Outline for a Five-Paragraph Essay

Thesis StatementThe first thing you must do is

write a thesis statement.

It goes at the top of the paper.

The city of Frontenac should require curbside recycling.

Topic Sentence“Thesis Statement” for a

paragraph.States the main idea of the

paragraph.Usually the first sentence in the

paragraph.This should be a reason I should

believe your thesis.

OUTLINEAn outline is for the BODY

paragraphs.

The thesis will be used in the introduction

The conclusion is not usually included

Roman NumeralUse a Roman numeral to designate each

paragraph.

The first paragraph would be I.After the Roman numeral, write the topic

sentence (the first reason)

I. We will soon be over-run with trash if we don’t get more people to recycle.

CAPITAL LETTERSEach Roman numeral will need

supporting details.Use capital letters to designate

these details.You must use AT LEAST an A and a B. Frontenac should require curbside recycling

◦I. We will be over-run with trash. A. Landfills are filling up B. Cities are sending trash to us

NumbersUse numbers to list supporting

details for A, B, CI. We will be over-run with trash

◦A. Landfills are filling up 1. Only so much space 2 .No one wants one nearby

◦B. Cities sending their trash 1. Joplin tornado 2 .New York’s trash floating on barges

FormRoman Numerals use sentences.A,B,C use key words1,2,3 use key words.

FormIndent A, B, CKeep them even

Indent 1,2,3Keep them even

Capitalize the first word

Paragraph II

Follow the form from Paragraph I

II. Curbside recycling would be cost effective for the city.◦A. Collect fees

1. On water bill 2. Everyone pays

◦B. Get money for trash 1. Aluminum pays the most 2.Paper can pay well

Paragraph III

Same form as I and II

III. Jobs(See if you can come up with the

rest)

SKELETONThe outline is just the SKELETON of

the essay.

You must use words to fill in the body.

Use transistionsUse creative wordsUse sentence varietyRemember to have a concluding

sentence for each paragraph.

Paragraph I

◦ If Frontenac does not start curbside recycling, we could soon find ourselves over-run with trash. Already our landfills are nearly full to the brim. What will we do when they are full? No one wants a landfill in their own back yard. Not only is our landfill full, other cities are pushing their trash into our space. Joplin sent tons of trash here after the tornado. New York has its trash floating around the ocean looking for a home. Hopefully they won’t send it here. We need to start a strong recycling program before we are buried in trash!

Paragraph IIWrite a paragraph using the

outline for Paragraph II.

INTRODUCTIONUse the thesis statement and a

HOOK to write an introduction for this essay.

ConclusionWrite a conclusion for this essay.

YOUR OWNMake an outline for the first body

paragraph of an essay. The thesis statement isFrontenac should not start a

curbside recycling program.

Use your own paper.Write the paragraph.