There are two important things to note here. First, this essay is now developing according to the order set up in the introductory paragraph (discussing development of the argument through an introduction, body, and conclusion before moving on to citation and documentation). Second, I am devoting a single paragraph to each of the main issues that contributes to my argument. Please remember that a paragraph should develop a single idea. When you sit down to write your essay, try to imagine how your argument might best be broken into manageable "chunks." For instance, an essay on a poem might be divided into paragraphs on rhythm, meter, imagery, etc. It is important to remember, however, that each of the ideas in your paragraphs must contribute to your essay's thesis, and that you must make these contributions/connections clear to your reader. Do not force the reader to guess at connections that you should be making in your paper.
One of the best ways to make your ideas clear to your reader is to refer directly to the text. The first step in this process is to select carefully those words or passages which support your argument. Before you sit down to write, spend some time making a comprehensive list of words, images, or passages from the text that seem relevant to the issues you wish to discuss. Then select from this list those passages which best back up your statements. Be picky; some quotations will support your argument better than others, even though the differences between them may seem remarkably subtle. The second step is to integrate these references into your essay. Assume for the moment that you are quoting material from the text. This is done in one of two ways. First, a passage of four lines or less, whether poetry or prose, must be integrated into your sentence structure. In the case of prose, quote the material as it appears in the text. A discussion of Milton's note on the versification of Paradise Lost might point to his apparent dislike of "the jingling sound of like endings" (255).