The 5 Paragraph EssayThe 5 Paragraph Essay

Easy to createEasy to create Organizes your findings, thoughts, or Organizes your findings, thoughts, or

opinionsopinions Format can by used for any subjectFormat can by used for any subject Basic tool for any essayBasic tool for any essay

The Basic FormatThe Basic Format

→ → PARAGRAPH 1:PARAGRAPH 1: Introduces the thesis and directs the reader to the Introduces the thesis and directs the reader to the

three main supporting subtopics (arguments).three main supporting subtopics (arguments).→ → PARAGRAPHS 2 – 4:PARAGRAPHS 2 – 4: Each paragraph restates the subtopic and provides Each paragraph restates the subtopic and provides

a supporting argument with examples.a supporting argument with examples.→ → PARAGRAPH 5: PARAGRAPH 5: Restates the main thesis idea and reminds the Restates the main thesis idea and reminds the

reader of the three main supporting ideas that reader of the three main supporting ideas that were developed.were developed.

The Thesis StatementThe Thesis StatementEvery 5-paragraph essay has a Every 5-paragraph essay has a THESIS THESIS STATEMENT.STATEMENT.A thesis statement is one sentence that A thesis statement is one sentence that clearly and concisely tells the reader what your clearly and concisely tells the reader what your paper will be about. (It is the main point or paper will be about. (It is the main point or position you will defend in your paper). position you will defend in your paper). The thesis sentence should The thesis sentence should argue a argue a point/positionpoint/position, not summarize information or , not summarize information or facts. facts.

The thesis statement is usually found in the The thesis statement is usually found in the first paragraphfirst paragraph

A A thesisthesis statement is an statement is an assertion assertion (a claim or declaration)(a claim or declaration), , not a statement of not a statement of fact or an fact or an

observationobservation. .

Fact or observation:Fact or observation: People use many People use many lawn chemicals. lawn chemicals.

Thesis:Thesis: People are poisoning the People are poisoning the environment with chemicals merely to environment with chemicals merely to keep their lawns clean. keep their lawns clean.

A A thesisthesis takes a stand rather than takes a stand rather than announcingannouncing a subject. a subject.

AnnouncementAnnouncement: : The thesis of this paper is The thesis of this paper is the difficulty of solving our environmental the difficulty of solving our environmental problems.problems.

Thesis: Thesis: Solving our environmental problems Solving our environmental problems is more difficult than many environmentalists is more difficult than many environmentalists believe. believe.

A A thesisthesis is the main idea, not the is the main idea, not the titletitle. It must be a complete . It must be a complete

sentence that explains in some sentence that explains in some detail what you expect to write detail what you expect to write

about. about. Title:Title: Social Security and Old Age. Social Security and Old Age.

Thesis:Thesis: Continuing changes in the Social Continuing changes in the Social Security System makes it almost Security System makes it almost impossible to plan intelligently for one's impossible to plan intelligently for one's retirement. retirement.

A thesis statement is A thesis statement is narrownarrow, rather , rather than than broadbroad. If the thesis statement . If the thesis statement

is sufficiently narrow, it can be fully is sufficiently narrow, it can be fully supported.supported.

Broad:Broad: The Canadian steel industry has The Canadian steel industry has many problems. many problems.

Narrow:Narrow: The primary problem if the Canadian The primary problem if the Canadian steel industry is the lack of funds to renovate steel industry is the lack of funds to renovate outdated plants and equipment. outdated plants and equipment.

A thesis statement is A thesis statement is specificspecific rather rather than than vaguevague or general. or general.

Vague:Vague: Hemingway's war stories are very Hemingway's war stories are very good.good.

Specific:Specific: Hemingway's stories helped create a Hemingway's stories helped create a new prose style by employing extensive new prose style by employing extensive

dialogue, shorter sentences, and strong Anglo-dialogue, shorter sentences, and strong Anglo-Saxon words. Saxon words.

A thesis statement has A thesis statement has one main pointone main point rather than rather than several main pointsseveral main points. More . More than one point may be too difficult for than one point may be too difficult for

the reader to understand and the writer the reader to understand and the writer to support. to support.

More than one main point:More than one main point: Stephen Hawking's Stephen Hawking's physical disability has not prevented him from becoming physical disability has not prevented him from becoming a world-renowned physicist, and his book is the subject a world-renowned physicist, and his book is the subject of a movie. of a movie.

One Main point:One Main point: Stephen Hawking's physical disability Stephen Hawking's physical disability has not prevented him from becoming a world has not prevented him from becoming a world renowned physicist. renowned physicist.

Revising Your Thesis StatementRevising Your Thesis Statement

You can revise your thesis statement whenever you want to while you are writing your essay.

Writers often discover what their real purpose and point is in the process of putting their

thoughts into words and then reading what they've written.

The Thesis StatementThe Thesis Statement

A good argumentative thesis provides not only a position on an issue, but also suggests the structure of the paper.

The thesis should allow the reader to imagine and anticipate the flow of the paper, in which a sequence of points logically prove the essay's main assertion.

Thesis Statement It should have 3 (for a 5 paragraph essay) points specifically laid It should have 3 (for a 5 paragraph essay) points specifically laid

out in the order you want to discuss them:out in the order you want to discuss them:

Dogs are great pets because they help owners get exercise Dogs are great pets because they help owners get exercise and are loyal and friendly.and are loyal and friendly.

If using this as a thesis, the paper should follow the format it lays If using this as a thesis, the paper should follow the format it lays out. out. Paragraph 1Paragraph 1 will be about dogs helping owners get exercise, will be about dogs helping owners get exercise, Paragraph 2 Paragraph 2 about dogs being loyal, about dogs being loyal, Paragraph 3Paragraph 3 about dogs being friendly. about dogs being friendly.

You should be able to transition smoothly between paragraphs, You should be able to transition smoothly between paragraphs, so order your points in a manner that flows well logically.so order your points in a manner that flows well logically.

Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that relates Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that relates directly back to your thesis.directly back to your thesis.