The Five Paragraph The Five Paragraph EssayEssay Conciseness is the sister of talentConciseness is the sister of talent

Anton Chekhov,Anton Chekhov,Russian playwright, 1860-1904Russian playwright, 1860-1904

The five paragraph essay measures a The five paragraph essay measures a student's basic writing skills, and is often a student's basic writing skills, and is often a timed exercise.timed exercise.

Use this Guide to help you practice Use this Guide to help you practice and succeed at this form of writing.and succeed at this form of writing.

Getting started means getting organized:Getting started means getting organized:

Analyze the assignment; determine what is Analyze the assignment; determine what is required.required.

With a highlighter, note important words that With a highlighter, note important words that define the topic, then organize your plan.define the topic, then organize your plan.

For ExampleFor Example

You have been given this writing prompt:You have been given this writing prompt: You have a present that was really You have a present that was really

memorable. memorable. It could have been given for an important It could have been given for an important

occasion or just for no reason at all. occasion or just for no reason at all. Tell us about the present and why it was Tell us about the present and why it was

memorable. memorable. Include the reason it was given, a Include the reason it was given, a

description of it, and how you felt when description of it, and how you felt when you got it.you got it.

The Objective The Objective

Write a narrative essay about a Write a narrative essay about a present you were givenpresent you were given..

The subject is a memorable The subject is a memorable presentpresent

The three main subtopics are:The three main subtopics are: The reason it was givenThe reason it was given A description of itA description of it How you felt when you got itHow you felt when you got it

Outline your five Outline your five paragraph essay paragraph essay

Include these elements:Include these elements:

Introductory ParagraphIntroductory Paragraph General Topic Sentence:General Topic Sentence:      memorable memorable

presentpresent Subtopic One: the reason it was givenSubtopic One: the reason it was given Subtopic Two: a description of itSubtopic Two: a description of it Subtopic Three: how you felt when Subtopic Three: how you felt when

you got ityou got it

First Supporting First Supporting Paragraph Paragraph

Restate Subtopic OneRestate Subtopic One Expand on the Introduced Expand on the Introduced

subtopic.subtopic. Supporting Details or ExamplesSupporting Details or Examples

Choose Experience or Observation.Choose Experience or Observation. Transition Transition

The first sentence should relate to The first sentence should relate to the last sentence of the previous the last sentence of the previous paragraph.paragraph.

Second Supporting Second Supporting Paragraph Paragraph

Restate Subtopic TwoRestate Subtopic Two Develop your thesis as it relates to this Develop your thesis as it relates to this

subtopic.subtopic. Supporting Details or ExamplesSupporting Details or Examples

Make sure the examples are cited Make sure the examples are cited correctly.correctly.

Transition Transition The first sentence should relate to the The first sentence should relate to the

last sentence of the previous last sentence of the previous paragraph.paragraph.

Third Supporting Third Supporting Paragraph Paragraph

Restate Subtopic ThreeRestate Subtopic Three Develop your thesis as it relates to this Develop your thesis as it relates to this

subtopic.subtopic. Supporting Details or ExamplesSupporting Details or Examples

Make sure the examples are cited Make sure the examples are cited correctly.correctly.

Transition.Transition. The first sentence should relate to the The first sentence should relate to the

last sentence of the previous last sentence of the previous paragraph.paragraph.

Closing or Summary Closing or Summary Paragraph Paragraph

Synthesis and conclusion of the Synthesis and conclusion of the thesis thesis rephrasing main topic and subtopics.rephrasing main topic and subtopics.

Take the main theme of each of the Take the main theme of each of the paragraphs and restate it.paragraphs and restate it.

Do not add anything new.Do not add anything new. Do not use trite or overused terms Do not use trite or overused terms

such as ‘in conclusion’, or ‘to such as ‘in conclusion’, or ‘to conclude’.conclude’.

Write the essay!Write the essay! Think small; build the full essay Think small; build the full essay

gradually. gradually. Divide your essay into sections and Divide your essay into sections and develop each piece separately and develop each piece separately and incrementally.incrementally.

Once you have written all the above Once you have written all the above paragraphs, you can start to organize it.paragraphs, you can start to organize it.

Remember this task will be much easier Remember this task will be much easier now that you have written down the now that you have written down the bulk of your essay. bulk of your essay.

Your mind will be clearer.Your mind will be clearer.

The Introductory The Introductory ParagraphParagraph

The opening paragraph sets the toneThe opening paragraph sets the toneIt not only introduces the topic, but It not only introduces the topic, but where you are going with it (the where you are going with it (the thesis).  thesis). 

If you do a good job in the opening,  If you do a good job in the opening,  you will draw your reader into your you will draw your reader into your "experience." "experience."

Put effort up front, and you will reap Put effort up front, and you will reap rewards. rewards.

Write in the active voiceWrite in the active voice

It is much more powerful. It is much more powerful.

Do that for each sentence in the Do that for each sentence in the introductory essay. introductory essay.

Unless you are writing a personal Unless you are writing a personal narrative, do not use the pronoun narrative, do not use the pronoun "I." "I."

Words & MeaningsWords & Meanings 1 1

1.1. TraceTrace == List in StepsList in Steps

2.2. Analyze = Break apartAnalyze = Break apart

3.3. InferInfer = Read between the = Read between the lineslines

4.4. EvaluateEvaluate = Judge= Judge

5.5. FormulateFormulate = Create= Create

6.6. DescribeDescribe = Tell all about= Tell all about

Words & Meanings 2Words & Meanings 2

1.1. SupportSupport = Back up with details= Back up with details

2.2. ExplainExplain = Tell How= Tell How

3.3. SummarizeSummarize = T = The short versionhe short version..

4.4. CompareCompare = T = The ways they are he ways they are alikealike

5.5. ContrastContrast = T = The ways they are he ways they are differentdifferent

6.6. PredictPredict = = What will happen next?What will happen next?

Varying sentence Varying sentence structure structure

Review to avoid the same dull Review to avoid the same dull pattern of always starting with pattern of always starting with the subject of the sentence. the subject of the sentence.

For instance, and then,….and For instance, and then,….and then,….and then.then,….and then.

My Dad said,…. My Bro said…, My Dad said,…. My Bro said…, My Mom said…My Mom said…

Brainstorm to find the best Brainstorm to find the best supporting ideas supporting ideas

The best supporting ideas are the ones The best supporting ideas are the ones about which you have some about which you have some knowledge. knowledge.

If you do not know about them, you If you do not know about them, you cannot do a good job writing about cannot do a good job writing about them. them.

Don't weaken the essay with Don't weaken the essay with ineffective argument. ineffective argument.

Practice Makes Perfect!Practice Makes Perfect!

Practice writing introductory Practice writing introductory paragraphs on various topics.paragraphs on various topics.

Even if you do not use them, they Even if you do not use them, they can be compared with the type of can be compared with the type of writing you are doing now. writing you are doing now.

It is rewarding to see a pattern of It is rewarding to see a pattern of progress. progress.

Supporting ParagraphsSupporting Paragraphs Write a transition to establish the sub-Write a transition to establish the sub-

topictopicEach paragraph has to flow, one to the Each paragraph has to flow, one to the next. next.

Write the topic sentence.Write the topic sentence.

The transition can be included in the The transition can be included in the topic sentence. topic sentence.

Supporting ideas, examples, details, must Supporting ideas, examples, details, must be specific to the sub-topicbe specific to the sub-topic

Supporting ParagraphsSupporting Paragraphs

The tendency in supporting The tendency in supporting paragraphs is to put in just about paragraphs is to put in just about anything.anything. Remember the BrainstormingRemember the Brainstorming

Avoid this:   the work you have made Avoid this:   the work you have made above with details and examples will above with details and examples will help you keep focused.help you keep focused. Reread the prompt or Essay Reread the prompt or Essay

question often to stay focused.question often to stay focused.

Vary sentence structure Vary sentence structure

Avoid repetitious pronouns and lists.Avoid repetitious pronouns and lists. Pronouns in place of nounsPronouns in place of nouns The pronoun can be understood also.The pronoun can be understood also.

Avoid  beginning sentences the same Avoid  beginning sentences the same way (Subject + Verb + Object). way (Subject + Verb + Object). English is generally an SVO English is generally an SVO

language.language. Vary sentences to VSO, or OVSVary sentences to VSO, or OVS

The Ending or Summary The Ending or Summary Paragraph Paragraph

This is a difficult paragraph to write This is a difficult paragraph to write effectively.effectively. Don’t write anything new.Don’t write anything new. Restate your earlier points.Restate your earlier points.

You cannot assume that the reader You cannot assume that the reader sees your point sees your point Draw conclusions based on your Draw conclusions based on your

information.information. Leave the reader with something to Leave the reader with something to

ponder.ponder.