ENGLISH II
BOOK
How is an essay structured?
In order for your essay to be convincing and make sense, it needs to be presented inside a
well structured piece of writing. How do you do this within the framework of an essay's
general structure of Introduction, Body, Conclusion? Firstly, you need to be clear about
what elements you should include within these three sections of an essay. The table below
outlines these elements.
Introduction General statement or orientation to topic
Thesis statement
Brief summary of the main
topics/arguments/points made in the essay
Body 1. Topic sentence A
paragraphs 1. supporting These sentences
sentence support, expand or
2. supporting explain the point
sentence made in the topic
3. supporting sentence
sentence
2. Topic sentence B
1. supporting
sentence
2. supporting
sentence
3. supporting
sentence
3. Topic sentence C
1. supporting
sentence
2. supporting
sentence
3. supporting
sentence
Conclusion Restatement or summary of the main points
made in the body paragraphs and a final
comment (if appropriate)
You also need to be clear about the function of each of these essay sections.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/five_par.htm
ENGLISH II
BOOK
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/five_par.htm
ENGLISH II
BOOK
THE FIVE-PARAGRAPH
ESSAY
A classic format for compositions is the five-paragraph essay. It is not the
only format for writing an essay, of course, but it is a useful model for you
to keep in mind, especially as you begin to develop your composition
skills. The following material is adapted from a handout prepared by Harry
Livermore for his high school English classes at Cook High School in
Adel, Georgia. It is used here with his permission.
Introduction:
Introductory Paragraph
See, first, Writing Introductory Paragraphs for different ways of getting your
reader involved in your essay. The introductory paragraph should also include the thesis
statement, a kind of mini-outline for the paper: it tells the reader what the essay is about.
The last sentence of this paragraph must also contain a transitional "hook" which moves the
reader to the first paragraph of the body of the paper.
Body:
Body First paragraph:
The first paragraph of the body should contain the strongest argument, most
significant example, cleverest illustration, or an obvious beginning point. The first sentence
of this paragraph should include the "reverse hook" which ties in with the transitional hook
at the end of the introductory paragraph. The topic for this paragraph should be in the first
or second sentence. This topic should relate to the thesis statement in the introductory
paragraph. The last sentence in this paragraph should include a transitional hook to tie into
the second paragraph of the body.
Body Second paragraph:
The second paragraph of the body should contain the second strongest argument,
second most significant example, second cleverest illustration, or an obvious follow up the
first paragraph in the body. The first sentence of this paragraph should include the reverse
hook which ties in with the transitional hook at the end of the first paragraph of the body.
The topic for this paragraph should be in the first or second sentence. This topic should
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/five_par.htm
ENGLISH II
BOOK
relate to the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph. The last sentence in this
paragraph should include a transitional hook to tie into the third paragraph of the body.
Body Third paragraph:
The third paragraph of the body should contain the weakest argument, weakest
example, weakest illustration, or an obvious follow up to the second paragraph in the body.
The first sentence of this paragraph should include the reverse hook which ties in with the
transitional hook at the end of the second paragraph. The topic for this paragraph should be
in the first or second sentence. This topic should relate to the thesis statement in the
introductory paragraph. The last sentence in this paragraph should include a transitional
concluding hook that signals the reader that this is the final major point being made in this
paper. This hook also leads into the last, or concluding, paragraph.
Conclusion:
Concluding paragraph:
This paragraph should include the following:
1. an allusion to the pattern used in the introductory paragraph,
2. a restatement of the thesis statement, using some of the original language or
language that "echoes" the original language. (The restatement, however, must
not be a duplicate thesis statement.)
3. a summary of the three main points from the body of the paper.
4. a final statement that gives the reader signals that the discussion has come to
an end. (This final statement may be a "call to action" in an persuasive paper.)
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/five_par.htm
