Five Paragraph Essay
Format for a Persuasive
Essay
The Components For A
Well Developed Essay
Title Page
The first page of the essay should be a title
page.
 It should be formatted like the example
posted under handouts.
 Everything should be centered
 Title is 1/3 down the page.
 Bottom 3 lines are double-spaced

Outline
Formal outline comes after the title page.
 Formatted like example posted under
handouts.
 Header uses last name and lower-case
roman numeral for page number.
 Everything should be double-spaced.
 Paper must follow the same order as the
outline.

FIRST PARAGRAPH
Introduction
the reader’s
attention (usually needs
documentation)
 Thesis Statement--Expresses the
opinion the essay will try to prove
 Blueprint--(OPTIONAL) Lists the
three main points of the essay
 Motivator--Catches
SECOND PARAGRAPH
First Body Paragraph

Topic Sentence--States the main idea of the
paragraph
 Specific Support--evidence for topic sentence
from a source (MUST BE CITED)
 explanation of support
 Specific Support--evidence for topic sentence
from a source (MUST BE CITED)
 explanation of support
 Specific Support--evidence for topic sentence
from a source (MUST BE CITED)
 explanation of support
THIRD PARAGRAPH
Second Body Paragraph

Topic Sentence--States the main idea of the
paragraph
 Specific Support--evidence for topic sentence
from a source (MUST BE CITED)
 explanation of support
 Specific Support--evidence for topic sentence
from a source (MUST BE CITED)
 explanation of support
 Specific Support--evidence for topic sentence
from a source (MUST BE CITED)
 explanation of support
FOURTH PARAGRAPH
Third Body Paragraph

Topic Sentence--States the main idea of the
paragraph
 Specific Support--evidence for topic sentence
from a source (MUST BE CITED)
 explanation of support
 Specific Support--evidence for topic sentence
from a source (MUST BE CITED)
 explanation of support
 Specific Support--evidence for topic sentence
from a source (MUST BE CITED)
 explanation of support
FIFTH PARAGRAPH
Conclusion
 Restated
thesis statement--restates the
main opinion of the essay in a new and
interesting way
 Clincher--drives the point home
Works Cited Page
List the MLA citations for ALL sources
used in the essay.
 Arrange the citations alphabetically.
 Use at least three sources from the
Chapman Library databases, but you can
use as many as you want.
 Do not use general encyclopedia sources.
 Do not use web pages.
 Online articles are allowed.

COMPONENT BY
COMPONENT
Each Element Is Important.
MOTIVATOR

The motivator catches your readers’ attention and
makes them want to keep reading.
 3 effective types of motivators
 a brief story (such as a narrative example
which must be documented)
 the opposite opinion (can be specific or
general, only documented if from a source)
 an interesting fact (such as a statistic which
must be documented)
THESIS STATEMENT
 The
most important sentence in the
essay.
 It states an opinion the essay will
prove.
 It serves as the foundation of the essay.
 It is your opinion, and will never be
documented.
BLUEPRINT





The blueprint lists the three main points of the
essay.
The blueprint is optional.
It can add a sense of organization to the essay.
It can emphasize the main points through
repetition.
It is never documented because it is your
organization for your ideas.
TOPIC SENTENCE
First sentence in a body paragraph.
 3 necessary elements in each topic sentence
 Main idea to support the thesis statement
 Reminder of the opinion in the thesis
statement
 Transition
 Topic sentences are always your ideas and
should never be documented.

SPECIFIC SUPPORTS





Specific supports provide specific evidence that
the topic sentence is true.
Evidence comes from sources and must be
documented
Each body paragraph must have a minimum of
three specific supports from at least three sources.
Every specific support must be accompanied by
explanation
Each body paragraph will have a minimum of
seven sentences.
RESTATED THESIS
STATEMENT
 Expresses
the same opinion as the
thesis statement.
 Expresses it in a new and
interesting way.
 Expresses your idea and is not
documented.
CLINCHER
 The
final chance to drive your point
home.
 Sometimes a reminder of the motivator
makes an effective clincher.
 The clincher should be documented
only if it comes from a source.