Malone’s 5 Paragraph Essay
Introduction
“Omnivore’s Dilemma”
“Hungry for Change”
Personal Culture Connections
Here are some basic tips when writing
a five paragraph essay.
• Think of your essay as a math formula or
steps that need to be taken to get to the
finish line.
• These steps can be written in any order as
long as the essay flows when it is finished.
It should sound as though it follows an
order rather than just jumbled thoughts.
• All five paragraph essays have the
following:
The Formula
• An introduction
• Three body paragraphs
• A conclusion
Total paragraphs
1
+3
_ 1__
5
The introduction
• The introduction should be the place to
start presenting your topic.
• Typically, the last sentence will also
include a thesis statement.
• A thesis statement is one sentence that
clearly tells the reader what your paper
will be about, and it often has a point to
prove.
Thesis Practice
• Write an argument against school
uniforms.
• Ex. Schools should abolish school uniforms
because it kills individuality and promotes
conformity.
• Write an argument for children receiving
their driver’s licenses at 16.
• Children should be able to get their
driver’s license at 16 because…
Thesis Practice Continued
• Write an argument against
industrial/factory farms and processed
food.
• Sentence starter:
• Americans should stop the production of
factory farms and processed food
because…
Body paragraphs
• Think of three items dealing with your
topic that you’d like to discuss.
• The first item will be your first body
paragraph.
• Now, come up with two or three examples
that have to do with the item. Use details
to make the examples clear.
• Continue this pattern for the second and
third body paragraphs.
Body Paragraphs
• Body Paragraph 1: Support your argument
with what you learned from “Omnivore’s
Dilemma”
• Body Paragraph 2: Support your argument
with what you learned from “Hungry for
Change”
• Body Paragraph 3: Support your argument
comparing/contrasting your culture’s/your
own experience with food and nutrition.
Conclusion
• The conclusion is the place to sum up your
essay and re-state your thesis statement
in different words.
• New information does not belong in the
conclusion.
Outline
• Introduction with thesis statement
– Describe the texts, “Omnivore’s Dilemma,” “Hungry for Change,” and introduce
your cultural background in regard to food.
– Write your thesis statement at the end of your introduction (we created this
yesterday)
• 1st body paragraph – “Omnivore’s Dilemma”
– Introduce “Omnivore’s Dilemma” and connect it to your thesis statement
– Find 1-2 quotes that support your thesis statement
– Explain how these quotes support your thesis statement
• 2nd body paragraph – Hungry for Change
– Introduce “Hungry for Change” and connect it to your thesis statement
– Find 1-2 examples from the film that support your thesis statement
– Explain how these examples support your thesis statement
• 3rd body paragraph
– Introduce your cultural background and connect it to your thesis statement
– Find 1-2 examples from your cultural background that support your thesis
statement
– Explain how these quotes support your thesis statement
• Conclusion with re-stated thesis statement
– Re-state your thesis statement with new words in the first sentence
– Summarize your main points of your three body paragraphs
– End with one sentence that inspires your audience!
Introduction
Let’s get started
– Hook: the first sentence that catches the reader’s
attention
– Ex. What if I told you that the foods you eat causes
more death than being a drug addict?
– Ex. Today, death is caused by what we eat more than
any other factor.
– Ex. What would you say if there was a magic formula
to help you live a happy, healthy, and long life?
– NOW, CREATE YOUR OWN HOOK – GO!!!!!!
Introduction Continued
– Introduce & Summarize Information for Body
Paragraphs
– Ex. According to the documentary, “Hungry for
Change,” sugar is just as addicting as the major
drugs, heroine and cocaine. The text, “Omnivore’s
Dilemma,” discusses how the farming industry has
changed from offering fresh, seasonal foods to
chemically fertilized, processed foods. In other
countries, including my home country, Malone’s The
Best Country, foods are less processed, so there are
less health problems.
– Now, introduce what will be in your body
paragraph! – GOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Introduction Continued
• Now, add your thesis statement and put it all together!
• Ex. What if I told you that the foods you eat causes
more death than being a drug addict? According to the
documentary, “Hungry for Change,” sugar is just as
addicting as the major drugs, heroine and cocaine. The
text, “Omnivore’s Dilemma,” discusses how the farming
industry has changed from offering fresh, seasonal foods
to chemically fertilized, processed foods. In other
countries, including my home country, Malone’s The Best
Country, foods are less processed, so there are less
health problems. Americans need to stop the production
of factory farms and processed foods because it is
addictive and the chemicals cause serious health
problems, including heart disease, cancer, obesity, and
death.
Body Paragraph Example
• In “Omnivore’s Dilemma,” the farming industry changed a lot, which
has negatively affected America. After World War II, there was
extra chemicals, so they put them on farms rather than wasting
them. In the text, it states, “But the scientists in the Department of
Agriculture had a better idea: Spread the ammonium nitrate on
farmland as fertilizer” (Pollan 1). In addition to using chemicals,