The Five-Paragraph Essay: Template for College Writing

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The Five-Paragraph EssayTemplate for College
Writing

• Dr. Harold William Halbert

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How Many of You Remember the Five-Paragraph Essay?

• Who taught it to you?
• What were the major elements?
• What good was it?

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Key Elements

• Introduction
• Body Paragraph (Claim 1)
• Body Paragraph (Claim 2)
• Body Paragraph (Claim 3)
• Conclusion

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• Introduction
• A Hook (whatever that was)
• Background Information on subject
• Thesis (the argument you are making)
• Preview of 3 Pieces of Evidence or Claims
• Springboard (restatement of thesis)
• Body Paragraph (Claim 1)
• A transition
• A central claim
• 3 details to flesh out claim
• Conclusion to paragraph
• Body Paragraph (Claim 2) SAME
• Body Paragraph (Claim 3) SAME
• Conclusion
• Summation transition (In Conclusion)
• Restatement of thesis
• Review of 3 pieces of evidence
• Synthesis of claim evidence applied to broader
  issue

EXPANDEDOUTLINE
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Official Uses of Five-Paragraph Essay

• English class essay (book reviews, short
  arguments, etc.)
• In-class essay exams
• SAT Writing assessment
• Some editorial or newspaper column pieces

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REAL Purpose of Five Paragraph Essay

• Easy template to American academic writing
  expectations
• Easy to teach
• Easy to grade
• Easy to remember
• Easy to finish

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PROBLEM Never Shown Broader Application

• Instead of thinking paragraphs, think
  sections
• Instead of thinking five, think
  Introduction--Body--Conclusion
• Better still, think
• Context/Claim, Evidence, Synthesis

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Five-Paragraphs are just a template
INTRODUCTION CONTEXT ARGUMENT
BODY PARAGRAPH 1 BODY OF EVIDENCE
BODY PARAGRAPH 2 BODY OF EVIDENCE
BODY PARAGRAPH 3 BODY OF EVIDENCE
CONCLUSION SYNTHESIS
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Still Need Same Basic Elements
Introduction Context Claim Create Hook Establish background context for writing Give thesis Preview evidence/organization Springboard
Body Paragraphs Evidence Transition from prior section Single, clear claim for section Strong details supporting claim Mini-conclusion on claim
Conclusion Synthesis Restate central claim Review evidence Apply evidence and claim to context to create broader significance