1. The Five-Paragraph Essay
A Framework for
Expository Writing

2. Why Do We Write?

3. Different Kinds of Writing
We write for fun.
We write letters,
We write stories,
We write jokes, and
We write to share information
with our family or friends.

4. Different Kinds of Writing
Most school writing is expository writing and
Most school writing fits into a different category.

5. Expository Writing
The purpose of expository writing is to communicate ideas
The purpose of expository writing is to answer questions.

6. Expository Writing Gives information about a topic Explains ideas
Gives directions
Shows how to do something

7. Expository Writing Uses Transitions
Writer’s Express says:
“Expository writing uses transition words (such as first, second, and most importantly). These words help guide the reader through the explanation.”
Writer’s Express - A Handbook for Young Writers, Thinkers, and Learners ©1995

8. (Watch for the color-coding, it will help you organize your ideas.)
In school, your teacher gives you a prompt and tells you to write an expository essay:
“Write about your favorite pet.”
What do you do???
Don’t panic.
Follow this plan…
(Watch for the color-coding, it will help you organize your ideas.)

9. Start with your main idea or topic. use key words from the prompt
It’s Easy!
Expository writing isn’t difficult when you have a plan. Make it even easier: use a graphic organizer
Start with your main idea or topic.
use key words from the prompt

10. You ONLY Need Three Ideas...
It’s Easy!
You ONLY Need Three Ideas...
Begin with your main idea or your topic
Give three reasons that show your topic sentence is true and
Give three examples of each reason

11. It’s Easy! You ONLY Need Three Ideas...
Topic sentence
Show your topic sentence is true
Show examples of your reasons (Remember to show, not tell.)
That’s all you need for the start of a great essay!!!

12. Correct Paragraph Form
Topic Sentence
Three Examples
Conclusion
Five sentences

13. Each paragraph should have at least five sentences.
Use Paragraph Form
Each paragraph should have at least five sentences.
Topic Sentence
Three Examples
Conclusion
Five sentences

14. The Beginning - Your First Sentences
Start with a topic sentence that uses the key words from the prompt.
My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.

15. The Beginning Your First Sentences
Then write three reasons that prove the topic sentence is true.
My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo. He is a beautiful and easy to care for. Playing with him is lots of fun. He always takes care of me.

16. Now end with a conclusion:
Remember, each paragraph must have a concluding sentence.
Finish with a sentence that restates your topic sentence.

17. End with a conclusion: - each paragraph has a concluding sentence.
- a concluding sentence restates the topic sentence
“My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.”
-your concluding sentence uses different words.

18. The concluding sentence
The concluding sentence restates your topic sentence “My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.” using different words.
I have never had a better pet.

19. You already have your first paragraph done. Pretty easy, huh
You already have your first paragraph done! Pretty easy, huh? To make it even easier, look at this organizational plan using color-coding.

20. Paragraph 1: Introduction
Introduction or Topic Sentence
First Subtopic
Second Subtopic
Third Subtopic
Conclusion

21. Sentence 1: Introduction
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Sentence 1: Introduction
Introduction or Topic Sentence (Use key words from the prompt)
“Write about your favorite pet.”
“My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.”

22. Paragraph 1 :: Introduction
Sentence 2: First Subtopic
First Subtopic
(“Showing” Example)
He is beautiful and easy to care for.

23. Paragraph 1: Introduction Sentence 3: Second Subtopic
Second Subtopic (A “Showing” Example)
Playing with him is lots of fun.

24. Paragraph 1: Introduction Sentence 4: Third Subtopic
Third Subtopic (“Showing” Example)
He always takes care of me.

25. Paragraph 1: Introduction
Sentence 5: Conclusion
Conclusion
(Restates Introduction)
I have never had a better pet.

26. Paragraph 1: Introduction Example
My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo. He is beautiful and easy to care for. Playing with him is lots of fun. He always takes care of me. I have never had a better pet.

27. First Subtopic (Example #1)
Paragraph 2: Introduction
Restate each subtopic as the topic sentence for each of the next three paragraphs.
First Subtopic (Example #1)
“He is beautiful and easy to care for.” is the topic sentence to restate in the second paragraph.

28. Paragraph 2: Example #1
Topic Sentence (Restate introduction “He is beautiful and easy to care for.” )
3 Example Sentences (Prove your Topic Sentence)
Concluding Sentence (Restates Topic Sentence from Example #1)

29. Paragraph 2: Example
Romeo is beautiful and easy to care for. He is a tricolor Sheltie, mostly black with white and a bit of brown. Caring for him is easy because I simply have to make sure he has fresh water and food every day. I exercise him by throwing his toys. Because he is good looking and doesn’t require much care, Romeo is a good pet.

30. Restate the second subtopic
Paragraph 3: Example
Restate the second subtopic
-- second subtopic is topic sentence in 3rd paragraph.
Second Subtopic (Example #2)
“Playing with him is lots of fun.” is the topic sentence you will restate for your third paragraph.

31. Paragraph 3: Example
Topic Sentence (Restate Example #2 from the Introduction “Playing with him is lots of fun.”)
3 Example Sentences (Prove your Topic Sentence)
Concluding Sentence (Restates Topic Sentence from Example #2)

32. Paragraph 3: Example
Romeo is lots of fun to play with. He loves to play catch. He follows me around the house with a toy and drops it on my foot so I will toss it. He can catch just about anything, but his favorite is chasing a Frisbee. I really have fun playing with Romeo.

33. The third subtopic is the topic sentence in the next paragraph.
Paragraph 3: Example
The third subtopic is the topic sentence in the next paragraph.
Third Subtopic (Example #3)
“He always takes care of me.” is the topic sentence for your fourth paragraph.

34. 3 Example Sentences (That prove your Topic Sentence)
Paragraph 4: Example #3
Topic Sentence (Restate Sentence #3 from the Introduction “Romeo takes care of me.”)
3 Example Sentences (That prove your Topic Sentence)
Concluding Sentence (Restate Topic Sentence from Example #3)

35. Paragraph 4: Example #3
Romeo takes care of me. He always follows me when I leave a room. When I am sitting on a couch he plops down right beside me. On sunny days when we are hiking in the woods he always makes sure that I keep up with the rest of the family. He always watches out for me.

36. Paragraph 5: Conclusion (Restates Paragraph 1: Introduction)
First Subtopic (Example)
Second Subtopic (Example)
Third Sentence (Example)
Conclusion

37. (Restates Paragraph 1: Introduction)
Paragraph 5: Conclusion
(Restates Paragraph 1: Introduction)
As you can see, Romeo is a great pet. I am proud of him and he doesn’t require much care. Playing with him is very pleasurable. I am always safe because he watches over me. Romeo is a wonderful pet.

38. There you have it!
Expository writing isn’t that difficult when you have a plan. To make it even easier you may want to use a graphic organizer like the following ones to organize your thoughts.

41. Name ___________________________ Date ___________________________
English 7:_____ Five-paragraph essay organizer
Main Idea
Main Example 2
Main Example 3
Main Example 1
Example One
Prompt: “Write about your favorite pet.” 2. Freewrite 3. Choose main idea sentence.

42. My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.
Name ___________________________ Date ___________________________
English 7:_____ Five-paragraph essay organizer
Main Idea
Main Example 2
Main Example 3
Main Example 1
Example One
Prompt: “Write about your favorite pet.” 2. Freewrite 3. Choose main idea sentence.
My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.

43. My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.
Name ___________________________ Date ___________________________
English 7:_____ Five-paragraph essay organizer
Main Idea
Main Example 2
Main Example 3
Main Example 1
Example One
Prompt: “Write about your favorite pet.” 2. Freewrite 3. Choose main idea sentence.
4. Give three examples that make main idea true.
He is beautiful and easy to care for.
My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.

44. My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.
Name ___________________________ Date ___________________________
English 7:_____ Five-paragraph essay organizer
Main Idea
Main Example 2
Main Example 3
Main Example 1
Example One
Prompt: “Write about your favorite pet.” 2. Freewrite 3. Choose main idea sentence.
4. Give three examples that make main idea true.
He is beautiful and easy to care for.
My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.
Playing with him is lots of fun.

45. My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.
Name ___________________________ Date ___________________________
English 7:_____ Five-paragraph essay organizer
Main Idea
Main Example 2
Main Example 3
Main Example 1
Example One
Prompt: “Write about your favorite pet.” 2. Freewrite 3. Choose main idea sentence.
4. Give three examples that make main idea true.
He is beautiful and easy to care for.
My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.
Playing with him is lots of fun.
He always takes care of me.

46. My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.
Name ___________________________ Date ___________________________
English 7:_____ Five-paragraph essay organizer
Example 1
Example 3
Main Idea
Main Example 2
Main Example 3
Main Example 1
Example 2
He is beautiful and easy to care for.
My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.
Playing with him is lots of fun.
He always takes care of me.

47. My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.
Name ___________________________ Date ___________________________
English 7:_____ Five-paragraph essay organizer
Main Idea
Main Example 2
Main Example 3
Main Example 1
He is beautiful and easy to care for.
My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.
Example 1
He always takes care of me.
Playing with him
Is lots of fun.
Example 2
Example 3

48. My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.
Name ___________________________ Date ___________________________
English 7:_____ Five-paragraph essay organizer
Main Idea
Main Example 2
Main Example 3
Main Example 1
He is beautiful and easy to care for.
Example 3
My favorite pet is my dog, Romeo.
Exaple 1
Playing with him
Is lots of fun.
He always takes care of me.
Example 3
Example 3

49. Five-Paragraph Essay Organizer Main Idea Name _____________________
Main Example 1
Main Example 2
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Five-Paragraph Essay
Organizer
Name _____________________
Example 3
Example 1
Example 3

50. Five-Paragraph Essay Organizer Main Idea Name _____________________
Main Example 1
Main Example 2
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Five-Paragraph Essay
Organizer
Name _____________________
Example 3
Example 1
Example 3

51. Have fun with your writing & remember, you only need THREE IDEAS for a great expository essay!

52. ASSIGNMENT Write an essay based on “Ordeal by Cheque” OR “The And and the Grasshopper.” Use THREE IDEAS for a great expository essay!