The Five-Paragraph Essay

The five-paragraph essay is the workhorse format for tests and most class assignments. Master this shape and you can write a clean essay under pressure, every time.

1. 1Introduction: open with a hook to grab attention, give a little background, and end with your thesis statement.
2. 2Body paragraph one: state your first supporting point, give evidence such as a quote or example, then explain how it proves your thesis.
3. 3Body paragraph two: state your second point, give evidence, and explain it the same way.
4. 4Body paragraph three: state your strongest point last, give evidence, and explain it.
5. 5Conclusion: restate your thesis in fresh words, sum up your three points, and end with a final thought that leaves the reader something to think about.

The shape of every body paragraph

• ●Topic sentence: the point this paragraph proves.
• ●Evidence: a quote, fact, or detail from the text.
• ●Explanation: a sentence or two saying how the evidence supports your thesis. This is the part students skip and it costs them.
• ●Transition: a phrase that leads into the next paragraph.