The 5 Paragraph Essay Format

The First Paragraph:
• Begins with a topic sentence that introduces a general topic or theme.
• Follows the topic sentence with sentences that narrow the focus of the topic or theme, so that it is less general.
• Introduces the author of the text you are writing about (If applicable. If not, move on to the next bullet point).
• Introduces the title of that text (If applicable. If not, move on to the next bullet point).
• Narrows the discussion of the topic by identifying an issue or problem.
• Finishes with a thesis statement, which must be the final sentence of the introductory paragraph. Students will be graded on the quality of the thesis statement, and whether it is in its proper location—the final sentence of the introductory paragraph.
Three Body Paragraphs:
• Begin with topic sentences that clearly relate to the topic, or issue, or problem, that was identified in the introductory paragraph.
• Sentences that elaborate on the focus laid out in the introductory paragraph, and demonstrate a clear connection to the thesis statement.
• A focus that consistently reflects the focus that was promised in the thesis statement, and an analysis that actually engages in comparison-contrast, or cause-effect, depending on what type of paper the student has been assigned to write.
Conclusion Paragraph:
• Avoid phrases like "In conclusion, . . . ."
• Begins with a topic sentence that clearly relates to the topic, or issue, or problem, that was identified in the introductory paragraph.
• Sentences that make connections with, or revisit, points from the introductory paragraph and the body paragraphs. These points now serve to close the paper's argument.
• A final comment, or intellectual conclusion of sorts that points out the larger significance of your argument.
More About Thesis Statements:
The thesis statement must make clear to readers the focus of the paper, and what the paper seeks to accomplish. This semester, students will write different types of papers, such as comparison-contrast, cause-effect, and an argumentative paper. Each of these different types of papers will have different types of thesis statements.
• For example, a comparision-contrast paper might have a thesis that states: "The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast . . . ."
• A cause-effect paper might have a thesis that states: "The purpose of this paper is to examine . . . , the cause of which is . . . ," or "The purpose of this paper is to examine . . . the effect of which is . . . ."


An argumentative paper, however, is quite different because the definition of a thesis statement for an argumentative paper is as follows: A debatable claim. Here students must be careful to include a thesis statement that is indeed a debatable claim, as opposed to a statement of fact, and this is where students often experience difficulties that have a negative impact on the grades papers can receive.

Remember that the purpose of an argumentative paper is to persuade readers, so that by the end of the paper, readers agree with the paper's position on the issue at hand. Basically, to prove a statement of fact does not require much persuasion, but to prove a debatable claim requires much persuasion.

For example, if a student is assigned to write an argumentative paper about alternate-fuel techonlogies for cars, here are two example-thesis statements:
• Example of a poor thesis statement: "Biofuels and electric cars are two technologies that present strong possibilities for the future of transportation."
• Example of an acceptable thesis statement: "Biofuels and electric cars are two technologies that present strong possibilities for the future of transportation, but the choice that makes more sense is biofuels because battery technology is not sufficiently developed, the internal combustion engine would not have to be replaced, and the United States already has a fuel-delivery system available to the masses in the form of gasoline service stations.

Above, the example of a poor thesis is indeed poor because it is simply a statement of fact. It is entirely true that "Biofuels and electric cars are two technologies that present strong possibilities for the future of transportation," so a paper with this thesis statement sets out to prove a point that is pretty much of a given; however, a paper that uses the example of an acceptable thesis must prove to readers that biofuels are the better choice for the future. Moreover, the acceptable thesis statement even goes so far as to lay out for readers the three main points that the paper's body paragraphs will cover.


Always Use Academic Prose:
I will grade all your course work, in part, on how well you apply the following requirements to your writings:
• Do not use contractions.
• Do not use first-person pronouns such as "I" "me" "my."
• Do not use second-person pronouns such as "you" "your" "yours."
• Do not engage in personal stories, meaning stories of your own life experiences, or the experiences of friends, family, and so on.
• Do not begin sentences with conjunctions: but, and, or, nor, for, so, yet.
• Do not pose any questions in any assignments. This means, quite literally, not to use questions. Write sentences in the form of statements instead.
• Do not quote the bible or make allusions to religion in any way.
• Avoid any form of direct address to the reader, such as "think about the fact that . . ."
• Avoid too casual of a prose style, such as sentences that begin with words like "well, sure, now, yes, no."
• Do not use phrases such as, "a lot," "lots" or "lots of," which can usually be replaced with one of the following words: many, most, much, often.
• Do not use exclamation points, for they are almost always unnecessary.
• Periods and commas should be inside of quotation marks, but other forms of punctuation go outside of quotation marks.
• Do not use the word "okay" when words like "acceptable" could be used instead.
• Do not use the word "nowdays," "nowadays," or any slight variation thereof.

Sample essays: http://www.essay-writing-tips.com/samples/sample-of-5-paragraph-essay-on-astronomy.html


Essay types: http://essayinfo.com/essays/5-paragraph_essay.php

Daily Activity:
Tuesday, 8/30- Click to view sentences

Goal:
Students will discuss organizational strategies

Students will understand what nouns are and how they are used
Students will be able to identify compound nouns

Plan:
Students will read their advice paragraphs


1. In small groups, students will present their "Advice" paragraphs
2. Students will discuss organizational strategies and evaluate paragraphs
3. Students will read about nouns on pg 341-42 in their Grammar and Writing textbooks
4. We will review and discuss nouns using practice exercises from the text
5. If time allows, students will complete and review workbook exercises on pages 1 and 2

CLOSURE ACTIVITY:
At the end of each class, students will evaluate their work. This will promote the ability to self and peer edit. It will also facilitate the goal of positive response.

Daily Closure Activity:(Click on the appropriate day when completing the closure activity.
Tuesday, 8/30 - Use two nouns and two compound nouns in ONE sentence.

Monday, 8/29
Correct the following sentences:

1. elements of a short story include plot setting and characterization.

2. Some people think that james Joyce wrote the better stories of all.

Friday, 8/26

Correct the following Sentences:
1. Edgar allan poe was the first writer to view short storys as a separate for of literature.

2. Many of Poes ideas were published in a book entitled The Philosophy of the Short Story.

Thursday, 8/25

Correct the following sentences:
1. Most Short Stories has a limited number of characters.

2. I enjoy short stories because they can be read in one setting
(2 mistakes; 1 is active voice)

Bell Ringer

9/6 Tuesday

Daily Opening Activity:
1. Get your composition notebook.
2. Make sure your name is on the top left had margin on each page
3. Date each entry. UNDERLINE the date.
4. Correct two sentences each day.

Correct the following sentences:
1. The Three Wishes is an old German folk
tale from long ago.
2. In the tale, a woodcutter and his wife have
three wishes but they waste them.

Bell Ringer
Monday, 9/5

Daily Opening Activity:
1. Get your composition notebook.
2. Make sure your name is on the top left had margin on each page
3. Date each entry. UNDERLINE the date.
4. Correct two sentences each day.

Correct the following sentences:
1. In an arabian tale, a genie grants three
wishes to a mischievious boy named
Aladdin.
2. Those there wishes bring Aladdin great
wealth.

Bell Ringer:
Friday, 9/2

Daily Opening Activity:
1. Get your composition notebook.
2. Make sure your name is on the top left had margin on each page
3. Date each entry. UNDERLINE the date.
4. Correct two sentences each day.

Correct the following sentences:
1. Money was what Mr. White first wished for.
2. 200 pounds was alot of money to him.

Bell Ringer
Thursday, 9/1
Daily Opening Activity:
1. Get your composition notebook.
2. Make sure your name is on the top left had margin on each page
3. Date each entry. UNDERLINE the date.
4. Correct two sentences each day.

Correct the following sentences:
1. Mr.White examined the monkey's paw.
Asked why it was special.
2. Morris said, It had a spell put on it by a old
fakir.

Wednesday, 8/31

Daily Opening Activity:
1. Get your composition notebook.
2. Make sure your name is on the top left had margin on each page
3. Date each entry. UNDERLINE the date.
4. Correct two sentences each day.

Correct the following sentences:
1. "The Monkey's Paw" is set in the home of
Mr and Mrs White.
2. Other characters in the story are: Herbert
and sergeant major Morris.

Tuesday, 8/30
Daily Opening Activity:
1. Get your composition notebook.
2. Make sure your name is on the top left had margin on each page
3. Date each entry. UNDERLINE the date.
4. Correct two sentences each day.

Correct the following sentences:
1. The Monkey's Paw was published in 1902,
the story was made into a play a year later.
2. The author of the story was born in London
England.

Wednesday, 8/24
Daily Opening Activity:
1. Get your composition notebook.
2. Make sure your name is on the top left had margin on each page
3. Date each entry. UNDERLINE the date.
4. Correct two sentences each day.

Correct the following sentences:
1. You can make predictions about a story by thinking about you're own experiences!
2. Besides using personal experiences you should also look for story clues.