WRITING The Three- Point, Five Paragraph Essay

Three Parts  Introductory Paragraph  Body Paragraphs  Conclusion

Writing The Introductory Paragraph

It’s all about Catching the Reader's Interest

Three Parts Introduction Tone Thesis Statement

a.k.a. “The Hook” A HOOK is an ATTENTION GETTING Introduction!

Five Introductions  Historical Review  Anecdotal  Surprising Statement  Name Dropping  Declarative

Historical Review: Start with background information

Anecdotal Begin with a story or example

Surprising Statement State a startling fact or adopt an usual position

Name Dropping Mention a famous person or use an appropriate quotation

Declarative Begin with a simple statement of your thesis

TONE TONE is the feeling you convey about the topic. Choose and write your introduction in a way that will set the tone of the essay.

THESIS STATEMENT The main idea, l ike the topic sentence in a paragraph. It lets the reader know exactly what you’ll be writing about and how you intend to present it in three points.

NO LOUSY WRITING Hello, my name is… I am writing about… My next paragraph is about… Well, …

Writing Body Paragraphs

Body Paragraphs Body Paragraphs Your job: Explain three points about your thesis in three paragraphs. Why three? It’s a good number. You could try for four, but beyond that is TOO much. Keep it simple!

Body Paragraphs Body Paragraphs Develop the main points of the composition by giving support to the main idea in the thesis.

A Body Paragraph… A Body Paragraph… 1. Starts with a transition.

A Body Paragraph… A Body Paragraph… 2. Has a topic sentence that contains an appropriate idea from thesis.

3. Contains one to three explanatory sentences. A Body Paragraph… A Body Paragraph…

4. Contains two to four sentences with specific details. A Body Paragraph… A Body Paragraph…

5. Keeps the reader interested with: - details that are colorful, interesting and appropriate. - unity and coherence A Body Paragraph…

6. Ends with a good closing sentence. A Body Paragraph…

Again, NO LOUSY WRITING Next I am going to tell you… In this paragraph I am writing about… That is all I have to say about… Now,… Well…

Writing The Conclusion

Don’t leave your reader HANGING! The CONCLUSION

Leave two things:  A final impression  A sense of completeness …How?

Six Conclusions  Say it again!  Sum it up!  Show it!  Speak it!  Stir it up!  Send it!

Say it again! Restate your main idea in newer, stronger words.

Sum it up! Summarize your major points

Show it! Close with a final idea or example

Speak it! End with a final thought or comment on the topic

Stir it up! Call on your readers to take action

Send it! Make a reference to your introduction

NO LOUSY CONCLUSIONS! That’s all I have to say about… Well, … I hope you liked this…

WRITING Good Luck!