practice!
Identify the topic sentence in this
paragraph. What does it tell you about the
rest of the paragraph?
What other elements of the MEAL Plan can
you identify here?
The norms of a society dictate what is acceptable in
that state, inspire its rules and laws, and can often
lead to prejudice and discrimination against minority
groups like homosexuals. In the government Locke
describes, the only valid origin of a political society is
“the consent of freemen capable of majority, to unite
and incorporate into such a society” (Locke 20). The
government rules for the free people who have
entered into this society, and creates laws based on
their needs, rights and desires. In order to represent
the will of the people, “the majority have a right to act
and conclude the rest” (Locke 19). While majority rule
works well for the people in the majority, people in the
minority who have opinions and views less
represented in a given society are often subject to the
enforcement of policies they do not agree with.
These smaller populations and minorities, especially
those that the majority of the population or
mainstream society discriminates against, like the gay
community, have to fight against social and political
pressure to reject the rule of the majority. As a result
their rights can be more easily infringed upon, as
Alison and Bruce Bechdel experience in Fun Home.

12. Sources
Topic sentences:
https://owl.purdue.edu/engagement/ged_preparation/part_1_lessons_1_4/in
dex.html and https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/paragraphs-and-topic-
sentences.html
Gum-chewing/detention paragraph: the St. John’s College High School
English department.
The worship of government paragraph: Danielson, Donald Kyle. “Imperium
Dei: America’s New Religion.” Deliberations: A Journal of First Year Writing
at Duke University. Fall 2006: 1016.
MEAL Plan concept: https://twp.duke.edu/uploads/assets/meal_plan.pdf