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Using P.I.E.

P.I.E. No, it is not a dessert. It is a way of structuring your paragraphs so that you stay on topic and support your argument, not just meet your word count. Use P.I.E. to bring your ideas together.

P = Point

A point is a statement that gives direction. In other words, what are you trying to say? Be specific. Example:

• While many students believe they work best under pressure, procrastination actually lowers grade point averages because it forces the writer to turn in a rough draft instead of a well-reasoned paper.

I = Illustration

The illustration supports the point. Be sure to cite it correctly, and double check that it backs up your point. An illustration can be a fact, a quote, or a short story. Introduce it in some way, such as using the name of the author in a signal phrase.

• In their book So What? The Writer’s Argument, authors Kurt Schick and Laura Schubert state that “when you encounter difficult writing projects, you’ll need a process that includes careful planning and lots of revision” (22).

E = Explanation

The explanation sentence wraps up each quote. Without this, the reader is left hanging, with no real idea of why you chose the fact or quote that you used. To write an explanation sentence, you will need to make sure your point and illustration are connected not only to each other but to the main point of your paragraph and, thus, to your thesis as well.

• These writing experts are saying that a quality essay can only be accomplished by multiple drafts and the difficult work of thinking through the revision and editing process.