The Traditional Five – Paragraph Essay

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The Traditional Five Paragraph Essay

• The Three Main Parts
• Introduction, Body, and Conclusion

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OVERALL STRUCTURE OF THE FIVE-PARAGRAPH ESSAY
Introduction Tell them what
youre going to tell them.

Body Tell them.
Conclusion Tell them what youve told
them.
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I. IntroductionThe First Paragraph of the Essay

• The first paragraph of the five paragraph is
  called the introduction. In a non persuasive
  essay, it about three to five sentences long.
• These three to five sentences make up the three
  main parts of the introduction.
• The three main parts of the introductory
  paragraph are named as follows the Lead-In, the
  Transition, and the Thesis Statement/Essay Map.
  They may be explained as follows

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The Lead-In a very general sentence or
sentences that simply introduce(s) the subject
(topic) of the essay.1. Example I do not
remember when and why my father disappeared from
our life, but I do remember that we have never
felt his absence because my mother was always
there for us through good times and bad times.

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Transition A Slightly more specific sentence or
sentences that identify/ies the particular
aspect of the topic that will be discussed
in the essay. In other words, the transition
narrows the topic.1. Example My mother
Enriqueta F. Garcia has three children, all
girls.Throughout the years of raising us, she has
been the source of love and strength for us
girls.2. The particular aspect identified is
that her mother has been a source of love and
strength for her daughters.
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Thesis Statement-Essay Map.

• The Thesis Statement is the main idea of the
  entire essay. In this case, the Thesis Statement
  is that the authors mother is an amazing woman.
• The Essay Map is the list of the three main ideas
  that will be developed in the Body Paragraphs in
  this essay, they are performs the double role of
  a mother and a father, holds a full-time job, and
  still manages to tend to all her daughters
  needs.
• 3. Example She is an amazing woman who
  performs the double role of a mother and a
  father, holds a full-time job, and still manages
  to tend to all our needs.

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II. The Body Paragraph Three Main ComponentsA.
Topic Sentence 1. The topic sentence is the
sentence that expresses the main
idea of the body paragraph,
which is one of the three main supporting
ideas presented in the Essay Map. a.
Example First, my mother has
always been both a Mom and a Dad
to us since we were little.
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Supporting Details1. The supporting details are
the specific pieces of information that
clarify, explain, illustrate and
develop the main idea expressed in the Topic
Sentence. A. Example 1. Like a father,
she 1brings in the
money, 2pays the bills, 3sets
the rules, and 4disciplines
us whenever it
is needed. But even
though she is 5rough and tough,
she 6has a loving and
tender heart.
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Like all mothers, she 7bandages our
wounds, 8gives us kisses,9talks girl
talk to us, or 10simply holds us when we
want to be held. C. Concluding Sentence
1. The concluding sentence gives
closure to the paragraph by
paraphrasing the Topic Sentence. a. Example
In short, despite the absence of my
father, we have never felt that
emotional void because my mother has
been doing an outstanding job of filling
both
a mothers and a fathers role.

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III. The Concluding Paragraph Four Main
Components

• A. Paraphrase of the Lead-In
• 1. Example In conclusion, as one can
  see, thanks to our mother, our fathers
  absence from our world was never a painful
  issue for my sisters and me.
• B. Paraphrase of the Transition
• 2. Example My mother is a strong,
  loving woman

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• Paraphrase of Thesis Statement
  and Essay Map
• 1. Example who, amazingly, has been both a Mom
  and a Dad to us as well as being a
  competent accountant and
  compassionate caregiver.

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• Statement emphasizing and expanding the
  importance of the topic
• 1. Example Her giving spirit and dedication
  to her work and family have been an
  inspiration to us, and
  we will try our very
  best to be just like her so that we
  can instill those values in our own
  children.