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The Five Paragraph Essay
The five paragraph essay follows a defined format. The first paragraph
introduces us to the thesis of the essay and directs us to the three main supporting
subtopics. The second through fourth paragraphs are all similar in format. They
individually restate the subtopics, and are developed by giving supporting
information. The fifth and last paragraph restates the main thesis idea and reminds
the reader of the three main supporting ideas that were developed. All of these
paragraphs are important.
The introductory paragraph is the place in which the writer introduces the
reader to the topic. It is important to make this a clear and limited statement. This is
where the writer grabs the reader's attention. Because of its purpose, it is often the
first sentence of the paragraph. It is followed by three subtopics that develop the
thesis. Between this paragraph and all paragraphs of the essay, there needs to be
some kind of a transition word, phrase, or sentence.
Next, the body of the essay contains paragraphs two through four. They are all
similarly constructed. Their topic sentences are restatements, often in original form,
of the three supporting ideas presented in the first paragraph. The subtopic of each
of the body paragraphs is again supported by three or more supporting sentences.
These cement, in the reader's mind, the relevancy and relationship of each of the
subtopics to the thesis statement.
Finally, the fifth paragraph is the summary paragraph. It is important to restate
the thesis and three supporting ideas in an original and powerful manner as this is
the last chance the writer has to convince the reader of the validity of the
information presented. Because the purposes of the first and fifth paragraph are so
similar that some writers construct them at the same time. They will edit them, as
necessary, as they do with each and every part of the essay.
It is important to reiterate that each of the paragraphs is joined together by a
transition word, phrase or sentence. Transitions help the reader to follow the flow of
the logic and sequencing. All of the essay types follow this basic transition format.
However, there is more latitude with the narrative essay because of its nature.
To put it more visually, the structure model has been color coded and looks like
this:
Introductory Paragraph
General Topic Sentence
1. Subtopic One
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2. Subtopic Two
3. Subtopic Three
Transition
First Supporting Paragraph
Restate Subtopic One
1. First Supporting Detail or Example
2. Second Supporting Detail or Example
3. Third Supporting Detail or Example
Transition
Second Supporting Paragraph
Restate Subtopic Two
1. First Supporting Detail or Example
2. Second Supporting Detail or Example
3. Third Supporting Detail or Example
Transition
Third Supporting Paragraph
Restate Subtopic Three
1. First Supporting Detail or Example
2. Second Supporting Detail or Example
3. Third Supporting Detail or Example
Transition
Closing or Summary Paragraph
Synthesis of main topic
1. Synthesis of Subtopic One
2. Synthesis of Subtopic Two
Synthesis of Subtopic Three
2
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Use this Sample Basic Essay as a Model
The essay below demonstrates the principles of writing a basic essay. The
different parts of the essay have been labeled. The thesis statement is in bold,
the topic sentences are in italics, and each main point is underlined. When you
write your own essay, of course, you will not need to mark these parts of the
essay unless your teacher has asked you to do so. They are marked here just so
that you can more easily identify them.
"A dog is man's best friend." That common saying may contain some truth, but
dogs are not the only animal friend whose companionship people enjoy. For
many people, a cat is their best friend. Despite what dog lovers may believe,
cats make excellent housepets.
In the first place, people enjoy the companionship of cats. Many cats are
affectionate. They will snuggle up and ask to be petted, or scratched under the
chin. Who can resist a purring cat? If they're not feeling affectionate, cats are
generally quite playful. They love to chase balls and feathers, or just about
anything dangling from a string. They especially enjoy playing when their
owners are participating in the game. Contrary to popular opinion, cats can be
trained. Using rewards and punishments, just like with a dog, a cat can be
trained to avoid unwanted behavior or perform tricks. Cats will even fetch!
In the second place, cats are civilized members of the household. Unlike dogs,
cats do not bark or make other loud noises. Most cats don't even meow very
often. They generally lead a quiet existence. Cats also don't often have
"accidents." Mother cats train their kittens to use the litter box, and most cats
will use it without fail from that time on. Even stray cats usually understand the
concept when shown the box and will use it regularly. Cats do have claws, and
owners must make provision for this. A tall scratching post in a favorite cat
area of the house will often keep the cat content to leave the furniture alone. As
a last resort, of course, cats can be declawed.
Lastly, one of the most attractive features of cats as housepets is their ease of
care. Cats do not have to be walked. They get plenty of exercise in the house as
they play, and they do their business in the litter box. Cleaning a litter box is a
quick, painless procedure. Cats also take care of their own grooming. Bathing a
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cat is almost never necessary because under ordinary circumstances cats clean
themselves. Cats are more particular about personal cleanliness than people are.
In addition, cats can be left home alone for a few hours without fear. Unlike
some pets, most cats will not destroy the furnishings when left alone. They are
content to go about their usual activities until their owners return.
Cats are low maintenance, civilized companions. People who have small living
quarters or less time for pet care should appreciate these characteristics of cats.
However, many people who have plenty of space and time still opt to have a cat
because they love the cat personality. In many ways, cats are the ideal
housepet.
Edited Books
Edited Book:
For the Works Cited Page
Shelley, Mary Frankenstein. 1831. Ed. Johanna M. Smith. Boston: Bedford Books of St.
Martin's Press, 1992.
If your citations primarily refer to the work of the editor (Johanna Smith, in this case), to
the editor's notes or introduction, etc., use the editor's name to alphabetize the entry, as
follows:
Smith, Johanna M., ed. Frankenstein. By Mary Shelley. 1831. Boston: Bedford Books of
St. Martin's Press, 1992.
In-text Citation
An in-text citation for these books would work the same as a similar citation from other
books, except that you would use the editor/translator's name. If your reference is a
bibliography or other kind of compilation of resources, use the abbreviation comp. (for
compiler) instead of trans. or ed.
Part of a Book
When citing a foreword, introduction, preface, afterword, etc. (Please note the spelling of
these words!), begin your citation with the name of the person who wrote the foreword
(or whatever it is), then the word Foreword (or whatever it is), not underlined or
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italicized, followed by the title of the work, its author and the other publication
information (including the page numbers that include the piece you are citing):
For the Works Cited Page
Pepin, Ronald E. Foreword. The Saints of Diminished Capacity: Selected Poems, 19722000. By Charles Darling. Hartford: Capital Press, 2003. ii-ix.
(If Charles Darling had written his own foreword, only his last name would appear after
the word "By.") Use this same pattern for an introduction, preface, or afterword. If the
introduction or foreward has an actual title, include that title in quotation marks between
the author's name and the word Foreward or Introduction (or whatever):
Pepin, Ronald E. "Excellence: A New Chapter in Post-Modern American Verse."
Foreword. The Saints of Diminished Capacity: Selected Poems, 1972-2000. By
Charles Darling. Hartford: Capital Press, 2003. ii-ix.
Article in a Reference Book
If you know the author's name of an article you are citing, use that name as at the
beginning of your entry and as the alphabetizing element. If the article or listing you cite
is not signed (if you don't know the author's name), list the title first. If you are citing less
familiar resources (especially if there was only one edition of a given resource), it would
be a good idea to give full publication information.
For the Works Cited Page
Feinberg, Joe. "Freedom and Behavior Control." Encyclopedia of Bioethics, Ed. Warren
T. Reich. 4 vols. New York: Free Press, 1992.
"From OED to OAD." Oxford American Dictionary. 1980.
"Massolo, Arthur James." Who's Who in America. 48th ed. 1994.
"Money." Compton's Precyclopedia. 1977 ed.
Raju, P.T. "Religious Existentialism." An Encyclopedia of Religion. Ed. Vergilius T.A.
Ferm. 3 vols. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1968.
"Sybarite." The Oxford English Dictinary. 2nd ed. 1989.
"Tibia." Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Electronic ed., version 1.5, 1996.
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If you are citing several definitions from a dictionary, it is a good idea to establish within
the text of your paper the source you are using and then refer to that dictionary with an
abbreviation (OAD, for instance). Since a dictionary (or a similar resource) is invariably
arranged in alphabetical order, citing a page or volume number is unnecessary.
Incidentally, unless you are doing something really interesting with that definition, it is
probably not wise to begin a paper with a dictionary definition. Defining a key concept
may become the serious business of your essay, but beginning with a dictionary
definition is a cliché.
In-text Citation
Massolo was largely responsible for First Chicago's initial strong position in Malaysian
banking ("Massolo").
Shells were used as currency in many Mediterranean countries in the pre-Christian era
("Money").