Essay Format: High School vs College

Essay Model

Academic College-level Writing Expectations

Writing is writing, right?

Wrong! In college, instructors have certain

expectations for student writing.

What was acceptable in high school may not work for college-level essays.

The High School Model: The 5-

Paragraph Essay

High School vs. College Essays

The High School Model Many high school students learn a type of

organization called the "five-paragraph essay.”

Paragraph about point #1

Three-part thesis with point #1, point #2, and point #3.

Paragraph about point #2

Paragraph about point #3

Introduction: states what the essay will be about.

Conclusion: Repeats the introduction or summarizes the entire essay.

5 Paragraphs = 5 Problems

Although the five-paragraph essay format does provide a basic organizational structure, it has many potential problems.

To list a few…

Problem #1: It’s too restrictive Most types of writing don't have

only five paragraphs.

Problem #2: Reader Un-friendly

The reader usually needs some idea of why he or she should be interested in reading about this now. The 5 paragraph essay model usually presents simple information.

Problem #3: Dull Conclusion 5 paragraph essays require a

summary at the end. The summary merely repeats ideas that the reader has just read about and hasn't had time to forget.

I understood her the first time…and the second…

Problem #4: Redundancy The 5 paragraph format

encourages too much repetition--often the same three phrases are repeated in the introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion. The reader is bored. This essay

says the same thing over and over…

Problem #5: Lack of Content

If you follow this format too strictly, you are putting far more emphasis on how you organize the content than on the ideas themselves, the purpose you have in mind, and what your readers need.

Well-organized, but empty…

“But my teacher told me…”

Forget for a moment what your high school English teacher may have told you.

There has to be something better than the 5-paragraph high school model. Let’s ask some English teachers….

On the next few slides, you will find Questions about essays for grumpy English teachers…and TRUTHFUL answers!

Ask Ms. Hogwash

Question for grumpy English teacher:

• Is it true that a good essay should have 5 paragraphs? Isn’t that a rule? Oh no…I’m

so busted!

• Contrary to what many students believe, there is no rule that says that a college essay, or any other kind of essay, must have five paragraphs and five paragraphs only.

It’s true!!

Ask Mrs. Barb Dwyer

Question for grumpy English teacher:

Why should writers create a new paragraph?

Because I tell them to, that’s why!!

•A: Paragraphs help the reader understand by organizing writing into groups of ideas that work together.

And sometimes this requires more or less than 5 paragraphs, but don’t tell anyone I said that.

It’s true!!

•A: Paragraphs help the eye return to the proper place in the text after looking away for a brief moment.

It’s true!!

Ask Ms. Dinah Sore

Question for grumpy English teacher:

•So…How many paragraphs should a good essay have?

Get over here, you little menace!!

• A: The number of paragraphs really depends on the depth of ideas and how much you have to say. 

I have the fastest ruler in the school!

It’s true!!

Don’t stay in high school forever!

• In college, students move on to more challenging subjects and assignments.

• It’s time for your writing to move on as well.

The College Model: The Multi-Paragraph

Essay

High School vs. College Essays

A General Overview

A college essay has 3 basic sections:

The IntroductionA Multi-Paragraph BodyThe Conclusion

The Introduction College Essay Model

Introduction Your introduction is like a

signpost at the beginning of a trail.

It attracts readers and makes them want to take the journey and informs readers where you are going to take them without spoiling the best parts.

Introduction Questions

What is my main idea or thesis? Who are my readers? What can I do to make my reader

want to read my ideas? Why is my idea important here

and now?

IntroductionThe THESIS STATEMENT is usually presented at the end of the introduction. Most professors will look for the thesis here.

However, college writers can present the thesis in other places, such as at the end or in the 2nd paragraph.

A college-level THESIS should not state 3 points!!!

Thesis statement

The Body College Essay Model

Body of the Essay The body of the essay is

comprised of many paragraphs. (not just 3)

Your thesis statement/main idea must be supported in the body of the essay.

As a writer, you must decide how many supporting points you need to present your thesis/main idea.

Body of the Essay Each paragraph is related to one of the points

you want to show the readers along the way.

Some points may take more than one paragraph to develop completely.

Transitions between the points you show the reader help connect them logically.

Body of the Essay You may have 3 body paragraphs or 20+ body paragraphs, depending upon how much you have to say!!

Some body paragraphs will be longer and some will be shorter.

Questions about Body Paragraphs

What points do I want to make?What examples can I use to help

the reader understand each point?

What evidence do I have that each point is true?

How can I keep the reader interested in following my ideas?

The Conclusion

College Essay Model

Conclusion The conclusion is the logical end of the

journey.

It looks back on the points you have shown the reader, and reinforces, but does not repeat, the main idea.

Conclusion It also should create a feeling of

ending – one way to accomplish this is to make some connection to (but not repeating) the introduction. Mentioning an idea from the introduction

can help bring the essay full circle and close it logically.

Questions about the Conclusion

How has the reader's mind been changed by following my points and examples?

If we continued this journey, where would we go next?

If the reader ignores the points you have made, what might happen?

Review of College Essay Model

Body of Essay:

Multi-Paragraph

Conclusion:

Reflect introduction; make a prediction

Introduction:

Catch the reader’s eye

Remember, it’s OK to write more than 5 paragraphs!

End of presentation.