First sentence: Why this is the first line? This paragraph is the first sentence because it introduces the main topic of concern, which is the high rate of dropouts among Ph.D. candidates. It sets the stage for the discussion without needing any prior context. This follows the rule of Topic Sentence. Why other lines are not chosen? Paragraph 2 starts with "Some have placed..." which uses a pronoun and does not stand alone. Paragraph 3 starts with "The extent of the loss..." which refers back to previous ideas. Paragraph 4 starts with "It was based on..." which also needs context from earlier sentences. All these do not meet the criteria for being independent.

Concluding sentence: Why this is the last line? This paragraph concludes the text by summarizing the findings of the study. It wraps up the discussion about dropout rates and shows that fears may not be justified. This follows the rule of Summary Style, as it brings together the earlier points.

Paragraph pairs:

• Pair 1 (Paragraph 1 → Paragraph 2): Paragraph 2 connects to Paragraph 1 because it provides a specific statistic about the dropout loss. This follows the Broader to Specific Strategy, where the first paragraph gives a general concern and the second gives a specific number.
• Pair 2 (Paragraph 2 → Paragraph 3): Paragraph 3 connects to Paragraph 2 because it discusses the uncertainty of the dropout loss figure. This follows the Cause and Effect Relationship, where the statistic leads to a discussion about the reliability of that statistic.
• Pair 3 (Paragraph 3 → Paragraph 4): Paragraph 4 connects to Paragraph 3 because it provides details about the study mentioned. This follows the Logical Order, where the study gives evidence to support the previous statement about guessing.