The Definition of 5-Paragraph Essay The 5-paragraph essay is the most common academic task a student may face. You can meet it in such tests as TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, and the SAT. Because the majority of these examinations restrict the student in time, you should be ready for the writing section. Try to memorize the structure of the 5-paragraph academic paper on any topic. It makes it possible to complete the assignments faster and efficiently. The best part of the five- paragraph essay is that it is rather flexible regarding the topic choice and various writing formats.

There are six basic types of five-paragraph academic papers There are six basic types of five-paragraph academic papers. You should be aware of each. Persuasive Argumentative Expository Narrative Cause and Effect Compare and Contrast All of these 5-paragraph essays should stick to the five paragraph structure!

Examples of Good Essay Topics Try to choose the best topic from the pool of good topic ideas. Do we learn from other people's mistakes? Who is responsible for our destiny? Is it ethical to use animals for tests? What are the advantages of allowing same-sex marriage? How can the government minimize the criminal activity? Who must be punished to death? Is LSD that dangerous as most people think? Why should education become entirely free? These are topics which students usually choose. There are much more topics on different academic disciplines so that you may come up with your own suggestions. Examples of Good Essay Topics

Any academic 5-paragraph essay is limited to the following organization: Introduction paragraph with thesis Three body paragraphs Conclusion paragraph References page Catch the eye of your reader with an effective introduction to your topic. Each paragraph of the body must contain a specific main point about the topic known as an argument. Sum up your writing in conclusion. The 5-paragraph essays usually start out very broad, get narrower, and end up broad as well. Writing Your Outline

Introduction paragraph This paragraph should contain 3-5 sentences. This paragraph predetermines the entire structure. The first sentence is a hook sentence. The last sentence is your thesis statement. The hook of the paragraph may be a rhetorical question, shocking fact, joke, quote, or some real life experience. Introduction paragraph

E.g. If you want to talk about the topic of racial discrimination and human rights, you can start with something like: "Why should we treat people with the different color of skin worse? Don't they have the same two legs and two hands?" There is no need to answer this question so that it can be defined as a rhetorical question.

Short Introduction of Supporting Arguments (up to three) Introduce your arguments in one paragraph (3 sentences). No need for details You may pretend that you're writing a video trailer when working on this part. Example: Establishing more organizations that defend the rights of minorities is one of the ways to resist racial discrimination. Short Introduction of Supporting Arguments (up to three)

Thesis Statement It is your strongest claim. The rest of the 5-paragraph essay should be based on your thesis statement. It is better to change thesis if you discover that your body paragraphs are not related to it. Thesis Statement

Body Paragraphs (5-7 sentences each) Involve 3-5 arguments to defend your thesis statement. Stick to this general structure of the body paragraphs: Introduction sentence (1), Evidence/Arguments (3-5), Conclusion (1). THE FORMAT FOR ALL BODY PARAGRAPHS REMAINS THE SAME Body Paragraphs (5-7 sentences each)

KEY TIP: Check the order of your arguments: First body paragraph is dedicated to the most powerful point The second paragraph may contain the weakest point Leave another strong argument for the last body paragraph KEY TIP: Check the order of your arguments:

Conclusion paragraph (up to 5 sentences): The last few sentences of this paragraph should reflect the nature of your entire text. Begin with the restated thesis. Recall all 3-5 supporting arguments. Paraphrase each main point to speed up the process. Avoid using citations in this paragraph. Join similar arguments together in one sentence. Conclusion paragraph (up to 5 sentences):

The final stage is the so-called concluding paragraph hook The final stage is the so-called concluding paragraph hook. You may include it or not. It is a good idea to finish your writing with something your reader can't expect. Surprise the readers with the sudden question for continuous discussion or unknown fact. In other words, put some sugar and spice to make the dish tastier. "Did you know that Oslo was called the most expensive city of the year?"

Overall Grading Rubric Focus: Did the writer prove their thesis effectively? Were all the objectives met successfully? Organization: What about the way 5-paragraph essay flows? Are there the smooth transitions between paragraphs? Are they logical? Did the author follow the outline and general writing standards? Conventions: Is there any wordiness (verbose) in the text? Are there some grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors? Is the text easy to read? Style: Did the student use high-level vocabulary? Was she/he creative enough? Content: Was the student right when defending his/her arguments? Was their evidence logical and factual? Did she/he develop powerful, persuasive arguments?