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Five-Paragraph Essays

Putting It All Together


Now that weve learned all the parts of an essay, lets put them together to see what an
essay would look like. But before we do that, lets remember two small but important parts of the
essay.
Thesis
Should be all one sentence.
States topic of paper.
Gives the opinion of paper (signal term).
Signal term must be something we can argue with.
Lists 2-4 reasons why opinion should be believed.
Reasons should go from weakest to strongest.
Heres a formula for how to set up your thesis:
Topic is signal term because reason 1, reason 2, and reason 3.
Example:
Homework is important for students to do because it reinforces learning, improves ones grade,
and prepares one for tests.
Transitions
These serve several purposes:
Connect your paragraphs.
Connect sentences.
Connect paragraphs & ideas back to thesis statement (especially signal term).
Explain the order of your reasons.
The best way to transition between paragraphs is this: In the first sentence of your TEEW
paragraph, remind us what you just talked about, then go into the thesis statement, explaining
why the new reason is even better.

Writing the Essay


Now, lets go through each of the five paragraphs. (Remember, if you have only two reasons in
your thesis, your essay will have four paragraphs. If you have four reasons, your essay will have
six paragraphs.)
Introduction
Should have a minimum of 4 sentences.
All sentences should connect & flow together.
1st sentence Say something interesting related to thesis.
2nd sentence Continue the interesting thought in 1st sentence and build on it.
1

3rd sentence Keep building on your idea but begin to prepare readers for the thesis.
4th sentence Put your thesis statement here. It should flow seamlessly with the other
sentences.

Paragraph 1
TEEW paragraph based on first reason of thesis.
Topic sentence Thesis with first reason. (Example: Homework is important for students
to do because it reinforces learning.)
Explain Explain what you mean in your topic sentence.
Example Tell a story to illustrate your point.
Wrap-up Reflect your topic sentence to close the paragraph.
Paragraph 2
Transition: In half a sentence, remind us of what we just talked about in paragraph 1, then go into
your topic sentence.
TEEW paragraph based on second reason of thesis.
Topic sentence Thesis with second reason. (Example: Homework is important for
students to do because it improves ones grade.)
Explain Explain what you mean in your topic sentence.
Example Tell a story to illustrate your point.
Wrap-up Reflect your topic sentence to close the paragraph.
Paragraph 3
Transition: In half a sentence, remind us of what we just talked about in paragraph 2, then go into
your topic sentence.
TEEW paragraph based on third reason of thesis.
Topic sentence Thesis with third reason. (Example: Homework is important for
students to do because it prepares one for tests.)
Explain Explain what you mean in your topic sentence.
Example Tell a story to illustrate your point.
Wrap-up Reflect your topic sentence to close the paragraph.
Conclusion
Transition from paragraph 3 into your conclusion.
Pick up the interesting stuff you were talking about in the introduction.
Restate your thesis in exact words or close.
Restate your reasons in exact order or reverse order.
Added bonus Say something interesting (thats still on topic) to make your readers glad
they read to the end.

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