How to Write a Five
Paragraph Essay
English I
Mr. Cook
Outlining
Spool Paper Outline
Introductory Paragraph
• Lead
• Thesis Statement (Power 1)
• List the power 2 ideas
• 2a.
• 2b.
• 2c.
Body Paragraph 1
• 2a. Topic Sentence
• 3. Detail
• 3. Detail
• 3. Detail
Body Paragraph 2
• 2b. Topic Sentence
• 3. Detail
• 3. Detail
• 3. Detail
Body Paragraph 3
• 2c. Topic Sentence
• 3. Detail
• 3. Detail
• 3. Detail
Concluding Paragraph
• Re-state thesis (Power 1)
• Wind-down/conclusion
A Good Essay is a lot Like a BLT
Sandwich
Thesis:
•The main idea of your essay
•The point you are
II. tryingIII.to prove IV.
I.
•Should be exactly
ONESecond
sentenceThird
long
First
Introduction
Body Body
Body
Paragraph
Para- ParaParagraph graph
graph
V.
Conclusion
Paragraph
Warning: It is recommended that BLT is only used figuratively.
Consumption may lead to serious health problems.
Topic Sentence
Conclusion Sentence
Name: ______________________________ Date: _____________ Period: _____
•
Lead (In 3-5 sentences, provide some background information for your reader. This may be in the form of a
brief story, some facts and statistics, a powerful quote etc. The key is to get the attention of your reader
and focus them on your topic)
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•
Power 1: Thesis Statement (State the central idea of your essay in ONE complete sentence.)
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–
Support Statement (Write a sentence that states the topics for your body paragraph. There should be
three power 2 ideas)
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2a. Topic sentence (In one sentence, introduce the topic for this paragraph. It should be the same as the first topic from
your support statement)
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• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to
introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to
introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to
introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
–
2a. Conclusion sentence (In one sentence, summarize the ideas you discussed in this paragraph or transition to the next
paragraph)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
–
2b. Topic sentence (In one sentence, introduce the topic for this paragraph. It should be the same as the second topic
from your support statement)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to
introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to
introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to
introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
–
2b. Conclusion sentence (In one sentence, summarize the ideas you discussed in this paragraph or transition to the next
paragraph)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
–
2c. Topic sentence (In one sentence, introduce the topic for this paragraph. It should be the same as the third topic from
your support statement)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to
introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to
introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to
introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
–
2c. Conclusion sentence (In one sentence, summarize the ideas you discussed in this paragraph or transition to the next
paragraph)
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•
Power 1: Restate your thesis using slightly different words
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•
Wind-Down/Conclusion (In three to five sentences, give your reader something to think about. You might
offer your opinion about the ideas in your essay. You might relate the issues in your essay to the larger
world. Your goal is to make your reader think about your essay after they have read it.)
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