The Five Paragraph Essay

The Five Paragraph Essay
The five paragraph essay measures a student's basic writing skills, and is often a timed exercise.
Use this Guide to help you practice and succeed at this form of writing.
Getting started means getting organized:
Analyze the assignment; determine what is required.
With a highlighter, note important words that define the topic.
Then organize your plan
For example, you have been given this writing prompt:
You have a present that was really memorable. It could have been given for an important occasion or just for no reason at all. Tell us about the present and why it was memorable. Include the reason it was given, a description of it, and how you felt when you got it.
The objective is to write a narrative essay about this present you were given
The subject is a memorable present
The three main subtopics are: * the reason it was given * a description of it * and how you felt when you got it
Outline your five paragraph essay; include these elements:
Introductory Paragraph
General Topic Sentence: memorable present 1. Subtopic One: the reason it was given 2. Subtopic Two: a description of it 3. Subtopic Three: how you felt when you got it 4. (Transition)
First Supporting Paragraph 1. Restate Subtopic One 2. Supporting Details or Examples 3. (Transition)
Second Supporting Paragraph 1. Restate Subtopic Two 2. Supporting Details or Examples 3. (Transition)
Third Supporting Paragraph 1. Restate Subtopic Three 2. Supporting Details or Examples 3. (Transition)
Closing or Summary Paragraph 1. Synthesis and conclusion of the thesis 2. Rephrasing main topic and subtopics.