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M=Main Idea
“Answers” the question
Sets up the paragraph
The first sentence of the paragraph
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E=Evidence or Examples
Information from sources such as books,
lectures, readings, etc. that support your main
idea
The “stuff” you learned or found out about the
topic
Evidence can be quotes, statistics, facts
Evidence that is common—anyone can use it or
find it
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L-Link
Links the evidence you used to the key idea in
your topic sentence
Explains how the evidence supports your topic
The link is what you think or how you relate
the evidence to the topic
Your link is unique—it shows your through
process and why you chose the evidence you
chose
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CON=Concluding Statement
The last sentence of your paragraph which
summarizes your answer, you evidence
Mentions your three pieces of evidence again
in a new, short way
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Don’t forget to use
transitions!!!
Separates each of your
pieces of evidence
Organizes your
paragraph and makes
it easy for the reader
to follow
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Even more importantly
A great example is
The first good reason is
Moreover
One good example is
A second quote is
Third but most important
A final good example is
Step One
 Answer the question with a statement
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Do not start with “I think” or “I feel” or “I believe”
Do not start with YES or NO
Example: Should high schools require all students to
wear uniforms? Why or why not?
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High schools should require all students to wear uniforms.
 THIS BECOMES YOUR MAIN IDEA: THE M in MEL-Con
Step Two
 Identify the key idea that you will link your
evidence to with your link/explanation
 This is the key idea of what you are trying to
prove or explain
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High schools should require all students to wear
uniforms.
NOW—for each example you give, you must
link it back to the fact that high school students
should be required to wear uniforms
Step Three
 Identify your first example that you think supports
this
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To begin with, uniforms would save parents money.
Step Four
 Link your example back to your key idea
 An easy way to do this is like this:
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For example, parents could simply buy two or three
inexpensive uniforms. They wouldn’t feel any pressure to
spend money on designer jeans, name-brand shoes, or
other high-priced clothes.
Step Five
 Repeat the previous two steps and find another example
and link it
Step Six
 Make sure you use transitions between each example
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To begin with, uniforms would save parents money.
Step Seven
 End your paragraph with a concluding statement to
wrap up your ideas
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So, it is clear that all high school students should have to wear
uniforms. Uniforms can save families money, enable students to
focus more on learning, and help students to get along.
High schools should require all students to wear uniforms.
To begin with, uniforms would save parents money. Parents
could simply buy two or three inexpensive uniforms. They
wouldn’t’ feel any pressure to spend money on designer
jeans, name-brand shoes, or other high-priced clothes. Also,
students wouldn't have to worry about what to wear. They
would get up every morning knowing how they’d be dressed
for school. Their attention, then, could be more on learning
than on making a fashion statement. Last of all, uniforms
would help all students get along. Rich students wouldn’t be
able to show off by wearing expensive clothes, and poor
students wouldn’t have any reason to feel shabby. When rich
and poor wear the same uniforms, there’s a sense that
everyone is equal. So, it is clear that all high school students
should have to wear uniforms. Uniforms can save families
money, enable students to focus more on learning, and help
students to get along.
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In the “School Uniforms” paragraph:
Circle the main idea (M)
 Underline each piece of evidence (E)
 Put a box around each link (L)
 Highlight each transition word
 Circle the concluding statement (Con)
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Repeat with the rest of the example MEL-Con
paragraphs
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The LINK in your MEL-Con paragraph is the
most important part
The LINK explains how your example or
evidence supports your Main Idea
The LINK is what you think or how you think
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Identify the key word in your main idea (usually an
adjective or a verb)
Example : The best restaurant in Rolling Meadows is
Pappadeaux.
 Key Word: BEST
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Use your key word (or a synonym) to begin your link
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This makes the restaurant the best in the area because…
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Identify the key word in your main idea (usually an
adjective or a verb)
Example : In the book The Lord of the Flies, Jack and Ralph
have very different styles of leadership.
 Key Word: DIFFERENT
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Use your key word (or a synonym) to begin your link
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In this example, the difference between the two is evident
because…
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Identify the key word in your main idea (usually an
adjective or a verb)
Example : Romeo, even though he is older than Juliet,
proves to be very immature in Shakespeare’s play.
 Key Word: IMMATURE
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Use your key word (or a synonym) to begin your link
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In this scene Romeo shows how immature he is by acting
like…