1. Basic Five- Paragraph Essay ESL 11B Copy & Design: Verna Fisher

2. Overview: Basic Five Paragraph Essay TThink of your essay as a math formula or steps that need to be taken to get to the finish line. TThese steps can be written in any order as long as the essay flows when it is finished. It should sound as though it follows an order rather than just jumbled thoughts. AAll five paragraph essays have the following:

3. AAn introduction 1 TThree body paragraphs +3 AA conclusion _ 1 __ Total paragraphs 5 Note: a 4 Paragraph Essay only has 2 body paragraphs.

4. The Introduction Paragraph  The introduction paragraph should be the place to start presenting your topic.  Typically, the last sentence is a thesis statement.  A thesis statement is one sentence that clearly tells the reader what your paper will be about, and it often has a point to prove.

5. Thesis Statement  A thesis statement is a roadmap for your essay and explains to the reader exactly what you will discuss in your paper.  The thesis statement will be the LAST SENTENCE in your INTRODUCTION paragraph.  A basic thesis statement is similar to a topic sentence when writing a single paragraph. It contains the topic and the 3 main points (controlling ideas) to support the topic.

6. Thesis Statement  For example, prove that there are 3 benefits to eating fast food.  Thesis statement: Fast food should be an important part of a person’s diet because it is inexpensive, convenient, and tastes delicious.

7. Thesis Statement  Thesis statement: Topic Fast food should be an important part of a person’s diet because it is inexpensive, convenient, and tastes delicious.

8. Thesis Statement  Thesis statement: Topic Fast food should be an important part of a person’s diet today because it is inexpensive, convenient, and tastes delicious. Controlling ideas/points

9. Thesis Statement  You Try! Read this thesis statement. With your partner, decide, what is the topic and what are the controlling ideas. Older dogs make the best pets because they are calm, friendly, and help their owners to get exercise.

10. Thesis Statement  You Try! Read this thesis statement. With your partner, decide, what is the topic and what are the controlling ideas. Topic Older dogs make the best pets because they are calm, friendly, and help their owners to get exercise.

11. Thesis Statement  You Try! Read this thesis statement. With your partner, decide, what is the topic and what are the controlling ideas. Topic Older dogs make the best pets because they are calm, friendly, and help their owners to get exercise. Controlling ideas/points

12. Thesis Statement  Notice, there are 3 controlling ideas: Older dogs make the best pets because they are calm, friendly, and help their owners to get exercise.  Each controlling idea is the topic of one body paragraph  Body paragraph 1: calm  Body paragraph 2: friendly  Body paragraph 3: help owners get exercise

13. Body paragraphs TThe first controlling idea w ill be discussed in your first body paragraph. TThe first sentence will be a topic sentence t hat states how your first point supports the thesis statement. NNow, come up with at least 2 examples t hat have to do with the point. Use details and explanations t o make the examples clear. CContinue this pattern f or the second and third body paragraphs. NNote: do not include a concluding sentence at the end of a body paragraphs.

14. Conclusion TThe conclusion is the place to sum up your essay and re-state your thesis statement in different words. NNew information does not belong in the conclusion.

15. Sample Outline IIntroduction with thesis statement 11 st body paragraph –T–Topic Sentence a bout point 1 –E–Example 1 with details and explanations –E–Example 2 with details and explanations 22 nd body paragraph –T–Topic Sentence a bout point 2 –E–Example 1 with details and explanations –E–Example 2 with details and explanations 33 rd body paragraph –T–Topic Sentence a bout point 3 –E–Example 1 with details and explanations –E–Example 2 with details and explanations CConclusion with re-stated thesis statement