How to write a 5 paragraph essay

What are the 3 parts? 0 Introduction-1 paragraph 0 Body-3 paragraphs 0 Conclusion-1 paragraph

Parts of a Introduction 1. Lead/Attention Getter: Gets the reader’s attention and explains the topic 2. Structure: Gives background of what you will write about 3. Thesis: gives your argument or the important reason why you are writing

What do you have to do when you write your lead? 1. Get the reader’s attention 2. Present your topic 3. Connect with your audience

Types of Leads 1. Question

WHAT IF I COULD OFFER EACH OF YOU $500,000?

NO, you will not have to do anything illegal!!!

So, would you like to know how to get it?

GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL!!!! 0 Studies show that people who graduate from high school will earn at least $500,000 more in their lifetime than people who do not. 0 Staying in school will determine whether or not you get the $500,000.

Well, did I get your attention? 0 This is an example of one way to hook your reader in the introduction: asking a question. 0 You can ask a rhetorical question that draws the reader into wanting to read further to discover the answer to the question. 0 Ask an interesting question that you will answer in your essay.

More examples of question leads

Have you ever wondered how you would survive if you found yourself alone in the jungle? How would you defend yourself against predators? What would you eat? Where would you find water? Read Lord of the Flies to see just how a group of teenagers manage to survive! Evaluative Writing

Dear Rodney, Lamont? Come in Lamont. Lamont, are you there? Over. Rodney, I am just practicing for the Airforce. You will be dying to join after reading The U.S. Airforce! Learn all about it. Evaluative Writing

Practice Time! For example: Read the following list of questions about requiring students to wear uniforms in an effort to prevent students from wearing gang colors to school.

Individually write down an answer to the following questions. 0 Do you hate school uniforms? 0 What will school uniforms do to student ’ s sense of individuality? 0 Who stands to benefit from school uniforms?

Discuss! Discuss! 1. Take a moment to share your responses to each question. 2. Which question(s) bring out the most information? 3. Which question(s) bring out the least information? 4. How were some questions more interesting than others? 5. How did some questions bring out a strong reaction in you rather than a statement might have? Explain why. 6. In your opinion, what question is most effective and why?

Sample Questions to AVOID! AVOID meaningless questions that don ’ t ask the reader to think; a question you don ’ t expect the reader to answer. Examples of Meaningless Questions 0 “ Do you hate school uniforms? I do. ” 0 “ Do you have a favorite season? Well I do. ” 0 “ Have you ever wondered why people believe in school uniforms? Well, I ’ ll tell you. ”

Types of leads 1. Question 2. Anecdote : a personal story

“ 10, 9, 8, 7, 6… ” It was my first basketball game and I had the ball with the clock ticking away. I was standing on top of the world. However, to get to that point, I had to go through pre-game jitters, the embarrassing shot, and the opponent ’ s hard stares. Yes, it takes determination to succeed.

0 Imagine a small child crying at the county fair because they cannot ride the rides the big kids do. Despite their wailing, the parent does not budge. In a similar fashion…

Use a Personal Experience/Anecdote I walked into the cold, white room on April 23, The beeping of the machines echoed immensely in my head and I knew that noise would haunt me for the rest of my life. I walked in further to join my family that stood beside the bed. I hung my head in grief and through tears got one last look.

I bent over and gently whispered, "Good-bye Grandma, I love you." It was then the nurse made the machines make a more painful sound; the sound of silence. This is the act of euthanasia which is the hardest decision for a family to make when the choice is suffering in life or inflicting immediate death.

I It’s your turn to practice! Write an introduction using either a question or a personal experience.

Remember to:  Get the reader’s attention  Present your topic and purpose  Connect with your audience

0 The school has decided to eliminate all after school sports. 0 You are going to write a letter to the principal to convince her to keep after school sports 0 Write a lead to get her attention!

Share! 0 With a partner 0 Each group shares 1 example

WHAT PHRASE IS THIS GREAT CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER MOST FAMOUS FOR?

I Have a Dream

Types of Leads 1. Question 2. Anecdote 3. Quotation: something someone said

Quotation 0 Use a quotation that is well-known. 0 Someone famous 0 From a song 0 From a movie 0 Or something you say

Examples of Famous Quotes 0 “ A penny saved is a penny earned. ” –Benjamin Franklin 0 “ All that glitters is not gold. ” – Shakespeare Student Example: John F. Kennedy once said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." I think today's Americans have forgotten Kennedy's message. We expect our country to take care of us, but we are not taking care of our country.

Don’t forget to say who said your quote! 0 Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Brainstorm quotes 0 Think of a quote you know. If you don’t, it’s your homework to bring one in for next time.

Practice! 0 Tardies to class are disrupting instruction, leaving unfinished class work to be completed at home. Although rules and consequences were set at the beginning of the year, students are still arriving late. 0 Write a letter to your principal in which you suggest a solution to the problem of tardies to class. Now, YOU write a lead for this prompt using a quote.

Share! 0 With your partner 0 1 per group to the class

Types of Leads 1. Question 2. Anecdote 3. Quotation 4. Definition: use a definition of the thing you are talking about from a dictionary textbook or your own

Example Definition Example: According to Webster's Dictionary, government is defined as the authority that serves the people and acts on their behalf. How can the government know what the people want if the people do not vote? If we do not vote, the government may act on its own behalf instead of on the behalf of the people.

Types of Leads 1. Question 2. Anecdote 3. Quotation 4. Definition 5. Opinion: Write what you think about something

Give Your Opinion Come on, you guys do this all the time, right? So, instell the reader what you think about it in the introduction. Example “There is no question cell phones should be allowed at school.”

Types of Leads 1. Question 2. Anecdote 3. Quotation 4. Definition 5. Opinion 6. Surprising statement or fact: start with a surprising statement or surprising fact

Examples Although the birthday ditty, “Happy Birthday to You,” was written in 1883, the copyright owner earns about $2 million each year for use of the song. Your body is creating and killing 15 million red blood cells each second. Did you know that, at birth, the human body has about 275 bones, but adults have only about 206 bones?

Types of Leads 1. Question 2. Anecdote 3. Quotation 4. Definition 5. Opinion 6. Surprising statement or fact 7. Vivid description: give a specific description or paint a picture or your topic

Example Vivid Description 0 The sweet smell of cotton candy floats in the air. Bumper cars collide in the distance. There is nothing like the county fair.

Do NOT write “ In this essay… ” “ I am going to tell you about… ” “ I will write about… ” “ The first reason is… ” “ The second reason is… ”

Introductions EXIT An introduction should capture a reader’s interest and tell what the writing will be about. PREVIOUS MENU Why is the second introduction more successful than the first? Click on the i-icons to find out. It had been rumbling and smoking for months, but no one expected such a violent explosion. Then, on August 27 and 28, 1883, a thunderous eruption blew the island apart and took the lives of more than 36,000 people. The eruption of Krakatoa, a volcanic island in Indonesia, was one of the most violent natural events ever witnessed by humans. In August 1883, Krakatoa volcano in Indonesia erupted. It was a big eruption, and many people died as a result. i i Next

Homework write 3 different leads for 3 different topics 1. Write a letter to a friend recommending that he or she reads your favorite book or movie. (evaluation) 2. Write a letter to someone who can help make a difference in conserving energy. (problem solution) 3. You have 3 tests due on the same day in Science, English, and Social studies. Write to your teachers explaining that this is impossible.

Sample Writing Topics Compose a letter to a friend recommending that he or she reads your favorite book or movie. (evaluation) Think of one way someone can help make a difference in conserving energy. The person may be a parent, friend, school official, city, state or base official. Write a letter to a person who can help solve a problem. Carefully describe the problem and your proposed solution. (problem solution)

Structure 0 Pretend your reader doesn’t know about your topic 0 What will you need to tell them? 0 What will your 3 body paragraphs be about?

0 Structure tells the reader what your body paragraphs will be about. 0 Do NOT say: 0 I will write about… 0 I’m going to tell you about… 0 I’m going to talk about…

Example structures 0 Dolphins show their intelligence because they can be trained, they communicate with each other, and they are compassionate. 0 If you travel to Guatemala you will eat wonderful food, experience many cultural activities, and see the beautiful land.

Example Structures 0 My dad always helps others, he teaches me to be a good person, and he spends time with me. 0 Smoking can kill you, can harm those around you, and it is addictive and difficult to stop once started

Thesis 0 Main argument 0 Why this topic is important to you

Example Thesis 0 Smoking should be illegal. 0 Cell phones should be allowed during class time. 0 Hawaii is my favorite place to visit. 0 My grandma is my hero.

How to write the Body Paragraphs

Parts of the Body 1. Topic Sentence 2. Detail 3. Detail 4. Detail

Topic Sentence 0 A topic sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is going to be about. 0 Example: One reason why schools should not enforce random locker checks is because it is an invasion of student privacy.

Details 0 You need to give at least 3 in each paragraph!

Idea & Details Strategy

What, Why, How 0 What do you think? 0 Why do you think it? 0 How do you know?

What do you think? 0 One reason dolphins show their intelligence is because they can be trained.

Why do I think it? 0 Dolphins can learn to do many tricks if you reward them with fish.

How do I know? 0 I visited the Minnesota Zoo and saw how trainers teach dolphins. The trainer will blow a whistle and do a gesture which signals the dolphin to to a trick. I saw the dolphins wave, flip, and jump through hoops.

All together 0 One reason dolphins show their intelligence is because they can be trained.(WHAT) Dolphins can learn to do many tricks if you reward them with fish. (WHY) I visited the Minnesota Zoo and saw how trainers teach dolphins. The trainer will blow a whistle and do a gesture which signals the dolphin to to a trick. I saw the dolphins wave, flip, and jump through hoops. (HOW)

Parts of a Conclusion 1. Restate Thesis: Say your thesis again in new words 2. Restate structure: Summarize what you said 3. Closing Sentence: End with a sentence that your reader will remember. Give them something to think about!

Example 0 Do you have a friend who loves you? Well, I did. Her name was Ann. She was a very close friend of mine. She was almost like family to me. Ann was very kind and I loved her very much. 0 My heart broke. Ann was no longer there with me. Now, it’s been a year since Ann’s death, but I still dream about her. Now it’s hard without her. My whole life has changed without Ann, and I really miss her. I know that everywhere I go there will always be a spot in my heart for Ann!

Example 0 Each year, I have the privilege of venturing to the culturally rich Guatemala. If you travel to Guatemala you will eat wonderful food, experience many cultural activities, and see the beautiful land. Guatemala is one of my favorite things to do each year. 0 Every year that I go to Guatemala I learn something new. It may be a new food, or a new salsa move, or a seeing a new volcano. No matter what, I always will love Guatemala.

Rewrite this thesis 0 If I won the lottery, this is what I would do with the money.

Rewrite this structure 0 I would help people in need, travel the world, and give money to my family.

Your turn! With a partner. 0 The sand was hot on my feet as I looked out into the deep, blue ocean. I saw surfers cruising the waves, snorkelers looking at the fish, and a group of people playing sand volleyball. I would get to experience all of those things on my trip to Hawaii.

Copy this down! Homework time! 0 Sweet, sticky honey is so delicious, but it takes a lot of work to produce that little, yellow jar of honey. It takes 22, 700 honeybees to make one jar! All of the bees work together to make the honey, but each bee has a specific job. They could be the queen, a worker bee, or a drone. Honeybees are insects that are very productive and helpful to people.