5 paragraph essay
Writing a 5 paragraph essay is one of popular tasks at college or
school. This type of assignments requires patience, knowledge of essay
writing process and adherence to rules of this particular task. You should
know that the 5 paragraph essay is a well-known task to measure students’
writing abilities. Paper organization is the first thing to take into
consideration while composing this type of essays.
Students need basic skills and practice of essays writing. This five
paragraph essay page will show you what major parts of this paper are
obligatory and what the right order of these paragraphs is. Thus, the 5
paragraph essay consists of five paragraphs or five parts.
1. Introduction. This is the beginning of the paper that usually includes
basic information on a chosen topic and thesis statement – what you are
going to discuss in this paper and what you will prove in it. You should start
with a topic sentence that introduces the theme you will discuss in the
paper.
2. The first paragraph of the body part should include analysis of a chosen
topic with reference to reliable sources, like books, journal articles and
websites. This part should contain the strong argument with good example
that illustrates your viewpoint and position on this topic.
3. The second paragraph of the body part should contain the second strong
argument supported with appropriate example. Every student should know
that every sentence should relate to the next one. Besides, the idea
expressed in this paragraph should be directly connected with thesis
statement presented at the beginning of the 5 paragraph essay.
4. The third paragraph of the body part should include some additional
information on a discussed problem or an issue. A clear connection to the
thesis statement is essential here. Quotes are also necessary to support your
ideas with information from valuable sources.
5. Conclusion. This part of the five paragraph essay is the end paragraph of
the paper. Therefore, you should summarize the information presented in
this work. Restatement of the basic ideas of the essay is necessary in the
fifth concluding paragraph.
Cause and effect essays
Writing cause and effect essays is not as simple, as it seems to be at
first sight. This essays type denotes an event that happens now or took place
in the past. This event has a cause that leads to an effect. For example, this
is one of cause and effect situations: you completed a written assignment
(cause); you would get a good mark (effect). In other words, we have a
reason of an event or an action that results in the effect as a result of our
actions that could be omitted in other circumstances.
First of all, when writing your cause and effect essays you should
remember that this type of papers consist of two important parts – cause of
something and effect of this action, event, incident, etc. This is a simple
structure, a chain that consists of two parts only. However, you may create a
work that contains three or even four chain parts, though this is a difficult
task to do. We advise you to use a simple structure for your essay,
especially if you complete this assignment for the first time. Remember,
your cause and effect essays may have several causes which lead to one
consequence or it may have one reason that results in several effects.
The next point to consider while creating effective paper is your
organization of thoughts, ideas, as well as work structure that must be clear
for everyone. Cause and effect essays refer to a paper type that must be
organized in a chronological order. No other order of events is accepted
here. The most significant aspects should be reviewed in the first turn, while
less important should be addressed at the end of your work. In your essays
the main parts – cause and effect – should be connected with each other
with the help of transition sentences that would effectively unite paragraphs
and paper parts.
The last point to take into consideration in your assignment is useful
phrases, which you may use to express causes (because of, due to, the cause
is) and effects (therefore, thus, as a results, consequently). Having written
this type of essays, you should check availability of at least one cause and
one effect, which are united in a chain of events.
Effective Use Of Essay Phrases
Essay phrases help in establishing the logical flow of sentences in a
way that is appealing and easy to read. Readers are accustomed to
certain common phrases being used in the English language. When
applied in sentences, these phrases need very little support in terms of
lengthy and complex terminology. They help in simplifying
understanding and reduce word count while conveying the same
message across to readers. Essay writers usually have a list of phrases
they can use with different kinds of essays. It simplifies the way they
work, and supporting the transition of ideas in a sentence structure
becomes quite easy. Phrases can be used in argumentative, personal,
and other types of essays.
Using phrases can become a habit, which is actually good. Students in schools
often have to memorize common phrases. The mandatory exercise they have
to go through helps them in the long run, as it becomes easier to use a
memorized essay phrase in writing assignments. Students would be able to
appreciate the common phrases listed below for better understanding.
Phrases Leading Into An Argument
 The fact of the matter is that…
 The story revolves around…
 While xxx is a fact that is quite obvious…
 Let us begin by stating the obvious.
Phrases That Allow Us To Consider Both Sides Of An Argument
 Relevant to the issue is also the fact that…
 It would be worthwhile to also consider…
 One should be able to see both sides of the coin.
To Arrive At A Conclusion
 To help us conclude…
 To reach an amicable solution…
 With the help of these arguments, one can safely reach the
conclusion that…
Adding Some Important Content
 To begin with, one must include…
 In supplement to…
 Furthermore…
 It is vital to mention…
For Voicing A Personal Opinion
 I am of the opinion that…
 We are convinced of the fact that…
 We are totally convinced that…
While using essay phrases, one should be very careful about the
context in which they are used. The ideal way to use them is where it is
obvious. Care should be taken to maintain a simple and concise style of
writing. It is therefore not necessary to always use long phrases. Use
them only when necessary to help reduce the word count in an essay
and where it would help in better understanding. It is always better to
use action words to convey a message. For example, “Show your
potential by completing the essay in time,” can be written differently
and more effectively as “Unleash your potential to complete any essay
assignment in time.” It creates a pictorial view of the potential that
would be demonstrated.
Using the active voice also helps supplement the effect of using an
essay phrase. For example, “He shredded the page” would be better
than “The page was shredded by him.” The subtle use of language skills
help in expressing viewpoints better without disrupting the flow of
language. A well-compiled essay has more chances of catching the
attention of readers with the appropriate use of phrases. Essay writers
that can combine language skills with subject matter knowledge have a
better chance of using phrases effectively in their essays.
Tips for Writing
1. Answer the Question. You can follow the next 12 steps, but if you miss
the question, you will not get a good mark.
2. Be Original. Even seemingly boring essay topics can sound interesting if
creatively approached. If writing about a gymnastics competition you
trained for, do not start your essay: "I worked long hours for many weeks
to train for XXX competition." Consider an opening like, "Every morning I
awoke at 5:00 to sweat, tears, and blood as I trained on the uneven bars
hoping to bring the state gymnastics trophy to my hometown."
3. Be Yourself. Admissions officers want to learn about you and your writing
ability. Write about something meaningful and describe your feelings, not
necessarily your actions. If you do this, your essay will be unique. Many
people travel to foreign countries or win competitions, but your feelings
during these events are unique to you. Unless a philosophy or societal
problem has interested you intensely for years, stay away from grand
themes that you have little personal experience with.
4. Don't "Thesaurize" your Composition. For some reason, students
continue to think big words make good essays. Big words are fine, but only
if they are used in the appropriate contexts with complex styles. Think
Hemingway.
5. Use Imagery and Clear, Vivid Prose. If you are not adept with imagery,
you can write an excellent essay without it, but it's not easy. The
application essay lends itself to imagery since the entire essay requires
your experiences as supporting details. Appeal to the five senses of the
admissions officers.
6. Spend the Most Time on your Introduction. Expect admissions officers
to spend 1-2 minutes reading your essay. You must use your introduction
to grab their interest from the beginning. You might even consider
completely changing your introduction after writing your body paragraphs.
o Don't Summarize in your Introduction. Ask yourself why a
reader would want to read your entire essay after reading your
introduction. If you summarize, the admissions officer need not
read the rest of your essay.
o Create Mystery or Intrigue in your Introduction. It is not
necessary or recommended that your first sentence give away the
subject matter. Raise questions in the minds of the admissions
officers to force them to read on. Appeal to their emotions to make
them relate to your subject matter.
7. Body Paragraphs Must Relate to Introduction. Your introduction can be
original, but cannot be silly. The paragraphs that follow must relate to your
introduction.
8. Use Transition. Applicants continue to ignore transition to their own
detriment. You must use transition within paragraphs and especially
between paragraphs to preserve the logical flow of your essay. Transition
is not limited to phrases like as a result, in addition, while . . . , since . . . ,
etc. but includes repeating key words and progressing the idea. Transition
provides the intellectual architecture to argument building.
9. Conclusions are Crucial. The conclusion is your last chance to persuade
the reader or impress upon them your qualifications. In the conclusion,
avoid summary since the essay is rather short to begin with; the reader
should not need to be reminded of what you wrote 300 words before. Also
do not use stock phrases like in conclusion, in summary, to conclude, etc.
You should consider the following conclusions:
o Expand upon the broader implications of your discussion.
o Consider linking your conclusion to your introduction to establish a
sense of balance by reiterating introductory phrases.
o Redefine a term used previously in your body paragraphs.
o Frame your discussion within a larger context or show that your
topic has widespread appeal.
o Remember, your essay need not be so tidy that you can answer
why your little sister died or why people starve in Africa; you are
not writing a sit-com, but should forge some attempt at closure.
10. Do Something Else. Spend a week or so away from your draft to decide if
you still consider your topic and approach worthwhile.
11. Give your Draft to Others. Ask editors to read with these questions in
mind:
o What is the essay about?
o Is my sentence structure varied or do I use all long or all short
sentences?
o Do I use transition appropriately?
o What's the best part of the essay?
o What about the essay is memorable?
o What's the worst part of the essay?
o What parts of the essay need elaboration or are unclear?
o Is every single sentence crucial to the essay? This MUST be the
case.
12. Revise, Revise, Revise. You only are allowed so many words; use them
wisely. Delete anything in the essay that does not relate to your main
argument. Do you use transition? Are your introduction and conclusions
more than summaries? Did you find every single grammatical error?
o Allow for the evolution of your main topic. Do not assume your
subject must remain fixed and that you can only tweak sentences.
o Editing takes time. Consider reordering your supporting details,
delete irrelevant sections, and make clear the broader implications
of your experiences. Allow your more important arguments to
come to the foreground. Take points that might only be implicit
and make them explicit.