5 Paragraph Essay

Thesis statements

• Thesis statements are designed by the writer to introduce the ideas that they will present to the reader.

• We write to a formula, and our formula is effective for every type of writing.

We will use a formula to write all of our thesis statements and topic statements for the rest of the year.

Formula Parts

• Subject

• Claim

• Direction

• Universal Idea

Define the parts

Subject• The subject is the topic (subject matter, issue,

etc.) of the thesis statement.• It is always a noun. (Pronouns are unacceptable.)

Claim

• The Claim is an active verb. (Linking verbs are unacceptable.)

• Claims for analysis: defines, contrasts, compares, causes, relates, argues, provokes, ascertains, etc.

Define the parts

Define the parts

Direction• The directions are points the writer makes in the

thesis statement.• It is always a noun (or noun phrase) usually with

an adjective describing it. • There are always 3.• They are always listed in the thesis (______,

_____, & ______)

Define the parts

Universal Idea• The UI is the lesson of the thesis statement.• It is usually an abstract noun. • It can be the theme.• It is usually in a phrase.• Do not double up the UI. You are trying to prove

it in your essay. Double UI = Double work.

Word Glue

• Word Glue is the extra wording put in sentences to make them “flow.”

• We will not use word glue in thesis statements.

• We will concentrate on information, not “pretty writing.”

Thesis statement Fill-in-the blank:

 

_____________________ _____________________ WITH ___________ ____________________ ,

Topic / Subject Claim/Active Verb Adj. Direction 1/Point 1

 

 

 

___________ ____________________, AND __________ ________________________

Adj. Direction 2/point 2 Adj. Direction 3/point 3

 

 

 

TO _______________________________________________________________________________________.

Universal Idea / Theme

How to Label the part

Subject

Claim

Directions

Universal Idea

Modifier

Copy and Label the parts

Arthur Miller defies with argumentive plotting, inconsistent history, and incendiary vitriol to demonstrate the kangaroo court mentality that McCarthy created in America during the Red Scare.

Arthur Miller demonstrates with

argumentive plotting,inconsistent history, and

incendiary vitriol the kangaroo court mentality that McCarthy created in America during the Red Scare.

Write. Label. Correct (when necessary).1. Bill relates happy memories, foggy

mornings, and beat-up old trucks to his grandfather who just passed.

2. Dress code violations are blatant defiance, incorrigible behavior, and needless rebellion disruptions of the learning environment in our school.

3. To polarize the population, government budget negotiations catalyze rampant discord, emotional pandering, and political posturing.

Bill relates happy memories, foggy

mornings, and beat-up old trucks to his

grandfather who just passed.

Dress code violations are blatant defiance,

incorrigible behavior, and needless rebellion

Disruptions of the learning environment in our school. I have no home.

Possible Fix

Dress code violations demonstrate with blatant disregard, incorrigible behavior, and needless rebellion disruption of the learning environment in our school.

To polarize the population, government

budget negotiations catalyze rampant

discord, emotional pandering, and political

posturing.

Now you knowAs long as you have the parts of a thesis and know the

punctuation, you can rearrange them for effect.

Arthur Miller demonstrates with argumentive plotting, inconsistent history, and incendiary vitriol

the kangaroo court mentality that McCarthy created in America during the Red Scare.

With argumentive plotting, inconsistent history, and incendiary vitriol, Arthur Miller demonstrates the kangaroo court mentality that McCarthy created in America during the Red Scare.

Or this:

To demonstrate the kangaroo court mentality that McCarthy created in America during the Red Scare, Arthur Miller defieswith argumentive plotting, inconsistent history, and incendiary vitriol.

Putting it with the rest of the introductory paragraph

• Structure of the info paragraph– Hook (an attention grabber that lures

someone into the essay.)– Thesis – Transition (linking ideas together smoothly)

Topic sentences

Topic sentences anchor the paragraphs to the thesis.

They also follow a formula.

Topic Formula Parts• Topic

– Directions become subjects– Maintain the modifier

• Claim– Synonym of the original claim.

How to Label the part

Topic/Direction

Synonym Claim

Evidence & Explanation

Topic Sentence Fill in the blank:

_____________________ ________________________ TO Direction 1/ Point 1 Synonym of Claim

_____________________________________________ WITH _______________Synonym of UI/ restatement of UI

_________________________________________________________________Evidence (quote, statistic, anecdote, etc) with explanation of link to UI

To polarize the population, government budget negotiations catalyze rampant discord, emotional pandering, and political posturing.

Rampant discord incites the population to polarize with fear from different factions’ scare tactics claiming governmental funding will cease for needed projects as mentioned in the Southern Pines Pilot article Tax Me: Everyone Wants Cuts, but Not the Consequences, “The Republicans have proposed drastic cuts in funding for law enforcement. If I or mine are at risk, I don’t want some untrained video-game-addicted vigilante protecting us.”

Rampant discord incites the population to polarize with fear from different factions’ scare tactics claiming governmental funding will cease for needed projects as mentioned in the Southern Pines Pilot article Tax Me: Everyone Wants Cuts, but Not the Consequences, “The Republicans have proposed drastic cuts in funding for law enforcement. If I or mine are at risk, I don’t want some untrained video-game-addicted vigilante protecting us.”