Five Paragraph Essay Five Paragraph Essay FormatFormat

A review of the format required for A review of the format required for PSSA writing and for all papers in PSSA writing and for all papers in

this class.this class.

Part I: IntroductionPart I: Introduction

It is very important that the following are It is very important that the following are included in the correct order if you want included in the correct order if you want to compose a strong introduction:to compose a strong introduction:

1. Hook1. Hook

2. Background Information2. Background Information

3. Thesis Statement3. Thesis Statement

HookHook One or two sentencesOne or two sentences Gets the reader’s attentionGets the reader’s attention Different options for composing a hook:Different options for composing a hook:

QuestionQuestion (What would the world be like if…?) (What would the world be like if…?) Statistic Statistic (Each year, 1 million Americans …)(Each year, 1 million Americans …) Strong statementStrong statement (It is obvious that something (It is obvious that something

needs to be done about …)needs to be done about …) Imagine ifImagine if (Imagine if someone would …) (Imagine if someone would …) Quote Quote (Abraham Lincoln once said, “…)(Abraham Lincoln once said, “…) Anything else that you feel will catch the Anything else that you feel will catch the

reader’s attentionreader’s attention

Background InformationBackground Information

Usually 3 sentencesUsually 3 sentences Gives your reader the information necessary to Gives your reader the information necessary to

understand your topic before you go into your understand your topic before you go into your body and begin providing detailed supportbody and begin providing detailed support

Provide the reader with anything you feel will Provide the reader with anything you feel will help clarify your topic (pretend they know help clarify your topic (pretend they know nothing about your topic).nothing about your topic).

Thesis StatementThesis Statement Only Only OneOne sentence sentence Basis for your entire paperBasis for your entire paper Tells the reader three things:Tells the reader three things:

Subject:Subject: what you will be writing about what you will be writing about Position:Position: how you feel about the issue/topic how you feel about the issue/topic Reasons:Reasons: three reasons why you feel the way you three reasons why you feel the way you

do about the topic (these reasons will be supported do about the topic (these reasons will be supported in the Body of your paper…)in the Body of your paper…)

Ex. Extending the school year is a bad idea because Ex. Extending the school year is a bad idea because _______, _______, and _______._______, _______, and _______.

BodyBody

3 paragraphs3 paragraphs Supports the 3 reasons given in the thesis Supports the 3 reasons given in the thesis

statement (one paragraph for each reason)statement (one paragraph for each reason) Must begin each paragraph with a topic Must begin each paragraph with a topic

sentence introducing reason that will be sentence introducing reason that will be supported in the paragraphsupported in the paragraph

Must end with a transition introducing the next Must end with a transition introducing the next reasonreason

ConclusionConclusion Restate thesis statement in an Restate thesis statement in an originaloriginal manner manner

(Do not use your thesis statement word for word (Do not use your thesis statement word for word from the introduction, but keep statement to one from the introduction, but keep statement to one sentence)sentence)

Summarize main points of your paperSummarize main points of your paper(usually 3 sentences)(usually 3 sentences)

Leave a lasting impressionLeave a lasting impression Give reader something to remember or think about Give reader something to remember or think about

– – Ex. pose question, call to action, quoteEx. pose question, call to action, quote Can use some of the same methods as the hookCan use some of the same methods as the hook

Avoiding First PersonAvoiding First Person

Avoid the use of first person pronouns in your Avoid the use of first person pronouns in your writingwriting Ex. I, me, my, you, your, we, us, ourEx. I, me, my, you, your, we, us, our

There is There is alwaysalways a way around using a first person a way around using a first person pronoun.pronoun. Ex. Instead of saying “you must …”, say “one must”Ex. Instead of saying “you must …”, say “one must” Or if you find yourself using “one” to frequently, try using Or if you find yourself using “one” to frequently, try using

“individuals” or “people”“individuals” or “people”

Tiger’s Heart Essay AssignmentTiger’s Heart Essay Assignment Is Pepe an admirable character? Consider Is Pepe an admirable character? Consider

his dealings with the villagers, his ability as his dealings with the villagers, his ability as a hunter, and his final decision.a hunter, and his final decision.

Pick a side. You either think he’s admirable or Pick a side. You either think he’s admirable or he’s not admirable. he’s not admirable.

Each of your body paragraphs will relate to one of Each of your body paragraphs will relate to one of the three reasons from your thesis statement.the three reasons from your thesis statement.

Your reasons will be related to his dealings with Your reasons will be related to his dealings with the villagers, his ability as a hunter, and his final the villagers, his ability as a hunter, and his final decision.decision.

Scarlet Ibis Essay OptionsScarlet Ibis Essay Options

In a five paragraph essay …In a five paragraph essay …-answer the essential question: Why do we hurt the -answer the essential question: Why do we hurt the

ones we love? (in relation to ones we love? (in relation to The Scarlet IbisThe Scarlet Ibis) ) Weave personal examples and examples from the Weave personal examples and examples from the story into your answer.story into your answer.

-reveal three examples of the foreshadowing of -reveal three examples of the foreshadowing of Doodle’s death (other than the death of the ibis). Doodle’s death (other than the death of the ibis). Explain these examples in depth.Explain these examples in depth.

Essay AssignmentEssay Assignment

Begin by constructing your thesis statementBegin by constructing your thesis statement Ex. Pepe is an admirable character because he is Ex. Pepe is an admirable character because he is

able to get sufficient payment from the villagers able to get sufficient payment from the villagers for his work, he is a skilled hunter and tracker, for his work, he is a skilled hunter and tracker, and he retains his power by blowing open the and he retains his power by blowing open the machete wound with his rifle.machete wound with his rifle.

Then construct your hook and background Then construct your hook and background informationinformation

Remember to correctly order the elements in your Remember to correctly order the elements in your introduction (Hook, Background, Thesis)introduction (Hook, Background, Thesis)