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5 Main Parts of an Essay: An Easy Guide to a Solid Structure

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You might think of essays as boring assignments for explaining the themes in Huckleberry Finn or breaking down the characters in The Great Gatsby , but the essay is one of the most timeless forms in all of literature. It’s a genre that includes deep readings of texts, personal essays, and journalistic reports. Before you get to any of that, you need to figure out the basic parts of the essay.

What Are the Parts of an Essay?

You can think of any essay as consisting of three parts: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. You might see some small variations, but for the most part, that is the structure of any essay.

Take the five-paragraph essay as a simple example. With that form, you get one introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. That’s five paragraphs, but three parts.

What Are the Main Parts of an Essay Printable 2022

Like a good word burger: how to write the three parts of an essay.

A good essay is much like a good burger (or a sandwich, but we’re a burger society here). Your intro and conclusion are the buns sandwiching the patty, cheese, and other good toppings of the body paragraphs.

What Is an Introduction Paragraph?

“Hello! My name is Seymour. It’s nice to meet you.” That might seem like a simple, non-essay introduction, but it has all the basic components of what you want in an  introduction paragraph . You start with the hook. Your hook is the first sentence of your entire essay, so you want to grab people’s attention (or hook them) immediately.

From there, you have sentences that lead the reader directly to the thesis sentence . Your thesis is possibly the most important part of your entire essay. It’s the entire raison d'être . It’s what you’re arguing or trying to accomplish with your essay as a whole.

Kaboom! That, the sound of the entire universe forming in an instant, giving rise to apples, toenails, and what we know today as the humble five-paragraph essay. Since that fortuitous moment, the five-paragraph essay has become the favorite assignment among English teachers, to the bemusement of students. Although many educators, professionals, and youths have valid criticisms about the form, the five-paragraph essay is an important component of developing writing skills and critical thought. 

What Is a Body Paragraph?

The body paragraphs are the main part of your essay burger. Each body paragraph presents an idea that supports your thesis. This can include evidence from a literary source, details that build out your thesis, or explanations for your reasoning.

The first sentence of each body paragraph is known as the topic sentence . You can kind of think of it like a smaller part of your thesis sentence. It’s the main idea that you want to discuss in that specific body paragraph. The rest of the body paragraph is made up of supporting sentences, which support that topic sentence.

While many are critical of the five-paragraph essay’s rigid form, that rigidity is part of what makes it so advantageous. Every five-paragraph essay is an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph, and they will always have that structure. With such a stable form, a writer truly only needs to worry about the contents of the essay, putting all the focus on the actual writing and ideas, not the organization.

What Is a Concluding Paragraph?

A burger needs a solid, sturdy bottom bun. Otherwise, the burger would fall apart. The same holds for a conclusion. A good conclusion holds the essay together, while offering a unique finishing touch to the whole thing.

The conclusion is at once the easiest and hardest part of the essay. It’s easy in that it mostly involves restating your thesis and much of what you already discussed. The hard part is thinking outside of the essay and considering how your thesis applies to components of real life.

In conclusion, the five-paragraph essay is a useful and effective form for teaching students how to write and develop their critical thinking skills. It’s not without its setbacks, but it’s a simple form that can give way to other ways of writing. Longer research papers are essentially five-paragraph essays with more body paragraphs, while short fiction and creative writing require similar critical thought and writing acumen. Even if you don’t write, five-paragraph essays can teach you how to use your voice and express your ideas.

Explore Essay Examples

Understanding each part of an essay is essential to writing one, but seeing actual essay examples in the wild can take you from essay noob to essay expert. Look at specific types of essays, and see if you can pick out the different parts in each one — from thesis statements to hooks and concluding sentences. 

• Argumentative Essay Examples
• About Me Essay Examples
• Descriptive Essay Examples
• Examples of Insightful Literary Analysis Essays
• Narrative Essay Examples

Make Your Essay Structure Rock-Solid with These Tips

So you’ve been assigned an essay. Or, probably more realistically, two, three, or four essays  . . . and they’re all due the same week. 

We’ve all been there: overwhelmed, staring down that blank screen, and not sure which essay to start with or how to get it started. 

In high school and college, it’s not enough to just write strong essays. One of the most important skills to develop is writing strong essays efficiently . And the foundation of that skill is knowing how to structure an essay. With a template for the basic essay structure in hand, you can focus on what really matters when you’re writing essays: your arguments and the evidence you’re using to support them. Take a look at the basic essay structure below and see how the parts of an essay work together to present a coherent, well-reasoned position, no matter what topic you’re writing about. 

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Basic essay structure: the 3 main parts of an essay

Almost every single essay that’s ever been written follows the same basic structure: 

Introduction

Body paragraphs.

This structure has stood the test of time for one simple reason: It works. It clearly presents the writer’s position, supports that position with relevant examples, and neatly ties their supporting arguments together in a way that makes their position evident. 

It all starts here. This is where you introduce the topic you’re discussing in your essay and briefly summarize the points you’ll make in the paragraphs that follow. 

This is also where you state your thesis. Your thesis is the most important part of your essay because it’s the point you’re making . It needs to take a clear stance and shouldn’t include hedging language that undermines that stance like “seems to” or “possibly could.”

Here are a few examples of thesis statements:

• In the final scene of The Awakening , Edna Pontellier’s decision demonstrates that it was impossible for her to have the lifestyle she truly wanted in the society in which she lived.
• Due to its volatility and lack of government regulation, Bitcoin cannot become a viable currency for everyday purchases.
• While the habitability of Mars has not yet been proven, evidence suggests that it was once possible due to bacteria samples found on the Red Planet.

An easy way to write your thesis statement is to think of it as a summary of your essay. Your thesis makes and supports your essay’s point in one concise sentence. 

When you proofread your finished essay, make sure your thesis is clearly stated in your introduction paragraph. If it’s not clear, go back and write a definitive thesis statement. 

>>Read More: How to Write a Persuasive Essay

Your essay’s body paragraphs are where you support your thesis statement with facts and evidence. Each body paragraph should focus on one supporting argument for your thesis by discussing related data, content, or events. 

If you’re not sure whether you should include a specific point or detail in your body paragraphs, refer back to your thesis statement. If the detail supports your thesis, it should be in your essay. If it doesn’t, leave it out. Your thesis statement is the core of your basic essay structure, so everything else in the essay needs to relate to it in some way. 

In your essay’s conclusion paragraph , you summarize the points you made and bring your argument to its logical conclusion. Because your reader is now familiar with your thesis, the summary in your conclusion paragraph can be more direct and conclusive than the one in your intro paragraph.

>>Read More: 7 Writing Tips from Professors to Help you Crush your First Essays

How many paragraphs are in an essay?

There’s no hard-and-fast requirement for college essays. In high school, you were probably taught to write five-paragraph essays. This is a solid essay structure to work with, but in college, you generally have more flexibility with assignment lengths and formats. 

Now, consider five the minimum—not the standard—number of paragraphs you should include in your essays. 

Essay structure examples

There are a few different ways to present information in an essay. Often, your assignment will tell you what kind of essay to write, such as a chronological, compare and contrast, or problems-methods-solution essay. If you’re not sure which is best for your assignment, ask your instructor. 

Chronological

A chronological essay guides the reader through a series of events. This essay structure is ideal if you’re writing about:

• A current or historical event
• A book or article you read for class
• A process or procedure

With this kind of essay, you first introduce your topic and summarize the series of events in your introduction paragraph. Then, each body paragraph takes the reader through a key stage in that series, which might be a decisive battle in history, a pivotal scene in a novel, or a critical stage in a judicial process. In your conclusion, you present the end result of the series you discussed, underscoring your thesis with this result. 

Compare and contrast

A compare-and-contrast essay has a structure that discusses multiple subjects, like several novels, concepts, or essays you’ve been assigned to read.

There are a few different ways to structure a compare-and-contrast essay. The most obvious is to spend one paragraph discussing the similarities between the topics you’re covering (comparing), then one paragraph detailing their differences (contrasting), followed by a paragraph that explores whether they’re more alike or more different from each other. 

Another method is to only compare, where each of your body paragraphs discusses a similarity between the topics at hand. Or you can go the only-contrast route, where your body paragraphs explore the differences. Whichever you decide on, make sure each paragraph is focused on one topic sentence . Every new comparison or contrast should occupy its own paragraph.

Problems-methods-solution

As its name implies, this kind of essay structure presents the writer’s position in three segments:

• Ways to resolve the problem 
• The solution achieved by using these strategies to resolve the problem 

This kind of essay works great if you’re discussing methods for resolving a problem, like knowing how to distinguish between credible and non-credible sources when you’re doing research for assignments. It can also work when you’re tasked with explaining why certain solutions haven’t worked to fix the problems they were created for. 

With this kind of essay, begin by introducing the problem at hand. In the subsequent body paragraphs, cover possible methods for resolving the problem, discussing how each is suited to fixing the problem, and potential challenges that can arise with each. You can certainly state which you think is the best choice—that could even be your thesis statement. In your conclusion paragraph, summarize the problem again and the desired resolution, endorsing your method of choice (if you have one). 

In this kind of essay, you can also include a call to action in your final paragraph. A call to action is a direct order for the reader to take a specific action, like “call your congressperson today and tell them to vote no” or “visit grammarly.com today to add Grammarly browser extension for free.”

>>Read More: How to Write Better Essays: 5 Concepts you Must Master

With the basic essay structure down, you can get to writing

For a lot of students, getting started is the hardest part of writing an essay. Knowing how to structure an essay can get you past this seemingly insurmountable first step because it gives you a clear skeleton upon which to flesh out your thoughts. With that step conquered, you’re on your way to crushing your assignment.

Guide on How to Write a 5 Paragraph Essay Effortlessly

Defining What Is a 5 Paragraph Essay

Have you ever been assigned a five-paragraph essay and wondered what exactly it means? Don't worry; we all have been there. A five-paragraph essay is a standard academic writing format consisting of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

In the introduction, you present your thesis statement, which is the main idea or argument you will discuss in your essay. The three body paragraphs present a separate supporting argument, while the conclusion summarizes the main points and restates the thesis differently.

While the five-paragraph essay is a tried and true format for many academic assignments, it's important to note that it's not the only way to write an essay. In fact, some educators argue that strict adherence to this format can stifle creativity and limit the development of more complex ideas.

However, mastering the five-paragraph essay is a valuable skill for any student, as it teaches the importance of structure and organization in writing. Also, it enables you to communicate your thoughts clearly and eloquently, which is crucial for effective communication in any area. So the next time you're faced with a five-paragraph essay assignment, embrace the challenge and use it as an opportunity to hone your writing skills.

And if you find it difficult to put your ideas into 5 paragraphs, ask our professional service - 'please write my essay ,' or ' write my paragraph ' and consider it done.

How to Write a 5 Paragraph Essay: General Tips

If you are struggling with how to write a 5 paragraph essay, don't worry! It's a common format that many students learn in their academic careers. Here are some tips from our admission essay writing service to help you write a successful five paragraph essay example:

• Start with a strong thesis statement : Among the 5 parts of essay, the thesis statement can be the most important. It presents the major topic you will debate throughout your essay while being explicit and simple.
• Use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph : The major idea you will address in each of the three body paragraphs should be established in a concise subject sentence.
• Use evidence to support your arguments : The evidence you present in your body paragraphs should back up your thesis. This can include facts, statistics, or examples from your research or personal experience.
• Include transitions: Use transitional words and phrases to make the flow of your essay easier. Words like 'although,' 'in addition,' and 'on the other hand' are examples of these.
• Write a strong conclusion: In addition to restating your thesis statement in a new way, your conclusion should highlight the key ideas of your essay. You might also leave the reader with a closing idea or query to reflect on.
• Edit and proofread: When you've completed writing your essay, thoroughly revise and proofread it. Make sure your thoughts are brief and clear and proofread your writing for grammatical and spelling mistakes.

By following these tips, you can write strong and effective five paragraph essays examples that will impress your teacher or professor.

5 Paragraph Essay Format

Let's readdress the five-paragraph essay format and explain it in more detail. So, as already mentioned, it is a widely-used writing structure taught in many schools and universities. A five-paragraph essay comprises an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion, each playing a significant role in creating a well-structured and coherent essay.

The introduction serves as the opening paragraph of the essay and sets the tone for the entire piece. It should captivate the reader's attention, provide relevant background information, and include a clear and concise thesis statement that presents the primary argument of the essay. For example, if the essay topic is about the benefits of exercise, the introduction may look something like this:

'Regular exercise provides numerous health benefits, including increased energy levels, improved mental health, and reduced risk of chronic diseases.'

The body paragraphs are the meat of the essay and should provide evidence and examples to support the thesis statement. Each body paragraph should begin with a subject sentence that states the major idea of the paragraph. Then, the writer should provide evidence to support the topic sentence. This evidence can be in the form of statistics, facts, or examples. For instance, if the essay is discussing the health benefits of exercise, a body paragraph might look like this:

'One of the key benefits of exercise is improved mental health. Regular exercise has been demonstrated in studies to lessen depressive and anxious symptoms and enhance mood.'

The essay's final paragraph, the conclusion, should repeat the thesis statement and summarize the essay's important ideas. A concluding idea or query might be included to give the reader something to ponder. For example, a conclusion for an essay on the benefits of exercise might look like this:

'In conclusion, exercise provides numerous health benefits, from increased energy levels to reduced risk of chronic diseases. We may enhance both our physical and emotional health and enjoy happier, more satisfying lives by including exercise into our daily routines.'

Overall, the 5 paragraph essay format is useful for organizing thoughts and ideas clearly and concisely. By following this format, writers can present their arguments logically and effectively, which is easy for the reader to follow.

Types of 5 Paragraph Essay 

There are several types of five-paragraph essays, each with a slightly different focus or purpose. Here are some of the most common types of five-paragraph essays:

• Narrative essay : A narrative essay tells a story or recounts a personal experience. It typically includes a clear introductory paragraph, body sections that provide details about the story, and a conclusion that wraps up the narrative.
• Descriptive essay: A descriptive essay uses sensory language to describe a person, place, or thing. It often includes a clear thesis statement that identifies the subject of the description and body paragraphs that provide specific details to support the thesis.
• Expository essay: An expository essay offers details or clarifies a subject. It usually starts with a concise introduction that introduces the subject, is followed by body paragraphs that provide evidence and examples to back up the thesis, and ends with a summary of the key points.
• Persuasive essay: A persuasive essay argues for a particular viewpoint or position. It has a thesis statement that is clear, body paragraphs that give evidence and arguments in favor of it, and a conclusion that summarizes the important ideas and restates the thesis.
• Compare and contrast essay: An essay that compares and contrasts two or more subjects and looks at their similarities and differences. It usually starts out simply by introducing the topics being contrasted or compared, followed by body paragraphs that go into more depth on the similarities and differences, and a concluding paragraph that restates the important points.

Each type of five-paragraph essay has its own unique characteristics and requirements. When unsure how to write five paragraph essay, writers can choose the most appropriate structure for their topic by understanding the differences between these types.

5 Paragraph Essay Example Topics

Here are some potential topics for a 5 paragraph essay example. These essay topics are just a starting point and can be expanded upon to fit a wide range of writing essays and prompts.

• The Impact of Social Media on Teenage Communication Skills.
• How Daily Exercise Benefits Mental and Physical Health.
• The Importance of Learning a Second Language.
• The Effects of Global Warming on Marine Life.
• The Role of Technology in Modern Education.
• The Influence of Music on Youth Culture.
• The Pros and Cons of Uniform Policies in Schools.
• The Significance of Historical Monuments in Cultural Identity.
• The Growing Importance of Cybersecurity.
• The Evolution of the American Dream.
• The Impact of Diet on Cognitive Functioning.
• The Role of Art in Society.
• The Future of Renewable Energy Sources.
• The Effects of Urbanization on Wildlife.
• The Importance of Financial Literacy for Young Adults.
• The Influence of Advertising on Consumer Choices.
• The Role of Books in the Digital Age.\
• The Benefits and Challenges of Space Exploration.
• The Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture.
• The Ethical Implications of Genetic Modification.

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General Grading Rubric for a 5 Paragraph Essay

The following is a general grading rubric that can be used to evaluate a five-paragraph essay:

Content (40%)

• A thesis statement is clear and specific
• The main points are well-developed and supported by evidence
• Ideas are organized logically and coherently
• Evidence and examples are relevant and support the main points
• The essay demonstrates a strong understanding of the topic

Organization (20%)

• The introduction effectively introduces the topic and thesis statement
• Body paragraphs are well-structured and have clear topic sentences
• Transitions between paragraphs are smooth and effective
• The concluding sentence effectively summarizes the main points and restates the thesis statement

Language and Style (20%)

• Writing is clear, concise, and easy to understand
• Language is appropriate for the audience and purpose
• Vocabulary is varied and appropriate
• Grammar, spelling, and punctuation are correct

Critical Thinking (20%)

• Student demonstrate an understanding of the topic beyond surface-level knowledge
• Student present a unique perspective or argument
• Student show evidence of critical thinking and analysis
• Students write well-supported conclusions

Considering the above, the paper should demonstrate a thorough understanding of the topic, clear organization, strong essay writing skills, and critical thinking. By using this grading rubric, the teacher can evaluate the essay holistically and provide detailed feedback to the student on areas of strength and areas for improvement.

Five Paragraph Essay Examples

Wrapping up: things to remember.

In conclusion, writing a five paragraph essay example can seem daunting at first, but it doesn't have to be a difficult task. Following these simple steps and tips, you can break down the process into manageable parts and create a clear, concise, and well-organized essay.

Remember to start with a strong thesis statement, use topic sentences to guide your paragraphs, and provide evidence and analysis to support your ideas. Don't forget to revise and proofread your work to make sure it is error-free and coherent. With time and practice, you'll be able to write a 5 paragraph essay with ease and assurance. Whether you're writing for school, work, or personal projects, these skills will serve you well and help you to communicate your ideas effectively.

Meanwhile, you can save time and reduce the stress associated with academic assignments by trusting our research paper writing services to handle the writing for you. So go ahead, buy an essay , and see how easy it can be to meet all of your professors' complex requirements!

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Related Articles

The Ultimate Guide to the 5-Paragraph Essay

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• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

A five-paragraph essay is a prose composition that follows a prescribed format of an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph, and is typically taught during primary English education and applied on standardized testing throughout schooling.

Learning to write a high-quality five-paragraph essay is an essential skill for students in early English classes as it allows them to express certain ideas, claims, or concepts in an organized manner, complete with evidence that supports each of these notions. Later, though, students may decide to stray from the standard five-paragraph format and venture into writing an  exploratory essay  instead.

Still, teaching students to organize essays into the five-paragraph format is an easy way to introduce them to writing literary criticism, which will be tested time and again throughout their primary, secondary, and further education.

Writing a Good Introduction

The introduction is the first paragraph in your essay, and it should accomplish a few specific goals: capture the reader's interest, introduce the topic, and make a claim or express an opinion in a thesis statement.

It's a good idea to start your essay with a hook (fascinating statement) to pique the reader's interest, though this can also be accomplished by using descriptive words, an anecdote, an intriguing question, or an interesting fact. Students can practice with creative writing prompts to get some ideas for interesting ways to start an essay.

The next few sentences should explain your first statement, and prepare the reader for your thesis statement, which is typically the last sentence in the introduction. Your  thesis sentence  should provide your specific assertion and convey a clear point of view, which is typically divided into three distinct arguments that support this assertation, which will each serve as central themes for the body paragraphs.

Writing Body Paragraphs

The body of the essay will include three body paragraphs in a five-paragraph essay format, each limited to one main idea that supports your thesis.

To correctly write each of these three body paragraphs, you should state your supporting idea, your topic sentence, then back it up with two or three sentences of evidence. Use examples that validate the claim before concluding the paragraph and using transition words to lead to the paragraph that follows — meaning that all of your body paragraphs should follow the pattern of "statement, supporting ideas, transition statement."

Words to use as you transition from one paragraph to another include: moreover, in fact, on the whole, furthermore, as a result, simply put, for this reason, similarly, likewise, it follows that, naturally, by comparison, surely, and yet.

Writing a Conclusion

The final paragraph will summarize your main points and re-assert your main claim (from your thesis sentence). It should point out your main points, but should not repeat specific examples, and should, as always, leave a lasting impression on the reader.

The first sentence of the conclusion, therefore, should be used to restate the supporting claims argued in the body paragraphs as they relate to the thesis statement, then the next few sentences should be used to explain how the essay's main points can lead outward, perhaps to further thought on the topic. Ending the conclusion with a question, anecdote, or final pondering is a great way to leave a lasting impact.

Once you complete the first draft of your essay, it's a good idea to re-visit the thesis statement in your first paragraph. Read your essay to see if it flows well, and you might find that the supporting paragraphs are strong, but they don't address the exact focus of your thesis. Simply re-write your thesis sentence to fit your body and summary more exactly, and adjust the conclusion to wrap it all up nicely.

Practice Writing a Five-Paragraph Essay

Students can use the following steps to write a standard essay on any given topic. First, choose a topic, or ask your students to choose their topic, then allow them to form a basic five-paragraph by following these steps:

• Decide on your  basic thesis , your idea of a topic to discuss.
• Decide on three pieces of supporting evidence you will use to prove your thesis.
• Write an introductory paragraph, including your thesis and evidence (in order of strength).
• Write your first body paragraph, starting with restating your thesis and focusing on your first piece of supporting evidence.
• End your first paragraph with a transitional sentence that leads to the next body paragraph.
• Write paragraph two of the body focussing on your second piece of evidence. Once again make the connection between your thesis and this piece of evidence.
• End your second paragraph with a transitional sentence that leads to paragraph number three.
• Repeat step 6 using your third piece of evidence.
• Begin your concluding paragraph by restating your thesis. Include the three points you've used to prove your thesis.
• End with a punch, a question, an anecdote, or an entertaining thought that will stay with the reader.

Once a student can master these 10 simple steps, writing a basic five-paragraph essay will be a piece of cake, so long as the student does so correctly and includes enough supporting information in each paragraph that all relate to the same centralized main idea, the thesis of the essay.

Limitations of the Five-Paragraph Essay

The five-paragraph essay is merely a starting point for students hoping to express their ideas in academic writing; there are some other forms and styles of writing that students should use to express their vocabulary in the written form.

According to Tory Young's "Studying English Literature: A Practical Guide":

"Although school students in the U.S. are examined on their ability to write a  five-paragraph essay , its  raison d'être  is purportedly to give practice in basic writing skills that will lead to future success in more varied forms. Detractors feel, however, that writing to rule in this way is more likely to discourage imaginative writing and thinking than enable it. . . . The five-paragraph essay is less aware of its  audience  and sets out only to present information, an account or a kind of story rather than explicitly to persuade the reader."

Students should instead be asked to write other forms, such as journal entries, blog posts, reviews of goods or services, multi-paragraph research papers, and freeform expository writing around a central theme. Although five-paragraph essays are the golden rule when writing for standardized tests, experimentation with expression should be encouraged throughout primary schooling to bolster students' abilities to utilize the English language fully.

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What are the parts of an essay, how do i write an introduction, how do i write the body of my essay, how do i write the conclusion, how do i create a reference list, how do i improve my essay.

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• Introduction
• Each is made up of one or several paragraphs.
• The purpose of this section is to introduce the topic and why it matters, identify the specific focus of the paper, and indicate how the paper will be organized.
• To keep from being too broad or vague, try to incorporate a keyword from your title in the first sentence.
• For example, you might tell readers that the issue is part of an important debate or provide a statistic explaining how many people are affected.  
• Defining your terms is particularly important if there are several possible meanings or interpretations of the term.
• Try to frame this as a statement of your focus. This is also known as a purpose statement, thesis argument, or hypothesis.
• The purpose of this section is to provide information and arguments that follow logically from the main point you identified in your introduction. 
• Identify the main ideas that support and develop your paper’s main point.
• For longer essays, you may be required to use subheadings to label your sections.
• Point: Provide a topic sentence that identifies the topic of the paragraph.
• Proof: Give evidence or examples that develop and explain the topic (e.g., these may come from your sources).
• Significance: Conclude the paragraph with sentence that tells the reader how your paragraph supports the main point of your essay.
• The purpose of this section is to summarize the main points of the essay and identify the broader significance of the topic or issue.
• Remind the reader of the main point of your essay (without restating it word-for-word).
• Summarize the key ideas that supported your main point. (Note: No new information or evidence should be introduced in the conclusion.) 
• Suggest next steps, future research, or recommendations.
• Answer the question “Why should readers care?” (implications, significance).
• Find out what style guide you are required to follow (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) and follow the guidelines to create a reference list (may be called a bibliography or works cited).
• Be sure to include citations in the text when you refer to sources within your essay.
• Cite Your Sources - University of Guelph
• Read assignment instructions carefully and refer to them throughout the writing process.
• e.g., describe, evaluate, analyze, explain, argue, trace, outline, synthesize, compare, contrast, critique.
• For longer essays, you may find it helpful to work on a section at a time, approaching each section as a “mini-essay.”
• Make sure every paragraph, example, and sentence directly supports your main point.
• Aim for 5-8 sentences or ¾ page.
• Visit your instructor or TA during office hours to talk about your approach to the assignment.
• Leave yourself time to revise your essay before submitting.
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Main 5 Parts of an Essay: Easy Guidelines for Writers

22 December 2023

last updated

Five-paragraph essays are one form of academic writing that helps students build their writing, critical thinking, analytical, and persuasive skills. As the most common example of this type of essay, an argumentative essay allows students to address an issue by looking at the evidence available in scholarly sources. Also, the evidence is essential in backing up the writer’s arguments, counter arguments, and rebuttals. As a result, such a paper has 5 parts of an essay: the introduction, writer’s arguments, counter arguments, refutation, and conclusion.

General Guidelines on 5 Parts of an Essay

Essay writing is an academic exercise that enhances students’ writing, critical thinking, reflection, and analytical skills. Besides providing students with a platform for using these skills, essay writing allows them to build effective communication skills by using 5 parts of an essay. In this case, scholars write different types of essays , including narrative, expository, argumentative, persuasive, and comparative. Then, the choice of which essay to write and its topic are details that instructors give to students. However, authors can choose essay topics if they have such options. When students write a 5-paragraph essay , they must ensure to capture content in five parts, which address separate but related subjects. In turn, these sections include the introduction, supporting details covered in three body paragraphs, and conclusion. Besides, the most common five-paragraph essays are argumentative, where three body paragraphs cover the argument, counter argument, and rebuttal.

Five-Paragraph Essay Outline

Regular version:

I. Introduction II. Body Paragraph: Argument 1 III. Body Paragraph: Argument 2 IV. Body Paragraph: Argument 3 V. Conclusion

Argumentative essay:

I. Introduction II. Argument III. Counter Argument IV. Rebuttal V. Conclusion

Hence, regular essays are more prevalent in the academic sphere, and the task is usually to write something like a 500-words essay on a given topic. The essay outline in such a case will vary and might be altered with additional subheadings. However, an argumentative essay is a more complex version.

Writing 5 Parts of an Essay: Step-by-Step Guide

Based on an essay outline of 5 parts indicated above, it is clear that the content of each of the five paragraphs is unique. However, it all revolves around topics that students interrogate. For example, if authors are examining the medical benefits of marijuana, the introduction part should introduce readers to this topic. Here, writers can offer the context of the theme by discussing the debate around medical marijuana. In the argument section, scholars should state the medicinal benefits of marijuana by citing research evidence. In the counter argument section, scholars should discuss ideas that challenge the claims made in the previous section. On the other hand, the rebuttal section should challenge the ideas in the counter argument part, while the conclusion segment should confirm some reasons as to why marijuana has medical benefits.

Part 1: Introduction

It is standard in academic writing for students to begin every text with an introduction. By considering a structure of 5 parts of an essay, the introduction sets the stage for the author’s claims in the main text. Here, students must ensure to address three things: that they have the readers’ attention, that they have contextualized their message, and that they have made clear the intention of the text. In short, the introduction comprises a hook, background information about the topic, and a thesis statement .

To arouse curiosity in readers’ minds, students should start the introduction section with a hook. Ideally, this is a powerful, eye-catching statement that grabs the readers’ attention and makes them interested in continuing to read the essay. Basically, if scholars know how to write a hook , they understand their audience. In turn, a hook sentence can be a quote from a notable personality, a research finding, a controversial statement by a noteworthy figure, or a joke. Also, the hook’s essence is to make sure the audience is fully engaged in the essay right from the start.

B. Background Information

The best way to make the audience keen on what writers say in their text is to provide them with the topic’s context. In other words, starting this section of 5 parts of an essay by going straight into claims and arguments without giving readers information that makes them conversant with issues relevant to the topic is like leading blind followers. However, background information makes readers aware of the context of the topic. In turn, by assuming the topic is the legalization of marijuana, students should write about the debate surrounding the topic, including arguments for and against legalization. Besides, authors should not dwell too much on background information.

C. Thesis Statement

The thesis statement is the claim that writers make in concluding the introduction part of their essays. Basically, the essence of this statement is that it exemplifies the writer’s main argument in the text. Moreover, all the body paragraphs should provide content that underscores this statement. Then, considering the above example about the legalization of marijuana, authors can conclude the introduction part by stating that the benefits of legalizing marijuana far outweigh the costs. As a result, this statement becomes the thesis that guides the entire paper.

Part 2: Arguments

The second section of 5 parts of an essay is the body. In particular, students delve into the topic by analyzing evidence that backs up their thesis. For example, writers provide readers with sufficient details about the topic, using the thesis statement as the guidepost. In a five-paragraph essay, the first part of the body (which is the second section of the article) emphasizes the writer’s arguments. Then, by considering the topic of marijuana legalization and the thesis statement that claims the benefits of legalizing marijuana far outweigh the costs, writers use this section to back up this claim. To make their argument credible, authors must rely on scholarly articles to find evidence that supports their claim. In turn, it means using scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and official publications as sources of this evidence.

A. Writer’s Claims

Claims are the primary content in body paragraphs of an argumentative essay . In the first part of this section, students offer claims in support of the thesis statement. Basically, these claims are different from the writer’s opinion because they are backed by evidence from scholarly texts. Also, such claims can be as many as authors wish. However, there must not be too many statements to make papers lack the author’s voice. Then, in every claim that students make, there must be supporting evidence and the author’s interpretation. In turn, the interpretation reflects how writers understand the evidence in the context of their central argument. Hence, besides providing supporting evidence, scholars must mention how it strengthens the thesis statement.

B. Evidence

Evidence includes facts and statistics that students find in the process of researching the topic. Basically, rules of academic writing dictate that authors should rely on scholarly sources to find evidence that backs up their claims. For example, there are many criteria for identifying scholarly sources, but the most common are: a) sources must have an author with notable academic credentials; b) sources must be published, such as a book or journal article ; and c) sources must be written in a formal language without jargon or slang.

Part 3: Counter Argument

The third section of 5 parts of an essay, which is the second part of the main text, focuses on counter arguments. Ideally, it makes no sense for a writer to outline arguments in favor of an issue without recognizing divergent views. In this case, the counter argument section is where authors mention discussions by critics and scholars that undermine the claim established in the thesis statement. To make sure the entire paper is scholarly, writers should also back up these counter arguments with evidence from academic sources .

Part 4: Rebuttal

After mentioning arguments that counter the main argument in the thesis, students should refute these claims. Basically, the fourth section of a 5-paragraph argumentative essay, which is the third part of the main text, is the rebuttal. In this case, writers challenge counter arguments to convince readers of the validity of the claim established in the thesis statement. Then, the best approach in writing refutations is to point out any notable flaws in the counter argument(s). Like in all other cases where authors make a claim, supporting or challenging the thesis statement, evidence from academic sources should back up such refutations. Hence, this section aims to convince readers that, despite contrary evidence, the writer’s argument is weighty.

A. Essentials of Persuasive Paragraphs

When organizing three body sections from 5 parts of an essay, students must ensure what they write in these segments is persuasive. In a five-paragraph essay, authors should start each of the three body paragraphs – argument, counter argument, and rebuttal sections – with a topic sentence. For example, if scholars know how to write a topic sentence , they understand that it establishes the writer’s focus in that particular paragraph. However, in order to have a proper logical flow, all topic sentences should be related to the thesis statement. Consequently, writers should end each paragraph with a concluding sentence. In turn, this statement links the topic sentence to the thesis statement and creates a transition to the next section. Moreover, the content that goes between the topic and concluding sentences is evidence, analysis, and interpretation. In essence, it is a sandwich rule.

Part 5: Conclusion

The last section of 5 parts of an essay is the conclusion. Basically, it is a place where writers rest the matter. Basically, chances that readers may have lost bearing about the writer’s mission are always high toward the end of an essay. As such, authors should restate the thesis statement in the conclusion part to remind the audience about the paper’s original intention. What should follow is a summary of the claims, including the writer’s arguments, counter arguments, and refutations. Moreover, scholars should be clear that their arguments are valid despite contrary evidence. In turn, the last statement should capture the writer’s concluding thought. Here, students should offer readers a perspective of what would happen if their arguments are implemented. In other words, they should emphasize the practical implications of their argument(s).

Summing Up on 5 Parts of an Essay

Essay writing is an essential academic activity for developing students writing, critical thinking, analytical, and persuasive skills. When considering 5 parts of an essay, students should focus on getting sufficient content to fill these sections. For example, these parts are the introduction, writer’s arguments, counter arguments, rebuttals, and conclusion. In turn, students should master the following tips when writing a five-paragraph essay:

• maintain an academic tone by avoiding jargon and slang;
• use scholarly sources to find evidence that backs up claims;
• ensure the introduction paragraph closes with a thesis statement;
• open every body paragraph (writer’s argument, counter argument, and rebuttal) with a topic sentence and close with a concluding sentence.

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What Are the 5 Parts of an Essay?

When you first learn how to write an essay, you are usually taught how to write the five-paragraph essay. As you develop as a writer and move on to higher grades, you'll write longer and more complex essays that will have more than five paragraphs. Yet no matter how many paragraphs your essay includes, it still needs to perform the same function: present a compelling argument in favor of or against a certain position.

Introduction

The first part of your essay will be the introduction and it should begin by telling the reader specifically what topic your essay is addressing. Near the end of your introduction should be your thesis statement, which is a clear and concise statement that presents your argument. The last sentence of the introduction should be a transitional sentence that relates to the first body paragraph of the essay.

First Body Paragraph

The second part of the essay should be the first body paragraph, and it should present the strongest point that proves your thesis statement. The first sentence in this paragraph should tie into the transitional sentence in the introduction. Subsequent sentences should describe specific examples that relate to the point you are arguing in the paragraph. Like the last sentence in the introduction, the last sentence in this paragraph should be transitional and lead into the argument you will present in the next body paragraph.

Second Body Paragraph

The third part of the five-paragraph essay should present the second most compelling argument in support of your thesis. The first sentence should tie into the transitional sentence in the first body paragraph and you should clearly state the argument you are presenting in this paragraph near the beginning of the paragraph. Use examples to support this argument in subsequent sentences and end the paragraph with a transitional sentence into your third and final body paragraph.

Third Body Paragraph

The final body paragraph is the fourth part of the five-paragraph essay, and this section should present your weakest argument in support of your thesis statement. Although this may be your weakest argument, do not suggest this in the essay or overcompensate by providing too many examples; structure it in the same way you did the previous two body paragraphs. End the third body paragraph with a concluding statement that makes it obvious to the reader that this is the final major point you will make.

The final part of the five-paragraph essay is the conclusion. This paragraph should restate the thesis statement, but the restatement must not be a duplicate of the thesis statement itself. The conclusion should also summarize the three major points you addressed in each body paragraph. The final sentence of the conclusion should be a clear signal that the essay has ended; it may also include an application to your argument or something that the reader can think about after he has finished reading the essay.

Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Jordan Whitehouse has been writing on food and drink, small business, and community development since 2004. His work has appeared in a wide range of online and print publications across Canada, including Atlantic Business Magazine, The Grid and Halifax Magazine. Whitehouse studied English literature and psychology at Queen's University, and book and magazine publishing at Centennial College.

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Essay structure: 5 main parts of an essay.

Essay writing.

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Essay writing is one of the most popular forms of writing you will ever encounter in life. However, its popularity doesn’t always equal to our ability to excel at it. This is the reason why it’s very important to learn how to write a perfect essay . Essay writing is not something that is only helpful when it comes to having good grades. Learning how to write a good essay equips you with knowledge that you need for school and even after leaving school. When learning how to write an essay, it is very important to understand the structure of an essay. So what are the the 5 parts of an essay?

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5 Parts of an Essay

Introduction

The introductory part acts as the foundation of the essay. It informs how strong or weak your essay will be. This is the part that determines whether your essay is worth reading or not. Chances are, if a reader is not captivated by your introduction, he won’t be patient enough to see what the rest of the essay has to offer. Given the importance of the introduction, it’s always advisable to spend some good time here, before proceeding to the next part. Make sure your introduction is captivating and very creative.

The introduction part mainly comprises of an opening statement , a supporting statement, and the thesis statement. Ensure that you have all the necessary facts needed for your essay as you work on the introduction. For example, when writing a personal narrative essay , the reader should have a clear picture of what your essay is all about by just going through your introduction. Therefore, make sure to keep your introduction simple, clear, without it being too wordy.

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The body is the meat of your essay. It contains arguments that support your thesis statement. The body is wordier as compared to the introduction. For standard essays, three paragraphs are enough for the body. Every paragraph contains a strong point supporting the thesis. These paragraphs should build up on each other, to ensure that your essay flows from beginning to the end.

The First Paragraph

The first paragraph should contain your strongest, most valid point. Saving the best for the last is a principle that doesn’t apply when it comes to essay writing. Ensure you put across your strong point at the beginning of the paragraph. Ensure it is followed by a more explanatory statement. This will help your readers understand what you are talking about easily, without getting lost in your words. Giving examples is a very good way of ensuring that the readers completely understand your point. Give examples that build up on your argument, not examples that destroy the credibility of your argument. Once your main point is well understood, you can now easily move to your next point. Thus, the last statement in your paragraph should provide a way to transition from your first point to the second one

The Second Paragraph

The second paragraph in the body should contain your second point supporting your thesis statement. The first statement should easily connect with the last statement you wrote. Ensure your argument is quite compelling. You shouldn’t labor too much to ensure that your introduction is captivating only for the body of your essay to become such a bore. Present your argument in such a way that the readers can’t have enough of it. Adding clear examples will help describe your argument even much better. Once you’ve exhausted your point, you can now indicate a transition to another point.

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The Third Paragraph

The third paragraph includes the third point meant to support your thesis statement. Traditionally, this includes your weakest point. However, nobody has to know this. Write it in such a way that your reader will be left totally convinced of what you were trying to put across. Alternatively you can provide a counter argument in the case of an argumentative essay . A good counterargument should provide a view that tend to criticize the thesis statement but in a positive qay. The mistake that most people make is to appear hurried during this last paragraph. Others try to compensate for everything they feel like they haven’t included in the previous paragraphs. This ends up destroying everything you’ve worked on so far. The best way to write this paragraph is to be as natural as possible. Also, indicate that this is your last main point for the essay.

The three main parts of the essay give it a good, firm structure. Your essay has a greater probability of standing out when it contains these parts in their right order. Other than understanding the parts of the essay, it is also very important to know what is expected of you. Don’t just start writing without taking time to understand the question.

What is expected of you?

What do you need to provide the needed results?

Ask yourself these questions before you get to it.

It is very important to have a schedule for working on your essay. Don’t get the question and just start writing as this may leave you pretty messed up. Taking time before you begin writing gives you an opportunity to think critically about the essay and develop a clear picture of how it should look like. Take time to understand the question, to come up with the thesis statement, and the arguments for your thesis. Once this is done, you can now easily organize your essay into the three main parts. Go through your essay once done to ensure that everything flows as it should.

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What Are the Five Parts of an Argumentative Essay?

A Well-Structured Thesis

Supporting body paragraphs, your persuasive conclusion.

A five-paragraph or a five-paragraph or a five-part argumentative essay teaches students how to present their claims clearly and confidently, while backing their views with solid evidence from literary texts and credible research materials. The five parts include ​ a strong introductory paragraph with a clear thesis, three body paragraphs substantiated with detailed evidence, and a compelling conclusion. ​ Students should also use transitional words and phrases to guide readers through their arguments.

Essay writing can be challenge as it is, and the added job of persuading your reader to understand, and even agree with, your point of view can make the task all the more intimidating. Let this article act as a roadmap for how you can write a successful five-part argumentative paper.

​ Write an introductory paragraph that introduces your argument and explains why readers should be interested in your topic. ​ A five-part argumentative essay is relatively short, so you must get to the point quickly and gain your readers' interest right from the start. ​ Include a concise, well-constructed thesis statement in your introductory paragraph that explains what you'll be arguing. ​ A thesis statement is often the last sentence in an introduction. If you're arguing about a literary work, include the title and author in your introduction. When arguing a theory or an issue, incorporate background information and explain its relevance. This first part of your essay lays the groundwork for the rest of the essay; if you have a solid introduction, the rest of your writing process will go much smoother.

​ Develop ​ ​ three distinct, yet unified, body paragraphs ​ ​ to support the claims in your thesis. ​ For example, if you're arguing that standardized tests don't accurately represent a student's academic strengths or problem-solving capabilities, one body paragraph might discuss the shortcomings of ACT and SAT tests, another might explain why some academic skills and abilities aren't represented by standardized tests and a third why some students struggle to perform well on timed tests, despite their knowledge and understanding of the material. Create a topic sentence that clearly explains the objective for each body paragraph. Use specific examples from reliable resources, such as academic journals, peer reviews and professional commentaries, to back your views.

​ Remember: ​ with every piece of evidence in an essay comes the responsibility of giving credit where credit is due; at the end of your argumentative essay, you will have a list of references in which you will cite the sources that gave you all of your information. In the actual body of the essay, you can cite your sources at the end of a sentence with in-text citations.

You also need to ​ address counterarguments ​ in the body of your essay -- always treating opposing viewpoints with courtesy and respect -- and explain how those counterclaims don't hold up. Showing that you understand and acknowledge opposing arguments increases your own credibility and makes your rebuttal much stronger; a good argumentative essay uses lots of critical thinking and shows that you have considered the main points of both arguments before coming to your own conclusions.

​ Create a compelling conclusion that brings your argument to a close. ​ ​ Don't introduce new information in your conclusion. ​ Explain how your evidence clearly supports your arguments and why your thesis is well-founded, logical and credible. The conclusion will leave readers with a lasting impression of your essay. Challenge readers to consider your viewpoints, using passionate, persuasive language to make your closing remarks.

Transitional Phrases

Incorporate transitional words and phrases throughout your paper to unify your five paragraphs. Otherwise, your paper will seem short, abrupt and choppy. Opt for transitional words and phrases, such as ​ "similarly," "on the same note," "in agreement with," "contrarily," "in support of," "to back the argument," "equally important," "nevertheless," "with this in mind," "provided that," "for example," "all things considered" and "given these points" ​ to add continuity, flow and readability to your argumentative essay.

Argumentative writing requires you to address opposing points of view and give concise reasons as to why your argument is the strongest. In a persuasive essay, the type of language you use as well as the reliability of your sources will impact the likelihood that your reader will be swayed by your arguments. Once you have mastered this essay format, you will become much better at developing clear and impactful arguments.

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Madi Reade is currently a student in her junior year at the University of Missouri studying Journalism with an emphasis in Strategic Communications. She lives an active lifestyle and maintains an organized weekly routine to ensure academic success. Throughout her academic career, she has remained committed to bettering her writing and editing abilities with a plan to pursue a career after university that will allow her to employ these skills effectively.

Argumentative essay format in 5 parts

Need a good argumentative essay format for writing? If you want to make your voice heard, you need something more than clear verbiage while jotting down an argumentative essay. Even the strongest of ideas and arguments will go in vain if the essay is not structured correctly.

Convincing the readers becomes seamless once you properly structure by following a widely accepted and exercised argumentative essay format. Producing a well-thought-out argument is one thing and presenting the ideas is another. Both are vital for writing the finest argumentative essay.

With a proper argumentative essay format, students find it easy to present their arguments and back their views with solid evidence clearly and confidently.

Essays typically fall in academic writing , and it helps students build their writing, critical thinking, and persuasive skills. If you are a high school student, writing on argumentative essay topics will help you identify your writing strengths and weaknesses.

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Argumentative Essay Format Types

Argumentative essays are the most common types of essays. It enables students to address an issue by looking at evidence in statistics and theory available in scholarly sources.

This article will share the basic argumentative essay formats so that you may write a compelling and authoritative essay for your teachers or audience.

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The five parts of an argumentative essay entail;

• a well-structured introductory paragraph coupled with a clear thesis
• three body paragraphs validated with ample evidence and statistics
• a convincing conclusion

Let’s explore each part thoroughly;

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Introduction

The introductory paragraph sets the stage for the writer to present his/her claim while keeping the readers involved. Provide some background information on the issue to give readers a context of the topic.

However, make sure not to exaggerate this part by going deep into the case’s basics or background. The author needs to stimulate the audience’s curiosity by explaining why readers should care about the subject matter.

Right from the beginning, you need to grab the attention of readers.

The last topic sentence of the introduction is usually the thesis statement . It is considered the most critical part of the argumentative essay. It provides a roadmap to your whole argumentative essay and accentuates the main points.

Also, it precisely addresses the fundamental issues associated with the subject at hand. Thus, writing a good thesis statement is vital for keeping the readers engaged.

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The body is said to be the crux of an argumentative essay. In this section, students dig deeper into the topic by providing in-depth information on the subject. The first part of the body usually focuses on the students’ arguments. The author uses this section to back up his claims.

To make the argument more credible, the author references scholarly articles and shares specific data to support their stance.

The three body paragraphs of the argumentative persuasive essay make it clear to the audience why your claims are authentic. The first paragraph will provide arguments in favor of your thesis statement.

The second paragraph will discuss counter-arguments, and the critics’ standpoint will be thoroughly discussed in this section. The last paragraph will allow you to come up with your rebuttals and prove the opposing views wrong with some factual data.

Claims are the critical pieces of content in the body of a good argumentative essay. The author provides claims to support his thesis statement. There is a thin layer between claims and the author’s standpoint.

Scholarly texts support claims and provide evidence to prove them correct. Whereas, author’s point of view is not backed by any genuine article or research paper. Besides giving evidence, the student must make it clear how it strengthens the thesis statement.

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Evidence to Support Your Argument

You must have data to support your claims. All the fact and figures that students find is presented as evidence in the argumentative essay’s body section. As per academic writing guidelines, students can only give evidence to back up their scholarly sources’ claims.

The criteria for scholarly source include;

• The author must have some notable academic credentials
• The sources must be published and support your argument
• The phrasing must be formal with no usage of jargons or slang words

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Counter Argument

In this section of the argumentative essay’s body, the author mentions critics’ viewpoints. It undermines his claim that he established in the thesis statement.

Once the counter-arguments are presented, the author refutes these counter-arguments with some solid proofs in the next phase. He challenges the counter-arguments to convince the readers of his primitive claims presented in the thesis statement.

While addressing the counter-arguments in your argumentative essay’s body, make sure to treat the opposing viewpoints with respect and courtesy. However, make it clear how they don’t hold up anymore.

Point out the notable flaws and errors in the counter-arguments. Also, use widely accepted statistics to convince the readers of your claim. Thoroughly explain the weakness and strengths of counter-arguments and, with logical rebuttals, make your claim accepted.

Ending Statement to Conclude the Argumentative Essay

The conclusion is the part of an argumentative essay where the writer rests on the matter. He explains how his evidence pointedly supports the argument. A well-established thesis statement, factual evidence, and logical counter-arguments make it less cumbersome for the writer to reach a desirable conclusion.

Avoid coming up with something new in this section.

Ask the readers to assess your claims standpoint profoundly by using inspirational and persuasive words in the closing remarks. The writer’s concluding thoughts in an argumentative essay shape the perception of readers accordingly.

While essay writing an argumentative essay, make sure to use formal words and maintain an academic tone to make it sound more credible. It is indispensable to back up your claims with scholarly sources to remove the elements of doubts from the reader’s mind. Above all, the thesis statement must be riveting and spellbinding.

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Final Thoughts

As a result, following the guidelines mentioned above will help you write a compelling argumentative essay from introduction to conclusion. A persuasive introductory paragraph, paired with a logical thesis statement and body paragraphs, creates the best argumentative, expository essay.

Start writing an excellent argumentative essay today and convince your readers of your point of view with these tips and tricks.

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• How to write an essay introduction | 4 steps & examples

How to Write an Essay Introduction | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on February 4, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 23, 2023.

A good introduction paragraph is an essential part of any academic essay . It sets up your argument and tells the reader what to expect.

The main goals of an introduction are to:

• Catch your reader’s attention.
• Give background on your topic.
• Present your thesis statement —the central point of your essay.

This introduction example is taken from our interactive essay example on the history of Braille.

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

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Table of contents

Step 1: hook your reader, step 2: give background information, step 3: present your thesis statement, step 4: map your essay’s structure, step 5: check and revise, more examples of essay introductions, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about the essay introduction.

Your first sentence sets the tone for the whole essay, so spend some time on writing an effective hook.

Avoid long, dense sentences—start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

The hook should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of the topic you’re writing about and why it’s interesting. Avoid overly broad claims or plain statements of fact.

Examples: Writing a good hook

Take a look at these examples of weak hooks and learn how to improve them.

• Braille was an extremely important invention.
• The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.

The first sentence is a dry fact; the second sentence is more interesting, making a bold claim about exactly  why the topic is important.

• The internet is defined as “a global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities.”
• The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education.

Avoid using a dictionary definition as your hook, especially if it’s an obvious term that everyone knows. The improved example here is still broad, but it gives us a much clearer sense of what the essay will be about.

• Mary Shelley’s  Frankenstein is a famous book from the nineteenth century.
• Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement.

Instead of just stating a fact that the reader already knows, the improved hook here tells us about the mainstream interpretation of the book, implying that this essay will offer a different interpretation.

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Next, give your reader the context they need to understand your topic and argument. Depending on the subject of your essay, this might include:

• Historical, geographical, or social context
• An outline of the debate you’re addressing
• A summary of relevant theories or research about the topic
• Definitions of key terms

The information here should be broad but clearly focused and relevant to your argument. Don’t give too much detail—you can mention points that you will return to later, but save your evidence and interpretation for the main body of the essay.

How much space you need for background depends on your topic and the scope of your essay. In our Braille example, we take a few sentences to introduce the topic and sketch the social context that the essay will address:

Now it’s time to narrow your focus and show exactly what you want to say about the topic. This is your thesis statement —a sentence or two that sums up your overall argument.

This is the most important part of your introduction. A  good thesis isn’t just a statement of fact, but a claim that requires evidence and explanation.

The goal is to clearly convey your own position in a debate or your central point about a topic.

Particularly in longer essays, it’s helpful to end the introduction by signposting what will be covered in each part. Keep it concise and give your reader a clear sense of the direction your argument will take.

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As you research and write, your argument might change focus or direction as you learn more.

For this reason, it’s often a good idea to wait until later in the writing process before you write the introduction paragraph—it can even be the very last thing you write.

When you’ve finished writing the essay body and conclusion , you should return to the introduction and check that it matches the content of the essay.

It’s especially important to make sure your thesis statement accurately represents what you do in the essay. If your argument has gone in a different direction than planned, tweak your thesis statement to match what you actually say.

To polish your writing, you can use something like a paraphrasing tool .

You can use the checklist below to make sure your introduction does everything it’s supposed to.

Checklist: Essay introduction

My first sentence is engaging and relevant.

I have introduced the topic with necessary background information.

I have defined any important terms.

My thesis statement clearly presents my main point or argument.

Everything in the introduction is relevant to the main body of the essay.

You have a strong introduction - now make sure the rest of your essay is just as good.

• Argumentative
• Literary analysis

This introduction to an argumentative essay sets up the debate about the internet and education, and then clearly states the position the essay will argue for.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

This introduction to a short expository essay leads into the topic (the invention of the printing press) and states the main point the essay will explain (the effect of this invention on European society).

In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of intellectual and political stagnation. Prior to the Renaissance, the average person had very limited access to books and was unlikely to be literate. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for much less restricted circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.

This introduction to a literary analysis essay , about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein , starts by describing a simplistic popular view of the story, and then states how the author will give a more complex analysis of the text’s literary devices.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale. Arguably the first science fiction novel, its plot can be read as a warning about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, and in popular culture representations of the character as a “mad scientist”, Victor Frankenstein represents the callous, arrogant ambition of modern science. However, far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to gradually transform our impression of Frankenstein, portraying him in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

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Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

• An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
• Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
• A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

The “hook” is the first sentence of your essay introduction . It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it’s interesting.

To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

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McCombes, S. (2023, July 23). How to Write an Essay Introduction | 4 Steps & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved April 17, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/introduction/

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