THE FIVE-PARAGRAPH
ESSAY
A classic format for compositions is the five-paragraph essay. It is
not the only format for writing an essay, of course, but it is a useful
model for you to keep in mind, especially as you begin to develop
your composition skills. The following material is adapted from a
handout prepared by Harry Livermore for his high school English
classes at Cook High School in Adel, Georgia. It is used here with
his permission.
Introduction:
Introductory Paragraph
See, first, Writing Introductory Paragraphs for different ways of getting your
reader involved in your essay. The introductory paragraph should also include the thesis
statement, a kind of mini-outline for the paper: it tells the reader what the essay is about.
The last sentence of this paragraph must also contain a transitional "hook" which moves
the reader to the first paragraph of the body of the paper.
Body:
Body - First paragraph:
The first paragraph of the body should contain the strongest argument, most
significant example, cleverest illustration, or an obvious beginning point. The first
sentence of this paragraph should include the "reverse hook" which ties in with the
transitional hook at the end of the introductory paragraph. The topic for this paragraph
should be in the first or second sentence. This topic should relate to the thesis statement
in the introductory paragraph. The last sentence in this paragraph should include a
transitional hook to tie into the second paragraph of the body.
Body - Second paragraph:
THE FIVE-PARAGRAPH
ESSAY
A classic format for compositions is the five-paragraph essay. It is
not the only format for writing an essay, of course, but it is a useful
model for you to keep in mind, especially as you begin to develop
your composition skills. The following material is adapted from a
handout prepared by Harry Livermore for his high school English
classes at Cook High School in Adel, Georgia. It is used here with
his permission.
Introduction:
Introductory Paragraph
See, first, Writing Introductory Paragraphs for different ways of getting your
reader involved in your essay. The introductory paragraph should also include the thesis
statement, a kind of mini-outline for the paper: it tells the reader what the essay is about.
The last sentence of this paragraph must also contain a transitional "hook" which moves
the reader to the first paragraph of the body of the paper.
Body:
Body - First paragraph:
The first paragraph of the body should contain the strongest argument, most
significant example, cleverest illustration, or an obvious beginning point. The first
sentence of this paragraph should include the "reverse hook" which ties in with the
transitional hook at the end of the introductory paragraph. The topic for this paragraph
should be in the first or second sentence. This topic should relate to the thesis statement
in the introductory paragraph. The last sentence in this paragraph should include a
transitional hook to tie into the second paragraph of the body.
Body - Second paragraph:
The second paragraph of the body should contain the second strongest argument,
Second most significant example, second cleverest illustration, or an obvious follow up
the first paragraph in the body. The first sentence of this paragraph should include the
reverse hook which ties in with the transitional hook at the end of the first paragraph of
the body. The topic for this paragraph should be in the first or second sentence. This topic
should relate to the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph. The last sentence in
this paragraph should include a transitional hook to tie into the third paragraph of the
body
Body - Third paragraph:
The third paragraph of the body should contain the weakest argument, weakest
example, weakest illustration, or an obvious follow up to the second paragraph in the
body. The first sentence of this paragraph should include the reverse hook which ties in
with the transitional hook at the end of the second paragraph. The topic for this paragraph
should be in the first or second sentence. This topic should relate to the thesis statement
in the introductory paragraph. The last sentence in this paragraph should include a
transitional concluding hook that signals the reader that this is the final major point being
made in this paper. This hook also leads into the last, or concluding, paragraph.
Conclusion:
Concluding paragraph:
This paragraph should include the following:
1. an allusion to the pattern used in the introductory paragraph,
2. a restatement of the thesis statement, using some of the original language or
language that "echoes" the original language. (The restatement, however,
must not be a duplicate thesis statement.)
3. a summary of the three main points from the body of the paper.
4. a final statement that gives the reader signals that the discussion has come to
an end. (This final statement may be a "call to action" in an persuasive
paper.)
A Sample Paper
Stephen King, creator of such
The introductory paragraph
The second paragraph of the body should contain the second strongest argument,
Second most significant example, second cleverest illustration, or an obvious follow up
the first paragraph in the body. The first sentence of this paragraph should include the
reverse hook which ties in with the transitional hook at the end of the first paragraph of
the body. The topic for this paragraph should be in the first or second sentence. This topic
should relate to the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph. The last sentence in
this paragraph should include a transitional hook to tie into the third paragraph of the
body
Body - Third paragraph:
The third paragraph of the body should contain the weakest argument, weakest
example, weakest illustration, or an obvious follow up to the second paragraph in the
body. The first sentence of this paragraph should include the reverse hook which ties in
with the transitional hook at the end of the second paragraph. The topic for this paragraph
should be in the first or second sentence. This topic should relate to the thesis statement
in the introductory paragraph. The last sentence in this paragraph should include a
transitional concluding hook that signals the reader that this is the final major point being
made in this paper. This hook also leads into the last, or concluding, paragraph.
Conclusion:
Concluding paragraph:
This paragraph should include the following:
1. an allusion to the pattern used in the introductory paragraph,
2. a restatement of the thesis statement, using some of the original language or
language that "echoes" the original language. (The restatement, however,
must not be a duplicate thesis statement.)
3. a summary of the three main points from the body of the paper.
4. a final statement that gives the reader signals that the discussion has come to
an end. (This final statement may be a "call to action" in an persuasive
paper.)
A Sample Paper
Stephen King, creator of such
The introductory paragraph
stories as Carrie and Pet Sematary,
stated that the Edgar Allan Poe
includes a paraphrase of something
stories he read as a child gave him
said by a famous person in order to
get the reader's attention. The
the inspiration and instruction he
second sentence leads up to the
needed to become the writer that he
thesis statement which is the third
is. "Poe, as does Stephen King, fills
sentence. The thesis statement
the reader's imagination with the
(sentence 3) presents topic of the
images that he wishes the reader to
paper to the reader and provides a
see, hear, and feel. 'His use of vivid, mini-outline. The topic is Poe's use
concrete visual imagery to present
of visual imagery. The mini- outline
both static and dynamic settings and tells the reader that this paper will
to describe people is part of his
present Poe's use of imagery in three
technique. "Poe's short story "The
places in his writing: (1) description
Tell-Tale Heart" is a story about a
of static setting; (2) description of
young man who kills an old man dynamic setting; and (3) description
who cares for him, dismembers the
of a person. The last sentence of the
corpse, then goes mad when he
paragraph uses the words
thinks he hears the old man's heart
"manipulation" and "senses" as
beating beneath the floor boards transitional hooks.
under his feet as he sits and
discusses the old man's absence
with the police. 'In "The Tell-Tale
Heart," a careful reader can observe
Poe's skillful manipulation of the
senses.
The sense of sight, the primary In the first sentence of the second
sense, is particularly susceptible to paragraph (first paragraph of the
manipulation. In "The Tell-Tale body) the words "sense" and
Heart," Poe uses the following "manipulation" are used to hook
image to describe a static scene: into the end of the introductory
"His room was as black as pitch paragraph. The first part of the
with the thick darkness ..." Poe second sentence provides the topic
used the words "black," "pitch," and for this paragraph--imagery in a
"thick darkness" not only to show static scene. Then a quotation from
the reader the condition of the old "The Tell-Tale Heart" is presented
man's room, but also to make the and briefly discussed. The last
reader feel the darkness." 3"Thick" sentence of this paragraph uses the
is a word that is not usually expressions "sense of feeling" and
associated with color (darkness), yet "sense of sight" as hooks for leading
in using it, Poe stimulates the
into the third paragraph.
reader's sense of feeling as well as
his sense of sight.
Further on in the story, Poe uses a
The first sentence of the third
Using the three paragraph model, compose a narrative essay telling me something you
deem significant about yourself. Since this essay is first person, you may use "I." Make
sure you provide supporting details in your body paragraph.
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