Five-Paragraph Essay
Next, we'll examine a very popular format for writing an essay: the five-paragraph essay. As the name states, it
has five paragraphs. This is its structure:
Introduction
|
Body One
|
Body Two
|
Body Three
|
Conclusion
- first paragraph (introduction) - 'I tell you what I'm about to tell you.'
- body of the essay (paragraphs 2, 3, & 4) - 'I tell you.'
- last paragraph (summary, conclusion) - 'I tell you what I just told you (twice).'
With this pattern of writing, the author gets three 'shots' at the audience. The audience member has three
opportunities to comprehend the writer's message. With this approach, the opening paragraph will (usually) state the thesis
statement (main idea) toward the end of that paragraph. There will (usually) be three components in the essay's thesis
(main idea). Each of those three items will be covered in greater detail in its respective body paragraph.
Your message will probably have a greater impact on your reader if you place the weakest of your three
components in body paragraph one. The second body paragraph will discuss your medium-strength factor; leaving your
strongest item for the last paragraph in your body. To help your reader comprehend your text, it makes sense to have your
thesis statement list the three factors in the same order as you discuss them in the body of your essay. This suggested
design capitalizes on the philosophy of finishing the body of your passage with a 'bang', instead of trailing off to a weak
finish. Again, this increases the chances your essay will have a dramatic impact on your audience.
The following includes more information about the three items in your thesis:
- first paragraph: introduction - 'I tell you what I'm about to tell you by stating my thesis.'
- second paragraph (first body paragraph) - 'I tell you (in more detail) the first one-third of what I told you in the thesis.'
- third paragraph (second body paragraph) - 'I tell you the second one-third of what I told you in the thesis.'
- fourth paragraph (third and final body paragraph) - 'I tell you the third one-third of what I told you in the thesis.'
- fifth paragraph: conclusion, summary - 'I tell you for the third time.'
The introduction gives the audience an overview of what is to follow. The reader will see from the thesis sentence
the three areas that will be covered in more detail in the three body paragraphs. Hopefully, the opening paragraph will be
interesting and encourage the reader to continue reading the rest of the piece. Try to include one or two sentences which
will cause the audience to be curious about the other paragraphs.
Most of the essay's details, elaborations, illustrations, examples, definitions, explanations, etc. will be located in the
body paragraphs. The audience will receive a deeper understanding of each of the three items. Your message will remain
clear if you discuss just one factor in its respective paragraph. Jumping back and forth between factors within the same
paragraph can be confusing; so, stay focused on the item at hand. As was mentioned above, the best order in the body of
your essay is: strong - stronger - strongest.
Your final paragraph gives you one more 'crack' at your audience. You want to 'sprint' to the finish line. This
paragraph will wrap-up what has come before. You might want to rephrase your thesis sentence from the introductory
paragraph. Also, you could place a sentence or two reflecting on your essay's contents, with suggestions to the reader as
to other possible subjects to explore.
Our next activity will be to examine a five-paragraph essay on the topic/subject of firefighters. It might be best if you
print the essay, because the following session will reference it.