The Christian EducatorA publication of North Valley Baptist Schools

The Five Paragraph Essay

Reading and writing and arithmetic – these are the basic elements we strive to teach our students. These three are the founding principles upon which education is built.  In my few years of teaching, I have noticed that students struggle primarily with their ability to write. Writing is critically important for school as well as for life. Students must be able to effectively express their thoughts through writing.   I have read many poorly written papers in which the point of view shifted, the main point was undefined, and the organization was terrible.

As their teacher, I assume the some of the blame for these shortcomings.  It is my responsibility to help them in this area.  While researching for ideas to help my students, I found the Five Paragraph Essay.

The Five Paragraph Essay is a method which helps students organize their thoughts, and write them logically.  I hope this will be a help to you as it was to me.

The Five Paragraph Essay

The five paragraph essay follows a defined format. The first paragraph introduces us to the thesis of the essay and directs us to the three main supporting subtopics. The second through fourth paragraphs are all similar in format. They individually restate the subtopics, and are developed by giving supporting information. The last paragraph restates the main thesis idea and reminds the reader of the three main supporting ideas that were developed. All of these paragraphs are important.

The introductory paragraph is used to introduce the topic to the reader. It is important to make the topic a clear and limited statement. This paragraph should grab the reader's attention; therefore, the main idea is often found in the first sentence of the paragraph. It is followed by three subtopics that develop the thesis. In each paragraph a transition word, phrase, or sentence should be used to tie the paragraphs together.

Paragraphs two through four contain the body of the essay.  These paragraphs follow a similar format to that of the introductory paragraph.  Their topic sentences are restatements, often in original form, of the three supporting ideas presented in the first paragraph. The subtopic of each of these paragraphs is again supported by three or more supporting sentences. This process will cement, in the reader's mind, the relevancy and relationship of each of the subtopics to the thesis statement.

 Finally, the fifth paragraph is the summary paragraph. It is important to restate the thesis and three supporting ideas in an original and powerful manner.  This is the last chance the writer has to convince the reader of the validity of the information presented.  Because the introductory and fifth paragraphs are so similar, some writers choose to write the first and fifth paragraphs at the same time.  The writer should also realize the importance of editing at each step of the process.

It is important to reiterate that each of the paragraphs is joined together by a transition word, phrase, or sentence. Transitions help the reader to follow the flow of the logic and sequencing. All of the essay types follow this basic transition format. However, there is more latitude with the narrative essay because of its nature.

Sample Essay

The essay below demonstrates the principles of writing a basic essay. The different parts of the essay have been labeled. The thesis statement is in bold, the topic sentences are in italics, and each main point is underlined. When one writes his own essay, of course, he will not need to mark these parts of the essay unless he has been asked to do so. They are marked here for easy identification.

"A dog is man's best friend." This common saying may contain some truth, but dogs are not the only animal friend whose companionship people enjoy. For many people, a cat is their best friend. Despite what dog lovers may believe, cats make excellent house pets as they are good companions, they are civilized members of the household, and they are easy to care for.

In the first place, people enjoy the companionship of cats. Many cats are affectionate. They will snuggle up and ask to be petted, or scratched under the chin. Who can resist a purring cat? If they're not feeling affectionate, cats are generally quite playful. They love to chase balls and feathers, or just about anything dangling from a string. They especially enjoy playing when their owners are participating in the game. Contrary to popular opinion, cats can be trained. Using rewards and punishments, just like with a dog, a cat can be trained to avoid unwanted behavior or perform tricks. Cats will even fetch!

In the second place, cats are civilized members of the household. Unlike dogs, cats do not bark or make other loud noises. Most cats don't even meow very often. They generally lead a quiet existence. Cats also don't often have "accidents." Mother cats train their kittens to use the litter box, and most cats will use it without fail from that time on. Even stray cats usually understand the concept when shown the box and will use it regularly. Cats do have claws, and owners must make provision for this. A tall scratching post in a favorite cat area of the house will often keep the cat content to leave the furniture alone. As a last resort, of course, cats can be declawed.

Lastly, one of the most attractive features of cats as house pets is their ease of care. Cats do not have to be walked. They get plenty of exercise in the house as they play, and they do their business in the litter box. Cleaning a litter box is a quick, painless procedure. Cats also take care of their own grooming. Bathing a cat is almost never necessary because under ordinary circumstances cats clean themselves. Cats are more particular about personal cleanliness than people are. In addition, cats can be left home alone for a few hours without fear. Unlike some pets, most cats will not destroy the furnishings when left alone. They are content to go about their usual activities until their owners return.

Cats are low maintenance, civilized companions. People who have small living quarters or less time for pet care should appreciate these characteristics of cats. However, many people who have plenty of space and time still opt to have a cat because they love the cat personality. In many ways, cats are the ideal house pet.

The Five Paragraph Essay is not the only form of writing; however, it is definitely one that can help a student be a better writer. I hope that this information can be helpful to you as a teacher and a help to your students.

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