1. The Five-Paragraph Essay: Template for College Writing
Dr. Harold William Halbert

2. How Many of You Remember the Five-Paragraph Essay?
Who taught it to you?
What were the major elements?
What good was it?

3. Key Elements Introduction Body Paragraph (Claim 1)
Conclusion

4. EXPANDED OUTLINE Introduction A “Hook” (whatever that was)
Background Information on subject
Thesis (the argument you are making)
Preview of 3 Pieces of Evidence or Claims
Springboard (restatement of thesis)
Body Paragraph (Claim 1)
A transition
A central claim
3 details to flesh out claim
Conclusion to paragraph
Body Paragraph (Claim 2) SAME
Body Paragraph (Claim 3) SAME
Conclusion
Summation transition (“In Conclusion”)
Restatement of thesis
Review of 3 pieces of evidence
Synthesis of claim + evidence applied to broader issue
EXPANDED OUTLINE

5. Official Uses of Five-Paragraph Essay
English class essay (book reviews, short arguments, etc.)
In-class essay exams
SAT Writing assessment
Some editorial or newspaper column pieces

6. REAL Purpose of Five Paragraph Essay
Easy template to American academic writing expectations
Easy to teach
Easy to grade
Easy to remember
Easy to finish

7. PROBLEM: Never Shown Broader Application
Instead of thinking “paragraphs,” think “sections”
Instead of thinking “five,” think “Introduction--Body--Conclusion”
Better still, think
“Context/Claim, Evidence, Synthesis”

8. = Five-Paragraphs are just a template: INTRODUCTION CONTEXT & ARGUMENT
BODY PARAGRAPH #1
BODY OF EVIDENCE
BODY PARAGRAPH #2
BODY PARAGRAPH #3
CONCLUSION
SYNTHESIS

9. Still Need Same Basic Elements
Introduction
Context & Claim
Create Hook
Establish background context for writing
Give thesis
Preview evidence/organization
Springboard
Body Paragraphs
Evidence
Transition from prior section
Single, clear claim for section
Strong details supporting claim
Mini-conclusion on claim
Conclusion
Synthesis
Restate central claim
Review evidence
Apply evidence and claim to context to create broader significance

10. MAKE YOUR ESSAY LIKE A HAMBURGER WITH LARGE FRIESC T S R E A S O N I N C D E T S E X A M P L S S T A I C
A “Hook” (Attention Getter)
Background Information on subject
Thesis (the argument you are making)
Preview of 3 Pieces of Evidence or Claims
A transition
A central claim (topic sentence)
3 details to flesh out claim
Conclusion to paragraph
Introduction
A transition
A central claim (topic sentence)
3 details to flesh out claim
Conclusion to paragraph
FRIES
Body # 3
Body # 2
Body # 3
A transition
A central claim (topic sentence)
3 details to flesh out claim
Conclusion to paragraph
Conclusion
Summation transition (“In Conclusion”)
Restatement of thesis
Review of 3 pieces of evidence
Synthesis of claim + evidence applied to broader issue