How to Write a Five Paragraph Essay

English I

Mr. Cook

Outlining Spool Paper Outline

Introductory Paragraph• Lead• Thesis Statement (Power 1)

• List the power 2 ideas• 2a.• 2b.• 2c.

Body Paragraph 1• 2a. Topic Sentence

• 3. Detail • 3. Detail• 3. Detail

Body Paragraph 2• 2b. Topic Sentence

• 3. Detail• 3. Detail• 3. Detail

Body Paragraph 3• 2c. Topic Sentence

• 3. Detail• 3. Detail• 3. Detail

Concluding Paragraph• Re-state thesis (Power 1)• Wind-down/conclusion

A Good Essay is a lot Like a BLT Sandwich

I. IntroductionParagraph

II. FirstBodyPara-graph

III. SecondBodyPara-graph

IV.ThirdBodyPara-graph

V.ConclusionParagraph

Thesis:• The main idea of your essay• The point you are trying to prove• Should be exactly ONE sentence long

Warning: It is recommended that BLT is only used figuratively. Consumption may lead to serious health problems.

Topic Sentence

Conclusion Sentence

Detail

DetailDetail

CommentaryCommentary

Commentary

I. Introduction Paragraph• Lead (In 3-5 sentences, provide some background information for your reader. This may be in the form of

a brief story, some facts and statistics, a powerful quote etc. The key is to get the attention of your reader and focus them on your topic)

________________________________________________________________________________________

_

________________________________________________________________________________________

_

________________________________________________________________________________________

_

________________________________________________________________________________________

_

________________________________________________________________________________________

_• Power 1: Thesis Statement (State the central idea of your essay in ONE complete sentence.)

________________________________________________________________________________________

_

________________________________________________________________________________________

_

________________________________________________________________________________________

_

– Support Statement (Write a sentence that states the topics for your body paragraph. There should

be three power 2 ideas)

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___

Na

me

: _

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

_

Da

te:

__

__

__

__

__

__

_

Pe

riod

: _

__

__

II. First Body Paragraph– 2a. Topic sentence (In one sentence, introduce the topic for this paragraph. It should be the same as the first topic from

your support statement)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

____• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to

introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

____• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to

introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

____

– 2a. Conclusion sentence (In one sentence, summarize the ideas you discussed in this paragraph or transition to the next paragraph)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

III. Second Body Paragraph– 2b. Topic sentence (In one sentence, introduce the topic for this paragraph. It should be the same as the second topic

from your support statement)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

____• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to

introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

____• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to

introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

____

– 2b. Conclusion sentence (In one sentence, summarize the ideas you discussed in this paragraph or transition to the next paragraph)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

IV. Third Body Paragraph– 2c. Topic sentence (In one sentence, introduce the topic for this paragraph. It should be the same as the third topic from

your support statement)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

____• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to

introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

____• 3. Detail and Commentary (In two to three sentences, give specific details to support your thesis. Don’t forget to

introduce your evidence first. Then include commentary that explains how your evidence proves your thesis.)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

____

– 2c. Conclusion sentence (In one sentence, summarize the ideas you discussed in this paragraph or transition to the next paragraph)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

V. Conclusion Paragraph• Power 1: Restate your thesis using slightly different words

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

____

• Wind-Down/Conclusion (In three to five sentences, give your reader something to think about. You might

offer your opinion about the ideas in your essay. You might relate the issues in your essay to the larger

world. Your goal is to make your reader think about your essay after they have read it.)

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

________

If you use other people’s ideas or words and you don’t give them credit, you are committing a crime!

You will receive a

failing grade if you are

caught!

Your counselor and your

parents willbe notified!

This includes copying from

anyone, even a classmate!

This includes having someone else write your essay for you!