Moving to the Five Paragraph Narrative Essay

A Write On Activity

How do you move from the graphic organizer to a five

paragraph essay?

I had a surprise party.•Only family•Really shocked•Held at zoo

Grandma made my favorite cake.•Triple layer •Chocolate•Trick candles•Biggest piece

My parents gave me the best gift of all.•Puppy•Goldy•Best friend

As you can see, my eighth birthday was a most memorablecelebration.

My eighth birthday was the best one I ever had.

Begin with the introductory paragraph.

• The introductory paragraph is formed from the topic sentence.

My eighth birthday was the best one I ever had.

Begin with the introductory paragraph.

• In a narrative essay it answers these questions: Who?

What?

When?

Where?

Why?

Begin with the introductory paragraph.

Who?

• I shall never forget my eighth birthday. My parents surprised me with a party at the zoo. Grandmother baked my favorite cake. There were many gifts from friends and family. It was a wonderful celebration.

Begin with the introductory paragraph.

What?

• I shall never forget my eighth birthday. My parents surprised me with a party at the zoo. Grandmother baked my favorite cake. There were many gifts from friends and family. It was a wonderful celebration.

Begin with the introductory paragraph.

When?

• I shall never forget my eighth birthday. My parents surprised me with a party at the zoo. Grandmother baked my favorite cake. There were many gifts from friends and family. It was a wonderful celebration.

Begin with the introductory paragraph.

Where?

• I shall never forget my eighth birthday. My parents surprised me with a party at the zoo. Grandmother baked my favorite cake. There were many gifts from friends and family. It was a wonderful celebration.

Begin with the introductory paragraph.

Why?

• I shall never forget my eighth birthday. My parents surprised me with a party at the zoo. Grandmother baked my favorite cake. There were many gifts from friends and family. It was a wonderful celebration.

Don’t forget the hook!Don’t forget the hook!• The biggest, best birthday ever…that would describe my

eighth birthday! My parents surprised me with a party at the zoo. Grandmother baked my favorite cake. There were many gifts from friends and family. It was a wonderful celebration.

And remember…

The biggest, best birthday ever…that would describe my eighth birthday! My parents surprised me with a party at the zoo. Grandmother baked my favorite cake. There were many gifts from friends and family. It was a wonderful celebration.

…to indent!

As you can see, my eighth birthday was a most memorablecelebration.

Use vivid words as you write the next 3 paragraphs from you graphic organizer.

I had a surprise party.•Only family•Really shocked•Held at zoo

Grandma made my favorite cake.•Triple layer •Chocolate•Trick candles•Biggest piece

My parents gave me the best gift of all.•Puppy•Goldy•Best friend

My eighth birthday was the best one I ever had.

Paragraph 2

Paragraph 3

Paragraph 4

As you can see, my eighth birthday was a most memorablecelebration.

Remember to use transitionwords! They help make

connections for the reader.

I had a surprise party.•Only family•Really shocked•Held at zoo

Grandma made my favorite cake.•Triple layer •Chocolate•Trick candles•Biggest piece

My parents gave me the best gift of all.•Puppy•Goldy•Best friend

My eighth birthday was the best one I ever had.

It all began with..

After that…

Later…

The last square will be the summary paragraph.

I had a surprise party.•Only family•Really shocked•Held at zoo

Grandma made my favorite cake.•Triple layer •Chocolate•Trick candles•Biggest piece

My parents gave me the best gift of all.•Puppy•Goldy•Best friend

As you can see my eighth birthday was a most memorablecelebration.

My eighth birthday was the best one I ever had.

Summary Paragraph

Can Include:

• Concluding sentence

• Summary of other paragraphs

• Feeling sentence

• Question

• Exclamation

As you can see, my eighth birthday was a most memorablecelebration.

Summary Paragraph

As you can see, my eighth birthday was a most memorablecelebration. The party at the zoo, a delicious cake, and a specialgift made it a memorable birthday. I think it was a superb wayto remember the day I was born.

The Five Paragraph Essay

Let’s read the final product!

The biggest, best birthday ever…that would describe my eighth birthday! My parents surprised me with a party at the zoo. Grandmother baked my favorite cake. There were many gifts from friends and family. It was a wonderful celebration.

1. The Introductory Paragraph

It all began with a surprise party at the zoo thrown by my parents. No one mentioned my birthday all morning so I figured everyone had forgotten it. I was shocked when my mom drove me to the zoo parking lot, and everyone jumped from behind cars shouting, “Surprise.” Only close family was invited.

2. First Square

After that we went to my Grandma’s house. She had made my favorite cake. It was a triple-layer chocolate delight. I blew and blew at the candles until I finally realized they were trick candles. Grandma gave me the biggest piece, yummy!

3. Next Square

4. Next Square

Later my parents gave me the best gift of all. It was a fuzzy golden retriever puppy. I named him Goldy. He is still my best friend today.

5. Summary Paragraph

As you can see, my eighth birthday was a most memorablecelebration. The party at the zoo, a delicious cake, and a very special gift made it a memorable birthday. I think it was a superb way to remember the day I was born.

Follow these steps to create a fantastic five paragraph essay!