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Free Printable Outline for the Five Paragraph Essay
Published: February 12, 2015
Contributor: Carrie
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Most students will eventually need to know how to write the 5-Paragraph Essay. Here is a great five paragraph essay printable outline for helping your middle school and high school students with creating an outline for their essays.
Five Paragraph Essays
The idea of five-paragraph essays is a simple format of writing an essay that sets the stage for the progression of more difficult essay assignments. Learning how to write five-paragraph essays helps students to structure basic papers in the future.
Of course, students need to know how to write a paragraph before writing essays though.
What is a five-paragraph essay?
A five-paragraph essay is used to help students write an essay with a specific method. This style is typically what is required in educational assignments and is a writing tool to build a foundation of how papers should be formatted.
Structure of a Five-paragraph Essay
The five-paragraph essay includes one introduction paragraph, three supporting paragraphs that form the body of the essay, and the last paragraph that concludes the essay.
Five Paragraph Essay Structure
The five-paragraph essay is a very specific type of essay that sets the stage for larger forms of writing. Because there is one paragraph at the beginning, one at the end, and three in between, it is often called a one-three-one essay, a three-tier essay, or a hamburger essay.
Introductory Paragraph
The first introductory paragraph is very important and sets the tone for the rest of the essay. The introductory paragraph should contain a thesis statement.
The thesis statement is a single sentence that summarizes what the essay is about. The thesis statement normally includes the writer’s opinion or argument, or point of view.
Another purpose of the introductory paragraph is to briefly state what will follow in the body of the essay. This only gives an idea of what will be in the body of the essay.
Body Paragraphs
The brief sentences in the introduction set the stage for the body of the essay. The bodies of the essay are normally called the “meat” of the essay.
The three paragraphs in the body of the essay include essay details and evidence that supports the thesis statement. However, each paragraph has a topic sentence (the first sentence) that is an umbrella of what that paragraph will be about.
After the topic sentence, the rest of each paragraph is filled with details that support the topic sentence of that paragraph. It is important that the sentences from the paragraphs in the body do not go off-topic but include relevant details.
Concluding Paragraph
The concluding paragraph does just that, concludes the essay with a summary paragraph. No new supporting information should go in this last paragraph.
In this conclusion, the writer rewords the thesis statement. The conclusion should summarize the main idea and the points of the paragraphs in the body section and introduction.
In the conclusion of essay writing, your goal is to convince the reader to do something, think a certain way, or see a view on a particular subject.
How to Start a Five-paragraph Essay
Sometimes the most challenging part of writing an essay is not knowing how to start it. To develop a well written essay, there are certain processes, to begin with that will set the writer up for success.
Start with an outline. Label the outline as follows:
INTRODUCTION
- paragraph 1
- paragraph 2
- paragraph 3
Next, know what the thesis or main topic of the essay will be. The thesis will be the main idea the essay will need to support, prove, and expound on. Once you know the thesis statement, the rest of the can start being filled out.
Beginning your essay with an outline and thesis statement will allow the rest of the essay to fall into place.
How to Transition Between Paragraphs
Another challenge in writing essays is going from one idea to the next. Transitioning from one paragraph to the next in a smooth way is difficult for many.
A well-written work flows smoothly, but that takes experience and time. When students first begin writing, their work can be choppy and often end abruptly.
Transition sentences are the key to making those ideas and paragraphs flow. Use words that connect the new idea. Transition sentences can start with words like “however” or “consequently” or “after.” Find a list of transition words or phrases for your children on Grammarly .
Five Paragraph Essay FAQ
Frequently asked questions are a great go-to when students learn to write in a five-paragraph essay format.
How do you outline a 5 paragraph essay?
A five-paragraph essay outline is the best way to help a writer make a skeleton of the most important points of supporting arguments, supporting information, and the entire essay. The below is a good outline to produce good writing in a simple format.
Outline of an essay:
INTRODUCTION (includes the thesis statement and a brief summary of what the essay is about)
- Main idea/theme (this sentence or the last sentence includes a thesis statement)
- Transition sentence
BODY (topic sentences with details, evidence, etc.)
1. paragraph 1
- Transition Sentence
2. paragraph 2
3. paragraph 3
CONCLUSION (review of the three-paragraph points and thesis statement)
- The explanation for why your support for the thesis is correct.
- Your supporting points are summarized briefly.
- Summary and wrap up.
What are the 5 parts of a 5 paragraph essay?
Some new writers confused the 5 different paragraphs of an essay with the 5 parts of that essay. The actual parts of an essay have to do with the essay’s content.
Part 1: Introduction
All types of writing, including essays, need an introduction. It includes a hook, brief background information, and a thesis statement.
Part 2: Argument
The argument is where the body of the essay lies. In a 5 part essay, the argument will be in the 1st of 3 (1 of 3) middle paragraphs. Here writers provide sufficient details that support or explain their thesis statement.
Part 3: Counter Argument
This section continues the three paragraphs (2 of 3) but focuses on the counterargument or just explains alternate views of the topic. This holds evidence for the opposing view or just an alternate view from the thesis.
Part 4: Rebuttal
In the rebuttal part of the essay (3 of 3), writers can refute the claims from the counterargument. Writers can challenge the ideas that do not support the thesis and prove/support the thesis. This last paragraph should be persuasive in nature and end with a concluding sentence.
Part 5: Conclusion
The matter of the thesis rests in the conclusion. Therefore, the writers should restate the thesis and follow it with a summary of all the claims made in the body of the 5 part essay.
How many sentences are in a five-paragraph essay?
It is customary for a five-paragraph essay to have about 25-40 sentences. In that essay, each paragraph should hold 5-8 sentences.
How long does it take to write a 5-paragraph essay?
This seems like a simple enough question. However, the time it takes to write a five-paragraph essay can vary on many factors.
The consensus is that a five-paragraph essay should take about 3 hours for a straightforward topic and 5 hours if the topic is more complex. Please be advised that writing is not the bulk of the time. The bulk of the time may come from research and getting the information to add to the outline.
How do you begin a paragraph?
Because a paragraph should discuss a single topic, it also starts with a topic sentence. A good topic sentence pulls the audience into the rest of the supporting sentences.
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Five Paragraph Essay Printable Outline
Five-paragraph essays provide the foundation for writing essays and papers of any length and structure. Use this printable 5 Paragraph Essay Outline to help students get their thoughts organized on paper. This will enable them to remember the steps of writing a five paragraph essay.
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In conclusion.
The conclusion of your essay repeats the thesis statement (maybe not word for word ) and reiterates the essay’s overall purpose. The writer has the freedom to invite the reader to consider their views. Remember that no new ideas should appear in the conclusion/the final paragraph.
So, in conclusion of this blog post, remember that the introduction and conclusion are like bookends. The five-paragraph model shows three body paragraphs but can be expanded once writers are used to the five-paragraph essay.
Once the outline is put into five-paragraph form, write the first draft. Have someone read the draft and make more edits. The final draft is what is handed in.
It is important that students learn the foundations of the five-paragraph essay. If they continue their education, they must build upon that five-paragraph frame in their academic writing.
Any writing assignment would benefit from the 5-paragraph structure of your essay to adopt as a writing style. Whether it be a persuasive essay, argumentative essay, a literary analysis, or any different types of essays, using this three-tier model is the easiest way to produce good writing.
Carrie Fernandez is the founder of Homeschool Giveaways and owner of Daily Skill Building . She has been homeschooling for over 18 years, has two girls and works side by side at home with her awesome husband. She has been saved by grace, fails daily, but continues to strive toward the prize of the high calling of being a daughter of the Most High God.
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The Basic Five Paragraph Essay: Format and Outline Worksheet. Below is the pattern or format used to write a basic five-paragraph essay. Because it allows you to present information and ideas clearly and logically, it is applicable to many styles of essay for many types of academic disciplines. There is an Outline worksheet on the back of this ...
Outline for a Five-Paragraph Essay Paragraph 1: Introduction The introductory paragraph should include the following elements: Paragraph 2: Body Paragraph Paragraph 3: Body Paragraph Paragraph 4: Body Paragraph Paragraph 5: Conclusion The conclusion revisits your overall purpose for writing and often invites your reader to consider the
Five Paragraph Outline . A classic composition format is the five-paragraph essay. It is not the only format for writing an essay, of course; however, it is a useful tool for you to use and adapt, especially as you begin to develop your compositions skills. Writing an outline allows you to organize your main thoughts into single segments and
your paragraph. 3. Concluding sentence— End with a sentence that ties the paragraph's topic directly back to the thesis statement. *Adapted from The College Writer (Brief): A Guide to Thinking, Writing, and Researching (3rd ed.), 2009, p. 57. TIP: Academic paragraphs should range in length from 150-250 words. When gauging the length of
T her e is an Outline wor ksheet on the back of this pa ge to help you star t planning the content, order and org anization of your essay. Parag raph 1: Intr oduction-- If possible, open with an attention-g etting device to interest the reader (perhaps a quote or question). Introduce the topic of your essay in g eneral, and present some
Graphic Organizer for a Five-Paragraph Essay Paragraph 1: Introduction Paragraph 2: First Body Paragraph (Point 1) Paragraph 3: Second Body Paragraph (Point 2) Paragraph 4: Third Body Paragraph (Point 3) Paragraph 5: Conclusion Topic Sentenc e: Supporting Details : Topic Sentence: Supporting Details : Topic Senten ce: Supporting Details :
5-Paragraph Essay Graphic Organizer I. Introductory Paragraph A. "Hook" B. Thesis Statement (may contain list of 3 main points) II. First Body Paragraph Topic Sentence A. Point 1 1. Proof/Example 2. Proof/Example
Body Paragraph 3. Follow the same guidelines as body paragraph 1, but now focus on your third main point. 5. Conclusion Paragraph. main point. • Revisit your main points, restate your thesis, and consider what idea you want to leave your audience with. A few good ways to end: • Advise your readers. • Give your opinion.
The introductory paragraph should include the following elements: the Paragraph 2: Body Paragraph Paragraph 3: Body Paragraph the revision stage of the writing process. Paragraph 4: Body Paragraph Paragraph 5: Conclusion implications of why your ideas are significant. Think of the introduction and conclusion as "bookends" that serve to hold ...
PERSUASIVE ESSAY OUTLINE When they finish this essay, I want readers to be convinced that... What is the opposing side of your argument, and why is your argument better? CLAIM 1 EVIDENCE AND REFERENCE EVIDENCE AND REFERENCE EVIDENCE AND REFERENCE 1. 2. 1. 2. 1. 2.
The five paragraph essay is a formula often taught in high school. In college, students are often asked to create complex arguments, and the five paragraph essay is often seen as formulaic or too simple. However, the five paragraph essay can be appropriate for short essays (approximately two pages), and in-class essays for timed writing (when ...
Offer some more specific background information (as needed). 3. Provide the title of the piece and the author's name if the essay is about a specific book/poem/article/passage. C. Thesis Statement 1. State your topic and position. Remember that a thesis = claim + reasons. 2. Outline your main points and ideas.
of their essay. 5. Transitions: These are words that denote movement from one topic to the next. They include first, last, third, fourth, next, etc. Teach these words to your students as necessary before starting an essay assignment. 6. Conclusion: This should wrap up the paragraph, or essay in its entirety, re-stating the topic sentence or claim.
GENERAL 5-PARAGRAPH ESSAY OUTLINE I. Introduction a. Attention-getter (anecdotes, facts, statistics, rhetorical questions, description, etc.) b. Background information (narrow down central idea) c. Thesis statement (a claim/assertion that includes a developmental plan outlining your intended argument; list your three main points) II.
Five Paragraph Essay Outline The following outline provides a guide for how a five paragraph essay can be written. If you would like to make an appointment with a tutor for assistance, you can do so HERE! Introduction Paragraph: Attention Grabber (Statement about the topic that grabs the reader's attention):
The Basic Five Paragraph Essay. Below is a pattern or format used to write the basic five-paragraph essay. It can help you present information and ideas clearly and logically. Paragraph 1: Introduction -- If possible, open with an attention-getting device to interest the reader (perhaps a quote or question). Introduce the topic of your essay in ...
Five-Paragraph Essay INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH →Topic sentence: +Thesis (List three reasons supporting the topic sentence): PARAGRAPH TWO →First of all, +"Why? detail":
The 5 Paragraph Essay. I. Introductory Paragraph. Grab the Reader's Attention. historical review - briefly discuss the background of the topic. anecdote - tell a brief story about your topic. surprising statement - tell a disgusting/shocking/joyful fact about your topic. famous person - tell what a celebrity (alive or deceased) said or did ...
Basic 5-Paragraph Essay Outline I. Paragraph I—Int r oduc e topi c A.First supportive ide a B.Second supportive i de a C.Third supportive ide a THESIS S TA TE ME NT: [ For mul a: In t hi s pa pe r I wi l l (ve rb). . .
Line-by-line color-coded organizer to familiarize students with the nuts and bolts of basic essay-writing and organization. This chart shows students line-by-line how to write an essay. Teachers give students this sheet, and students proceed to fill it in. Once this sheet of essay notes has been completed, students use it to create a five-paragraph essay.
Use this graphic organizer to help students create outlines for a five-paragraph writing assignment. This printable is customizable. ... Share these essay outline examples and formats with your writing students! This PDF features essay outline examples and... Add to Favorites. Add to Folder; creative writing: children's book:
Use this printable 5 Paragraph Essay Outline to help students get their thoughts organized on paper. This will enable them to remember the steps of writing a five paragraph essay. Thanks for signing up to access our free 5 Paragraph Essay Outline PDF.