Not everyone will agree with me, but for undergraduate papers, I am fine with a simple format for paragraphs. If you can accomplish this, you will have produced a fairly robust paragraph:
Argument
Evidence (in the form of examples)
Analysis
Significance
1. Argument
Instructors will often ask for a “topic sentence” that tells the reader what to expect in the paragraph. In my view, this sentence works best as a sub-argument of the thesis statement.
2. Evidence
If you argue a point, support it with evidence. In historical writing, this comes in the form of primary and secondary sources. Most secondary sources you can paraphrase. Often, writers will quote the primary sources. Use quotations sparingly - if it is over two lines, your reader is likely to skip over it. If you can say it yourself in better words, then paraphrase it.
3. Analysis
Quotations do not speak for themselves. You must do the work of interpreting the evidence for your reader. What does it mean? The reader wants your interpretation, not (for now) to slog through the primary sources.
4. Significance
Why is your argument, evidence, and analysis important? Someone told me--and I don't remember which colleague or professor this was (sorry!)--that they ask students, "What if someone told you this wasn't important? How would you argue this to them?" I have always appreciated that mental trick.