The Five Paragraph Essay Essay Structures: The Five Paragraph Essay

The Body of an Essay: The introduction paragraph: A thesis statement. Three topics. Transition sentence. Three body paragraphs: One topic sentence that grabs reader’s attention. Three supporting sentences. One transition sentences. The concluding paragraph: Restate thesis statement. Restate three topics. One concluding sentence that wraps up final thoughts.

The Introduction Paragraph: Should be interesting, but on topic. Thesis statement. Should tell the reader what the essay is about without “announcing the topic”. Example: “There are many similarities and differences in ‘Cinderella’ and ‘The Necklace’ however the differences are what make the theme obvious.” Three topics. These organize what your body paragraphs are going to be. Example: “While these similarities and differences cover a variety of different things, the comparisons between the godmothers, the slippers, and the carriages are the most important.” Transition sentence. All paragraphs need transitions between one and the next. The introduction is no different. This leads the reader into the next idea in a natural way that makes sense.

The three body paragraphs: One topic sentence that grabs reader’s attention. This should refer to the first of the three topics mentioned in the introduction paragraph. For example: “Many girls wish for a fairy godmother to make all their problems go away. Cinderella didn’t realize she started the trend…” Three supporting sentences. All these sentences need to support your topic sentence. Transition sentence

The Concluding Paragraph Restate Thesis Statement Do not restate this exactly how it is written in introduction paragraph. Use different words. Restate Three Topics Same rules apply. Use different words. Your final sentence should be a “wrap-up” sentence that basically explains why your thesis was important. For example: “Although ‘Cinderella’ and ‘The Necklace’ are two different stories with two different characters, it is their differences that makes a reader realize that the desire to improve oneself is timeless.”

In regards to Comparison/Contrast Essays… So What? In regards to Comparison/Contrast Essays…

Introduction Paragraphs Your thesis statements should state whether you are going to focus on the similarities or the differences – but not to the exclusion of the other. Meaning? You are still going to discuss the other in your essay, but you will emphasize the one you want to focus on.

Relevant vs. Irrelevant Details Supporting details that related to main idea – which is either the similarities or the differences. Irrelevant Details: Details that will throw the reader off and weaken the essay. In this case: Any unnecessary detail regarding story plotlines.

The Point to the Telling: There should be direction as to why you are comparing or contrasting. Why is it important that the stories are different or similar? This would be part of your thesis. Example: There are many similarities and differences in ‘Cinderella’ and ‘The Necklace’ however the differences are what make the theme obvious. Thesis Although ‘Cinderella’ and ‘The Necklace’ are two different stories with two different characters, it is their differences that makes a reader realize that the desire to improve oneself is timeless.