Paragraphing Structure

Examining the commonly utilised TEEL structure.

Body paragraphs are important in developing the argument of the essay. Within this paragraph, 1 idea should be clearly expressed, supported with relevant literature and examples. Think of it as a way to build your argument.

The most commonly recommended body paragraph structure is that of the TEE(C)L pneumonic, C isn't always included but it can certainly be helpful

Topic sentence - provides the reader with an idea of the main idea

Explanation - provide great detail to explain your prior sentence

Evidence - use literature to support your idea

(Comment - Critically appraise strengths or weaknesses or how the evidence supports your idea)

Link - Summarise the main idea and link to the overall argument and ideally, the next paragraph.

Leadership has been evident throughout history with a perpetual cyclical approach as new ideas replace old and archaic views, however many of the newer styles of leadership are underpinned by concepts elicited in democratic leadership. Tannenbaum & Schmidt (as cited in Nagendra & Farooqui, 2016) suggest democratic leadership facilitates decentralised decision-making implying that all members share equally in the end decision and outcome. However, this underlying assumption is often where the flaws of democratic leadership are exacerbated, as it would be rare to suggest that in reference to both professional skills and decision making that all members equally contribute. Moreover, the main disadvantage to this style of leadership is the time taken to consider input for each member of the team, subsequently delaying decision making and impeding timely completion (Cunningham, Salomone & Wielgus, 2015). Specifically considering the healthcare environment, democratic leadership facilitates discussion, allowing all members of the team to contribute to the development. However, this is juxtaposed against the hierarchical management structure that Is evident within all health service organisations. Whether at a ward or organisational level, someone is ultimately tasked with the end decision in lieu of any discussion or consultation that has taken place. As such, at a local level it is important to understand your behaviour and personal strategies that help or hinder to achieve organisational targets.

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As you can see from the above examples the elements of the TEE(C)L structure are embedded. Although I've somewhat swapped around the evidence and explanation, in this example, I think it flows better. However, it might also suggest some subtle ways I can tweak my paragraphs to improve my writing. You can use this to assess your own writing and look for opportunities for how you may be able to improve the quality of your paragraphs.