Writing an Essay

On this page you will learn all about how to structure an essay

In high school academics, the most common form of essay written and assigned is the five paragraph essay. This essay structure has specific components that allow the writer to express their understanding of a topic or communicate learning of a subject area in a highly effective format. It also equips the writer with a framework to create an organized essay!

There are a few things to discuss first, before we explore the anatomy of the five paragraph essay.

Start With a Thesis Statement!

The best advice I can give to writers of the five paragraph essay is to create the thesis statement before writing anything else. The thesis statement, in a single sentence, defines the claim of the author and provides a roadmap for the essay itself. This can help you in the writing process!

Read all about making an amazing thesis statement on this page.

Use Transition Sentences!

Transition sentences are very important in writing longer works, such as an essay. A transition sentence that moves from one idea to another in a paragraph, or transitions from one paragraph to another, are very important!


You can read more about using transition sentences here.

Introduction

Introduce your subject to the reader, provide background information if needed, and present the thesis statement

The first paragraph of a five paragraph essay is the introduction. The introduction is a single paragraph that has sets up everything that is going to happen in the essay; it introduces the reader to the topic, provides background information, identifies key terms/texts, and provides a home for the thesis statement.

The thesis statement is the most important sentence in the whole essay! So important in fact, it has it's own page on this website dedicated to crafting an amazing thesis! Click here to read more about this important sentence!

Consider this thesis statement as an example for this introductory paragraph:

“The Lord of the Rings trilogy is the best fantasy book to film adaptation ever made based upon critical reception, profits made, and impact on the film industry.”


This thesis statement explains that this essay is about a trilogy of books, and explains what each of the body paragraphs is going to be about (critical reception, profits made, impact on film industry). We want to present all the important pieces of information to properly introduce the subject (the Lord of the Rings books).

Let's look below at what that might look like! ⬇️

There have been many book to film adaptations, but none as exciting as J.R.R Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, adapted to film by Peter Jackson. The first book in the trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring, was first published in 1954, and the film adaptation, released in 2001, made nearly 871 million dollars worldwide. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is the best fantasy book to film adaptation ever made based upon critical reception, profits made, and impact on the film industry.


We have added the author's names, the year it was published, and how success of the film is defined (the amount of money it made. However, it's quite boring isn't it? A great introduction has an attention grabber in the first few sentences to bring the readers attention in close to the topic at hand.

Let's look at what at what an improved introduction looks like! ⬇️

Since the early days of cinema, filmmakers have been adapting books to the movie screen. The first book to film adaptation was Alice in Wonderland, which debuted in theaters in 1903. After more than a hundred years of film adaptations, there are none as exciting as Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R Tolkien's, The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The first book in the trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring, was first published in 1954 and the film adaptation made nearly 871 million dollars worldwide. It is hard to dispute the success of this film, and with a close look at key details, it is clear why it is one of the best adaptations ever. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is the best fantasy book to film adaptation ever made based upon critical reception, profits made, and impact on the film industry.


  • Information written in this color increases interest and importance of film adaptations, showing that they have been around for a long time. It also is a fun fact to share with the reader that also has the benefit of making you appear more knowledgeable about your subject, films.

  • Information in this color transitions from the initial attention grabber to the topic of the film adaptations.

  • This sentence was added to transition into the thesis statement

💡Tips for your introduction

  • Get right to the point, you don't need to discuss or explain much, you are simply introducing your ideas/subject in this first paragraph

  • Remember, you are introducing, not explaining! That belongs in your body paragraphs

  • Make sure your thesis statement is present in your introduction. Where it belongs in the introduction is up to the writer, but it usually fits best as the last sentence in the introductory paragraph.

  • Start with a quote (be sure to cite!) or some other device to grab the reader’s attention

  • Add additional sentences that enhance or expand on your topic

  • Be careful not to add content that belongs in your body paragraphs!

Body Paragraphs

Three separate paragraphs that contain the information and ideas of your essay

Below you will find a general structure that your body paragraph should follow. Notice that it looks a lot like a P.E.E.L. paragraph?

Topic sentence that reflects a component of the thesis

⬇️

Introduce supporting evidence

⬇️

Explain evidence

⬇️

Discuss evidence

⬇️

Draw a conclusion/transition to next paragraph

The body paragraphs are where the real meat of your ideas are. There are three body paragraphs in the five paragraph essay. The order of your paragraphs should flow logically into each other, and is mapped out by your thesis statement.

The different parts of a body paragraph combine to generate clear and logical ideas for the reader. It is important to be comfortable with how to use these parts to create a readable, usable paragraph.

Topic Sentence

Topic sentences are frequently used at the start of each body paragraph in academic essays. A topic sentence exposes your viewers to the topic of your body paragraph by capturing the idea of the paragraph. It should support or expand on your thesis statement's point.

Supporting Details

Sentences that introduce your supporting evidence follow the topic sentence. A valuable or informative passage from a book, a journal article, or another source that supports the paper's argument might be used as evidence. It could also include a personal example based on firsthand observation or experience.

Explanation

Clarify the details you included in your quotation or example. Explain the meaning of the quote in a few words. Include all of the relevant elements to help your example stand out as evidence. You can also discuss the significance (why this information is important to the reader or the essay) of the quote/example in relation to the thesis.

Conclusion/Transition

As the evidence discussion comes to a close, you should form conclusions based on the evidence and explanation. This conclusion could serve as a transition for the next paragraph.

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, J.K. Rowling suggests through her portrayal of Hagrid that appearance can be misleading. Although he is one of the most loved characters in the Harry Potter universe, his initial confrontation with Harry strikes intimidation in the young boy‟s heart. The narrator notes that Hagrid‟s face is “almost completely hidden by a long, shaggy mane of hair and a wild, tangled beard,” and his eyes, “glint[ing] like black beetles,” peer down at Harry (Rowling 46). Harry‟s anxiety seeps through the page as he is confronted by an intimidating figure, and because this description paints such a scary picture, the reader might expect Hagrid to be a rather frightening person as the book progresses. This initial description, however, is contrasted by Hagrid‟s true character. Besides serving as a trusted informant to Dumbledore and a crucial ally to Harry and his friends, Hagrid displays an immense compassion for animals, an affection so powerful it sometimes reduces the giant to tears. Hagrid's humble actions and earnest compassion show that appearances can be misleading, a theme that many characters mirror in the book.

To the left, you can see an example body paragraph. They key below will help you spot each part of the body paragraph.

  • Topic Sentence

  • Supporting Details

  • Explanation

  • Significance

  • Conclusion/transition

Conclusion

Final paragraph that wraps up the essay

A paper's conclusion is the last thing your reader will see and will help them remember your content. The conclusion of whatever you are writing must accomplish a number of distinct goals. A restatement and summary of your writing's main points is one of the most usual things to include in a conclusion. Your work has transformed your reader's knowledge, comprehension, and opinions on your subject. Restating your points can assist you in identifying the key points in what you have stated. Beginning your conclusion with this distinction will help you lay the groundwork for the next phases.

Note! No part of your paper should be repeated. Your conclusion should restate your primary ideas without repeating the same words and phrases as before.

One of the most important things to understand about conclusions is that they are not simply summaries of your essay. It is to give your reader insight into the relationship between your writing and the real world than just repeating what you've already written. Here are three ways to approach writing your conclusion:

The "So What" Conclusion

It's never easy to ensure that your reader is interested in what you've written. However, getting this right can mean the difference between your reader remembering and applying your message and completely forgetting about it. By discussing the significance and of your writing, your reader will have a clear reason to be interested. How can your writing relate to the reader or the world beyond the essay? What sort of take away do you want your reader to have? Does your conclusion answer the question, "so what?"

The Call To Action Conclusion

This is similar to addressing the question "So What?" but offers a specific action that the reader should take. This could be a direct address to the reader, although it isn't required. It's also possible to infer it. In essence, it's a technique that challenges the reader to admit that agreeing with your message necessitates more than just reading your work.

The Mic Drop Conclusion

An emotional or rhetorical flourish can and should be used at the end of a conclusion. It's a terrific way to stay remembered if you leave your readers with their minds blown or their foundations disturbed. How can you phrase your argument, and the evidence provided, in a startlingly effective and create a "mic drop moment" in your essay?

Think about the shape of your conclusion like a triangle, it starts specific and becomes more broad as it reaches the end.