Relevant examples can help explain and support your ideas. A well-developed paragraph often includes one, though the prompt may not require a fixed number. Focus on answering the question and developing your points rather than adding examples just to meet a quota.
A clear body paragraph usually has three parts:
- Topic sentence: State the main point.
- Explanation: Show why it matters and how it answers the question.
- Example: Make the point concrete.
Develop One Main Idea
Consider this question:
Why do people travel more than they did in the past?
A weak paragraph might list several possible reasons: people earn more, flights cost less, work feels stressful, and families want to spend holidays together. The reader gets a list, but none of the ideas is explained.
A more developed paragraph could focus on cheaper air travel:
Air travel has become more affordable for many people. In the past, an overseas flight could take up a large part of a household’s budget, so many families chose holidays closer to home. Lower-cost tickets have made international trips possible for more travellers. For example, a family that once spent its holiday in a nearby town may now be able to save for a short trip abroad.
This paragraph presents one reason, explains it, and illustrates how it affects travel.
Introduce Examples Naturally
You can use phrases such as:
- For example,
- For instance,
- This can be seen when…
- …such as…
You do not need to memorize a long list of transitions. Use a phrase that fits the sentence, and avoid repeating it in every paragraph.
Draw on Familiar Situations
When you need an example, think about situations you understand from everyday life:
- A change in your community
- Something you have noticed at work or school
- A family experience
- A familiar development in society
For a question about online businesses and local shops, you might describe how customers order books, meals, or household goods online instead of visiting a store. Keep the example focused on the wider point, rather than turning the paragraph into a personal story.
Make Examples Specific and Relevant
A vague example often repeats the main point without adding much detail.
Main point: Women should receive equal pay because their qualifications can match those of men.
Too general:
For example, women often do well at university.
More specific:
For example, in a university course where students complete the same assignments and exams, graduates with similar results may still receive different starting salaries.
The second example shows the kind of situation that supports the argument. Add details that you know are accurate. Do not invent statistics, dates, or research findings to make an example sound convincing.
Before you use an example, check that it supports the paragraph’s main point and helps answer the question. One relevant, explained example is more useful than several loosely connected details.