Five-Paragraph Essay Format
ENG3U Essays
Formal Five-Paragraph Literary Essay Format
A. INTRODUCTION:
Your introduction must have the following four components (in the following order):
1. A topic sentence – a hook to engage the reader and introduce the topic of your essay; this may be more than one sentence.
2. Your thesis - what you intend to prove; must CLEARLY address prompt (should be a direct response to the prompt!)
3. A directional statement - list the three areas that you intend to discuss in your essay – the 3 points you will use to prove your thesis; in most cases, your second strongest point should be listed first, your weakest point listed second, and your strongest point listed third.
4. A concluding sentence - this may be a restatement of your thesis (reworded).
** You must also introduce the title and author of the text you are writing about; this may be in your topic sentence or thesis statement.
B. BODY:
There should be three body paragraphs. Each one will develop one of the three areas from the “directional statement” in your Introduction; the body paragraphs will be in the same order as your “directional statment”. Each paragraph must have all of the following components:
1. A topic sentence that indicates the focus of that paragraph;
2. A specific example from the work you are writing about (quotation or paraphrased example);
3. An explanation of how that example supports/proves your point;
4. A second specific example (quotation or paraphrased example);
5. An explanation of how the second example supports/proves your point; and
6. A concluding sentence that wraps up your paragraph and also provides a link to your thesis – explain how this main point proves your thesis (prompt!).
** You need to use at least 2 direct quotations (word for word quotations) for this assignment; for your other examples you may paraphrase specific examples (think MOMENTS) instead (put them in your own words). For the quotations, make sure to use proper quotation and reference format – see below:
Novel Examples: Example 1: On page 17 of Lord of the Flies Piggy explains to Ralph, "Blah, blah…"
(author page #) Example 2: Piggy tries to convince Ralph to remain chief (Golding 17).
Play Examples: Example 1: “Oh, that’s an honest fellow” (3.3.5)
(Act. Scene. Lines) Example 2: Petruchio decides to starve Kate and deprive her of sleep in order to tame her (4.1.188-210)
C. CONCLUSION:
This is the final paragraph that must conclude your overall essay. It must have the following three components:
1. a restatement of your thesis;
2. a restatement of the three areas that you have discussed; and
3. a final overall concluding sentence to wrap up your essay and make it “feel” finished.
Please keep in mind…
1. This is a FORMAL essay à make sure you stick to the rules of formal essay writing.
· No “I” à 3rd person only!
· No slang
· No contractions (ie. “do not” instead of “don’t”)
2. Do NOT write “this paragraph will examine…” or “this essay has proven”à your level of writing needs to be much more creative and professional in 3U!
3. DON’T use personal pronouns – never say you, your, we, our, my, me, I, etc. Write in third person only.
4. Use powerful words and sentence structure in the active voice to show that your statements are true and correct; avoid words like maybe, might, perhaps, etc.
5. DON’T use “IF” statements à don’t make your own predictions about what “MAY HAVE happened IF…”; stick to the facts!!
6. Don’t be repetitive; use a thesaurus!!
7. Always use present tense when referring to the novel/play: EXAMPLE…
INCORRECT: “Ralph tried to maintain his identity in the face fear”
CORRECT: “Ralph tries to maintain his identity in the face of fear”
8. INTRODUCE your QUOTATIONS à make sure you INTRODUCE your quotation with CONTEXT (when/where did this quotation take place in the novel?)
9. EXPLAIN YOUR QUOTATIONS clearly – do not assume everyone knows what you are talking about; explain clearly to make your point believable. The quote cannot do the work for you!
10. Do NOT use the method of: ‘IT IS BECAUSE I SAY IT IS.’ This method does NOT work à Introduce your idea clearly; give the short quote or specific example which proves your idea; explain how the quote/example proves your idea and your thesis.
11. Don’t ramble à make sure you are proving your point! Do NOT simply provide me with a summary of the novel! Any examples you use from the novel must relate to your thesis.
12. DO USE PROPER PARALLELISM:
INCORRECT:
He cheers Olivia up. His battle of wits is seen when he beats Viola. One time, he dresses up like Sir Topas and plays his part well.
CORRECT:
He cheers Olivia up when she is in mourning; he displays his intelligence when he and Viola are having a battle of wits; and he plays his part very well when he must pretend to be Sir Topas in order to fool Malovolio.
13. Briefly summarize your 3 main points in the conclusion and introduce them in your introductory paragraph à it should be clear to the reader exactly what your thesis is and exactly what the 3 main ideas/points are after reading your introductory paragraph.
14. Make sure each of your points proves your thesis! After each paragraph, go back and read your thesis – are you still proving it or have you moved too far away from it?
EXAMPLE: after each of your 3 points, ask yourself: “does this prove that symbols are used to develop a theme in the novel?”
HINT: Make sure that each of your 3 body paragraphs contains ALL of the key words from the prompt (or variations/synonyms of those words).
15. Don’t forget your concluding sentences – these are extremely important as they provide a clear link back to your thesis (and the prompt!).
16. Proof-read your essay BEFORE you submit it; check for:
· Double-space!
· Spelling
· Clarity
· Verbs (keep present tense consistent)
· Grammar
· Run-on sentences and comma splice errors
· Punctuation
· Don’t use conjunctions to begin sentences or paragraphs (ie. therefore, and, but, because, etc.). Conjunctions are used to JOIN sentences together; they do not BEGIN sentences or paragraphs – use a semi-colon instead of a period!!
17. Use your outline to guide you in writing your essay (MUST be handed in with your good copy); if you have any questions, ask me BEFORE you begin your good copy (run your outline by me!).
WRITING IN THIRD PERSON
3rd person: they, their, them, it, one, he, she, etc..
Example:
"In the book, "Charlotte's Web", a young girl named Fern saves a runt pig from certain death. She then places Wilbur the pig, in with the other farm animals. The author then reveals the struggle of being a farm pig as Wilbur learns about life.
If looking for a great example of personification, one should read "Charlotte's Web."
This addresses people as a whole, and the characters in the book. It does not tell the specific reader what they should do by using "you". Furthermore, it has a formality about it that does not include "I".