Image 1. Although there are many ways to write an essay, the five-paragraph structure shows the basics of how to organize your thoughts. Photo from Pixnio
A five-paragraph essay is a prose composition. It follows a prescribed format of an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. Writing the essays is typically taught during primary school and applied on standardized testing throughout one's school career.

Learning to write a high-quality five-paragraph essay is an essential skill for students in English and Language Arts classes. The essay allows you to express certain ideas, claims, or concepts in an organized way. It also teaches you how to include evidence that supports each of your claims.

Image 2. The structure of a five-paragraph essay. Image: Newsela staff.
Students may decide to stray from the standard five-paragraph format and venture into writing an exploratory essay instead.

Still, teaching students to organize essays into the five-paragraph format is an easy way to introduce them to writing literary criticism. These are skills that which will be tested time and again throughout their primary, secondary and further education.

Starting Off Right: Writing A Good Introduction

The introduction is the first paragraph in your essay, and it should accomplish a few specific goals. The introduction should capture the reader's interest, introduce the topic, and make a claim or express an opinion in a thesis statement. It's a good idea to start your essay with a really interesting statement in order to get the reader's interest. This can also be accomplished by using descriptive words, an anecdote, a striking question, or an interesting fact.

The next few sentences should explain your first statement, and prepare the reader for your thesis statement. This is typically the last sentence in the introduction. Your thesis sentence should provide your specific assertion and convey a clear point of view, which is typically divided into three distinct arguments that support this assertion.

Explaining Your Thesis: Writing Body Paragraphs

The body of the essay will include three paragraphs, and each paragraph is limited to one main idea that supports your thesis.

In order to properly write each paragraph, you should state the main idea of the paragraph, add ideas that support the main idea, and then make a transition statement.

Here are some words and phrases to use as you transition from one paragraph to another: moreover, in fact, on the whole, furthermore, as a result, simply put, and for this reason. Other examples include similarly, likewise, it follows that, naturally, by comparison, surely, and yet.

Pulling It All Together: Writing A Conclusion

The final paragraph will summarize your main points and reassert your thesis sentence. It should point out your main points, but it should not repeat specific examples, and should leave a lasting impression on the reader.

The first sentence of the conclusion should restate the supporting claims argued in the body paragraphs as they relate to the thesis statement. The next few sentences should explain how the essay's main points can lead to further thought on the topic.

There are many ways to end an essay, like ending the conclusion with a question, anecdote, or final pondering.

After you're done, it's a good idea to take another look at the thesis statement in your first paragraph, and read your whole essay. See if your essay flows well or not. You might find that the supporting paragraphs are strong, but they don't address the exact focus of your thesis. Simply rewrite your thesis sentence to fit your body and summary more exactly, and adjust the conclusion to wrap it all up nicely.

Practice Writing A Five-Paragraph Essay

Students can use the following steps to write a standard essay on any given topic. First, choose a topic, and then form a basic five-paragraph essay by following these steps:

1. Decide your idea of a topic to discuss and choose your thesis that you will support with evidence.

2. Decide on three pieces of supporting evidence you will use to prove your thesis.

3. Write an introductory paragraph, including your thesis and evidence (in order of strength).

4. Write your first body paragraph, starting with restating your thesis and focusing on your first piece of supporting evidence.

5. End your first paragraph with a transitional sentence that leads to the next body paragraph.

6. Write paragraph two of the body focusing on your second piece of evidence, and once again make the connection between your thesis and this piece of evidence.

7. End your second paragraph with a transitional sentence that leads to paragraph number three.

8. Repeat step 6 using your third piece of evidence.

9. Begin your concluding paragraph by restating your thesis, and include the three points you've used to prove your thesis.

10. End with a punch, a question, an anecdote, or an entertaining thought. Choose something that will stay with the reader.

Once you're able to master these 10 simple steps, writing a basic five-paragraph essay will be a piece of cake. You just need to follow the steps correctly. It is important to include enough supporting information in each paragraph that all relate to the same centralized main idea of the essay.

Also Practice Other Forms Of Writing

The five-paragraph essay is just a starting point for students. There are many ways to express your ideas in academic writing.

Students may be asked to try other forms of writing, too. These include journal entries, blog posts, reviews of goods or services, and research papers.

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