THE 5 PARAGRAPH ESSAY:

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THE 5 PARAGRAPH ESSAY ROADMAP TO SUCCESS
HAVE YOU EVER RECEIVED BAD DIRECTIONS? HAVE YOU
EVER GIVEN BAD DIRECTIONS?
If the answer is yes, then you know how
frustrating that situation can be. Writing an
essay is like giving directions. There are
specific guidelines to ensure a smooth arrival.
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Before Writing

• 1. Read and analyze the question
• What is the question asking?
• What is the question asking you to do?
• (Know key words of the prompt)
• 2. Collect and Sort information
• Brainstorming, categorizing, generalizing
• Create categories for the thesis/body paragraphs

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• Writing the basic 5 paragraph essay is as easy as
  1, 2, 3, 4, 5!
• Hook
• Thesis
• Intro
• Body with
• transition
• Conclusion

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THE HOOK aka the Lead in Sentence
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• The Hook Statement
• Remember to explain the information, how it is
  important within the statement.
• short narrative (VIVID-one sentence)
• anecdote (emotional appeal)
• startling statistic
• Quotation
• historical background lead
• Example The destruction in WWI is exemplified
  in the statistic that 80 of the deaths did not
  result from a bullet but rather disease,
  exposure, and starvation.
• IN ANY CASE-HOOK THE READER

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The Thesis
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How to write THE DREADED THESIS
Remember to use the components
Fully address the question (prompt) asked
time period/date subject strong verb
organizational categories (economic, political,
social) (PERSIA)
Time period date or general time frame Subject
topic Strong verbaction. What happened???
Dont use changed!!! Example In the late
1800s, the Great Plains transformed
economically, politically, and socially.
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The Introduction
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• The Introduction
• 1st sentence- HOOK
• 2nd sentence or at the end of the intro- THESIS
• 3RD-5th sentences-3 general topics (political,
  social and economic)
• NEVER USE SPECIFIC INFO IN YOUR INTRO
• JUST SAY NO!

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The Body
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• THE BODY
• Now it is time to use that thesis!
• 3 paragraphs
• 3 general topics/categories from thesis
• ex. (political, social, economic)
• Precise and relevant evidenceREAL FACTS!
• Lets do the math-
• How many facts in a basic 5 paragraph essay?
• Answer HONORS---18 facts (yes, 2 per sentence is
  the general rule!)
• FACTS ARE names, dates, statistics, events,
  documents, numbers, quotes, places

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Transitions
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• TRANSITIONS
• TWO TYPES
• words to sequence, compare, place, summarize,
  prove, show exception, example.
• conclusion sentence in body paragraphs to flow to
  next paragraph.
• Example While women in the 1920s were breaking
  all the rules socially, likewise women made
  political gains.
• GUESS WHAT?!
• YOU NEED BOTH!!!

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Conclusion
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• CONCLUSION
• The conclusion is the flashing red light that
  tells the reader WE ARE FINISHED!
• restate introductory paragraph
• restate thesis in 1st sentence
• Restate 2nd-4th intro paragraph sentences
• Use a clincher to end or HAMMER THAT THESIS
• no new info, futuristic predictions, opinions,
  what you learned!

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I. Introduction A. HOOK- Grab the readers
attention in ONE sentence B. Thesis (should have
three parts in order of the above topics) C.
3rd sentence-(one of 3 supporting topics) D. 4th
sentence-(one of 3 supporting topics) E. 5TH
sentence-(one of 3 supporting topics) II. Body
(2nd-4th sentences from introduction) A.
sentence restated from introduction (TOPIC
SENTENCE) B. specific support (3 FACTS) C.
specific support (3 FACTS) D. specific support
(3 FACTS) E. RESTATE TOPIC SENTENCE-TRANSITION
III. Conclusion-RESTATE THE INTRODUCTION(NO NEW
INFO HERE!) A. 1st sentence-restate thesis B.
2nd-3rd sentences restate intro C. clincher or
hammer the thesis again!
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Keeners list of essay DOs

• DO Read and analyze the question
• DO Collect and Sort information
• DO refer to the SEVEN-STEP ESSAY PROCESS guide
  and the Nevada Writing Assessment Holistic Rubric
  when writing essays!
• DO create a thesis that fully addresses the
  question (prompt) and provides organizational
  categories that will be used in the essay.
• DO show creativity and insight.
• DO use precise and relevant evidence. This may
  require some extra research. Precise evidence
  real facts such as names, dates, statistics,
  events, documents, numbers, quotes, places.
  Example, write about more than just a topic like
  cuneiform. Above average papers (5 or 6) also
  will include The Epic of Gilgamesh.
• DO be concerned with organization and structure.
• DO use multiple sentence structure and word
  choices.
• DO use transitions.
• DO proofread and evaluate your essay for needed
  changes and make it better.
• DO ask for clarifications if needed.

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• Keeners top 10 list essay of DO NOTS
• DO NOT use first person or pronouns (I, you, we,
  they) DO NOT NARRATE
• DO NOT use absolutes (always, never)
• NO clichés (thats the way is goes, money talks)
• DO NOT use in conclusion, as you can see
• DO NOT use numeric ordering-1st, secondly, My
  third topic is
• DO NOT use the words things (situations,
  events, issues) or a lot (much, many, often,
  numerous, countless DO NOT narrate (analyze,
  synthesize)
• DO NOT over repeat words (the rule an
  outstanding word may not repeat)
• DO NOT write my thesis is or the main idea of
  this essay is
• DO NOT introduce new info in the conclusion I
  have learned or In the future or As you can
  see this essay has taught a lot or In my
  opinion
• DO NOT allow misspelled words, typos or
  fragmented sentences into your final draft