1. Understanding Essay Structure & Organization
5 Paragraph
Essay
Understanding Essay Structure & Organization
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2. Writing a 5 paragraph essay is just like wearing a suit!
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3. Before Starting Your Essay (Or “Putting On Your Suit”)
1. Brainstorm for ideas
2. Choose one idea that you can support
3. Research
4. Organize your ideas into an outline
(See next slides for HOW)
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4. Your Introduction
Your Introduction is very important. Think of it as the ‘Brain’ if your essay. In your introduction you should have the following:
Your hook (a statement, question, idea to catch your reader’s attention)
2. Your thesis statement
(the main argument of your essay)
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5. Thesis Statement Example
John's strained relationship with his father is the most important contributing factor to his negative personality traits. This is demonstrated in his language, actions, and relationships with other characters.
The main argument being made here is that John's father leaving is the most important influence on his personality. The three points that will be elaborated on in the next paragraphs are underlined.
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6. Body Paragraphs
Think of the body of the essay as the suit itself! This is where most of the information and details are found. There should be 3 body paragraphs
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7. Body Paragraphs In each paragraph do the following:
State your first example/reason/argument from your introductory paragraph
2. List two or three specific details which relate to the argument
3. Provide support with examples, quotes, statistics, evidence etc
3. Conclude the paragraph
Continue this in the other body paragraphs.
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8. This is how each of the body paragraphs would be organized:
Example
This is how each of the body paragraphs would be organized:
Topic Sentence: John exhibits the impact of his father leaving through his language.
Explanation
Supporting Details
Quotes
Evidence
Analysis
Concluding sentence: It is clear that language shows the significance of his father's abandonment.
This pattern continues for the other body paragraphs (actions, relationships) with the next points made in the thesis
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9. Conclusion
Example
Think of the conclusion of the essay as the shoes! It is the "finishing touch" of the essay.
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10. Conclusion Summarizing the main points of your essay
Your conclusion wraps up your argument by doing the following:
Summarizing the main points of your essay
Giving advice, making predictions, or drawing conclusions
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11. Restate the main argument:
Conclusion
Example
Restate the main argument:
After careful examination, it is evident that John's actions, language, and relationships convey a sense of abandonment.
Then, to conclude the essay perhaps make a prediction about John's future development, give advice to your reader, or draw conclusions that you made through your research
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12. Recap of Organization Introduction
(includes hook & thesis - mentions 3 main points)
Body 1
Gives support and evidence to the 1st main points
Body 2
Gives support and evidence to the 2nd main point
Body 3
Gives support and evidence to the 3rd main point
Conclusion
Restates thesis and wraps up loose ends
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