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The Basics of Effective Communication Never Change
The five paragraph essay is a standard composition in which the author explores a topic by attempting to support a thesis. Although teaching the five-paragraph essay is unpopular these days, the structure is paramount to creating any persuasive written work. If you want to prove a point (that's not extremely complicated), you should structure your argument around a thesis statement or paragraph. The five-paragraph essay format helps readers to follow you and understand everything that you are trying to convey by organizing your thoughts in a logical and comprehensive way.
What's Inside...
- Vocabulary
- Your Thesis Paragraph
- The Essay Body and Conclusion
- Solid Foundations Make Great Essays
- Video Tutor: How To Write a Five-Paragraph Essay
- Need More Help?
- Search For More Writing Tools
- "Be a Better Writer" by I.C. Jackson
- More Helpful Resources On Squidoo
- Tips From Other Writers On the Web
- Get Some Practice...Leave a Comment!
- Other Lenses By I.C. Jackson You Might Enjoy
Vocabulary
essay - short composition on a single topic that expresses the views of the author.
paragraph - a group of about four or five sentences that explore a particular topic.
thesis - a proposition or theory that is supported with data or argument.
Your Thesis Paragraph
In a five paragraph essay, the fist paragraph is the thesis paragraph, or what the author believes about the topic. In the first paragraph, or thesis, each sentence has a specific purpose. The average thesis paragraph has five sentences:Sentence 1: Usually the thesis statement itself, although the thesis statement is often the last sentence of the paragraph. The thesis usually has three points that the author wants to support or prove. In an essay about staying healthy, the first sentence of the thesis paragraph could be, In order to stay healthy, a person must take care of his or her body with proper nutrition, exercise, and health care.
Sentences 2,3, and 4: These sentences support the argument, or give points that explain in detail what the first sentence, or thesis statement, is proposing. These sentences flow with the same order in which the points were presented in the thesis statement, and they connect those ideas together for the reader. In the essay about staying healthy, sentences 2-4 could read as follows: Foods high in vitamins and minerals give the body the nutrition that it needs to function. Exercise keeps the body in good shape for work and play and helps to keep it strong. Regular visits with a health care professional help to keep a person aware of how healthy he or she is, and what should be done in case there is a problem,
Sentence 5: Usually the conclusion. The author gives a summary of how the first four sentences work together to show the reader what he or she needs to understand. In the essay about staying healthy, the concluding sentence could read, Healthy living comes when a person takes control of what is happening with his or her body.
So, the thesis paragraph of an essay on staying healthy could read as follows:
In order to stay healthy, a person must take care of his or her body with proper nutrition, exercise, and health care. Foods high in vitamins and minerals give the body the nutrition that it needs to function. Exercise keeps the body in good shape for work and play and helps to keep it strong. Regular visits with a health care professional help to keep a person aware of how healthy he or she is, and what should be done in case there is a problem. Healthy living comes when a person takes control of what is happening with his or her body.
The Essay Body and Conclusion
The second, third, and fourth paragraphs of the essay explain in detail what the second, third, and fourth sentences of the thesis paragraph were about. Basically, the second sentence of the thesis paragraph will be the topic of the second paragraph of the essay, and so on. The conclusion of the essay works the same way with the last sentence of the thesis paragraph.You should construct the paragraphs in the body in the same way that you constructed the thesis paragraph: establish the topic and your position on it, and then offer the facts or data that you collected to support your position. If you find it difficult to write a body paragraph in this manner, you may need to revisit your thesis and make sure that it is solid and it poses a viable argument.
Solid Foundations Make Great Essays
If you follow this model, you can easily write a five paragraph essay. The hardest part about writing a five paragraph essay is knowing what you want to say. If you know what you are talking about, you can write a thesis statement, or a statement that tells your reader what you believe about the subject. Then, just organize your thoughts according to the above directions.Remember, your thesis statement is a proposition or theory that can be supported with facts or data. If you can't find enough facts and data to support your argument, you should rethink your argument.
Video Tutor: How To Write a Five-Paragraph Essay
Are you an auditory or kinetic learner? Watching a video on how to write a five-paragraph essay might help you further :-)
curated content from YouTube
Need More Help?
Polished writing skills are important; not only in school, but in all of life. Your written communication is vital to your survival in modern society, especially if you work in a sophisticated field or go into business for yourself. Anyone who desires to be upwardly mobile in the 21st Century needs to be able to write well, and there are lots of resources available to assist individuals in improving their writing skills. Below are some of the most popular tools on Amazon.com:
How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing
Amazon Price: $8.15 (as of 11/11/2009) 
How To Write Great Essays
Amazon Price: $11.01 (as of 11/11/2009)
How to Write It: Complete Guide to Everything You'll Ever Write
Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 11/11/2009)
How to Write a Winning College Application Essay, Revised 4th Edition
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 11/11/2009)
How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay: 30 Essays That Won Over $3 Million in Scholarships
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
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Get Some Practice...Leave a Comment!
Okay, you don't have to write an essay, but I would like to know if these tips and tools have helped you!
csoneji wrote...
Thanks! I liked the video. What a great idea!
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Carrie Soneji is the author of The Portable Essay Tutor.
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Posted December 22, 2008
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by icjackson
I.C. Jackson is a minister, business writer, blogger, green enthusiast, professional online networker, and entrepreneur.
I am also the creator of T... (more)
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