The five paragraph essay is at the heart of academic writing. It represents a structured format that shows a writer’s organizational skills as well as writing ability. When writing for assessment such as the SAT essay or college admissions essays, it’s important to understand how to write in this structured style.
An effective five paragraph essay places the thesis, or argument, at the beginning of the essay so the writer can offer support for the argument in subsequent paragraphs. The essay also has an effective conclusion that restates the thesis and wraps up the argument. Here is the basic structure for a five paragraph essay.
Introductory Paragraph
An introductory paragraph should begin with a broad statement about the topic in order to draw readers in. It should be a general statement that most readers can agree with. If a writer starts with a controversial thesis statement, many readers will be turned off immediately and will not continue reading. By starting the essay with a broad statement, the writer can then ease the reader into the thesis more gradually.
After the initial broad statement about the topic, the writer should then write a bridge statement, or a sentence or two that serves as a bridge between the general statement and the thesis. The thesis statement should be the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.
Think of an inverted pyramid. The writer starts at the top with a broad statement, and then gets gradually narrower in focus until the thesis is revealed. This is how the introductory paragraph should look.
Thesis Statements
An effective thesis statement should make a strong assumption about the topic and serve as a map for the rest of the essay. It must be narrowly focused and able to be supported with evidence in subsequent paragraphs.
A good thesis statement offers at least three reasons , or “because statements.” These reasons can be expanded upon in the three supporting paragraphs that follow.
Example: The death penalty should be abolished because innocent people could be executed, it is cruel and unusual punishment, and it is not an effective deterrent of crime.
Supporting paragraphs can now expand on these three ideas.
Body Paragraphs
Each of the three body paragraphs, or supporting paragraphs, should focus on a specific aspect of the thesis statement and serve to strengthen the argument as a whole. Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence and feature supporting statements directly related to the topic sentence.
Be sure to include effective transition words or phrases to help the reader move from one body paragraph to another. Sample transitions include in addition, for example, moreover, on the other hand, and by comparison.
Conclusion
The first sentence of the final paragraph should restate the thesis statement in different words. It serves to reiterate the writer’s main points and draw the paper to a close. Supporting sentences should gradually move to a broader focus.
If the introductory paragraph looks like an inverted pyramid, the concluding paragraph should be in the shape of a regular pyramid. The writer should start with a narrow focus and end with a broad statement about the topic.
An effective five paragraph essay shows not only a writer’s ability to make an argument but organizational skills as well. A well-structured essay should draw the reader in, reveal a strong argument, offer effective support, and come to a logical close.
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