The Formal Five-Paragraph Essay

A Framework for Expository Writing

Mrs. K Prescott

Expository Writing

Gives information about a topic Explains ideas Answers questions

The purpose of most expository writing is to communicate ideas

or answer questions.

Five-Paragraph Format

1. Introduction including thesis statement as the final sentence

2. First subtopic supporting thesis

3. Second subtopic supporting thesis

4. Third subtopic supporting thesis

5. Conclusion including a restatement of your thesis

The introduction should be composed of four parts:

1. The Hook

2. Statement of Situation

3. Theme

4. Thesis

Introduction

Hook

The first sentence of an essay should capture the reader’s attention.

Examples: Santiago stares silently as the sharks devour

his greatest accomplishment. “Keep in mind this child is still you, simply the

best of you. You could conceive naturally a thousand times and never get such a perfect result.”

Statement of Situation A sentence (or a few) that establishes the

topic of the paper. It should be limited in scope. (A brief summary of your topic)

Examples: In Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea,

Santiago stoically fights an unwinnable battle against nature.

The film Gattaca depicts a world in which citizens have the opportunity to give birth to genetically engineered children in order to ensure their success in a society that favors human perfection.

Theme The author’s main idea; a universal truth

developed by the author.

Examples: Hemingway illustrates how man can be

destroyed, but he can never be defeated. Playing off Huxley’s warning in Brave New

World, Gattaca cautions against the possible results of creating a society driven by technological advancement.

Thesis The main, controlling idea of the essay. Subject + verb + opinion + three sub-

topics to support your opinion.Examples: Through Santiago, the marlin, and the

sharks, Hemingway creates symbols that reinforce his theme that man can never be defeated.

The world of Gattaca exemplifies a dehumanizing and immoral society through the promotion of human genetic modification, social isolation, and a belief system founded on the principle of predestination.

Introduction Example 1

Santiago stares silently as the sharks devour his greatest accomplishment. In Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago stoically fights an unwinnable battle against nature. Hemingway illustrates how man can be destroyed, but he can never be defeated. Through Santiago, the marlin, and the sharks, Hemingway creates symbols that reinforce his theme that man can never be defeated.

Introduction Example 2 “Keep in mind this child is still you,

simply the best of you. You could conceive naturally a thousand times and never get such a perfect result.” The film Gattaca depicts a world in which citizens have the opportunity to give birth to genetically engineered children in order to ensure their success in a society that favors human perfection. Playing off Huxley’s warning in Brave New World, Gattaca cautions against the possible results of creating a society driven by technological advancement. The world of Gattaca exemplifies a dehumanizing and immoral society through the promotion of human genetic modification, social isolation, and a belief system founded on the principle of predestination.

Use Correct Paragraph Form

Topic Sentence Three Examples Conclusion

No paragraph should be lessthan five sentences.

Each paragraph should include:

Body Paragraphs

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs should each develop one main idea (one of

the three sub-topics in your thesis statement)

Restate each subtopic as the topic sentence for each of the next

three paragraphs.

Topic Sentence

The main idea of the paragraph. It should state the topic of the paragraph and explain how the sub-topic proves or reinforces your thesis statement.

Concrete DetailWithin your body paragraphs, you must

provide concrete details. Depending on the topic of your essay, you could use:

Direct quotes from the source (state the speaker of the line before the quote)

Current events Specific references to movies, T.V.

shows, novels or plays to support your ideas.

Commentary

Commentary explains how the quotes, examples, and concrete details support or reinforce your thesis statement. Choose specific words, images, symbols, etc. to focus your commentary on – and explain how and why the details/examples/quotes are significant

Coherence

Commentary must clearly explain how your concrete details support your thesis

Paragraph 2 Format

Topic Sentence (Restates Example #1 from the Introduction)

3 Example Sentences (Prove your Topic Sentence)

Concluding Sentence (Explain how your example reinforces your thesis)

And so on for paragraphs 3 and 4

Transitions Use transitions to move from one idea

(paragraph) to the next. Moreover, however, although, in addition,

furthermore, unlike, etc.

Example of a smooth transition:

If one paragraph in an essay on agriculture ends with the idea that the use of horses declines where there are tropical diseases, the next paragraph needs to start with something like “Disease is not the only dis-incentive to tropical agriculture…”

Conclusion

Restate your thesis or main idea in different words.

Explain how your sub-topics prove the thesis. Clincher: connect final sentence back to the

hook

Avoid ‘In conclusion…” or “To conclude…” Never add anything new to the conclusion

Format

Introduction First Subtopic Second Subtopic Third Subtopic Conclusion

There you have it!

Expository writing isn’t

that difficult when you

have a plana plan.. To make it

even easier you may

want to use a graphic

organizer like the

following to organize

your thoughts.

Main Idea

Main Example 1 Main Example 2

Main Example 2Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 2

Example 1

Example 3

Five-Paragraph Essay Organizer

Name _____________________

Writing Tips Be Specific – avoid ‘things’ , ‘stuff’ , ‘like’ Avoid beginning sentences with: It, This, But, And,

That, All verbs should be present tense – be consistent Avoid first person pronouns: I, we, us, me, our Avoid second period pronouns: you Avoid abbreviations (etc., e.g., &) Avoid beginning sentences with ‘they’ unless it is

perfectly clear who you are talking about. Eliminate as many ‘this’ ‘that’ ‘it’ ‘they’ words as

possible Spell out numbers in your text Never use contractions (can’t, don’t, doesn’t) Watch out for subject-verb agreement. Never use slang – kinda, wanna, tadaa, duh Use a Thesaurus – avoid dead, tired words – use

intelligent, specific, and purposeful words

Presentation Requirements 1 inch margins Double-spaced – the WHOLE way through Typed – 12 point font – Times New Roman Indent each new paragraph Title page – properly formatted Works Cited Page – if needed No title on your essay Add a title AFTER the essay is written (let the

title emerge from the content) Spelling and Grammar checks Peer Conferencing Read it aloud to someone else and make

sure they agree the essay does what you want it to do

These guidelines and organizational strategies for the

formal five-paragraph essay should help you in your essay writing.

Once you are able to successfully implement these strategies and

write an organized and purposeful essay, you will learn how to diverge

from these expectations, write longer essays, and be creative.

Six Traits of Writing

Content/Ideas Organization Voice Word Choice Sentence Fluency Conventions