If you are getting ready to be admitted into high school or college, then you should be fully prepared for your standardized tests. This is especially because there is a portion where you have to write a 5-paragraph essay on a given topic. The 5-paragraph essay is considered to be the standard essay writing assignment. It is used in most exams such as TOEFL, IELTS, and the SAT. If, on the other hand, you are already in high school and getting ready to write your first 5-paragraph academic paper, it might just make you jittery. You don’t have to feel this way, so here are some helpful tips to guide you in writing your paper. 5-paragraph essay writing is basically a balancing act. You often need to incorporate quotations from other sources, while making sure enough of the paper reflects your own stance to be considered unique. This type of essay has a very specific outline. It starts with an introduction, goes to body paragraph 1, body paragraph 2, body paragraph 3, and sums things up with a conclusion. Each body paragraph serves a specific purpose and the essay will take the form of a keyhole. This means that it starts out very broad, gets more narrow and finishes out broad. Most 5-paragraph essays are usually between 500 to 800+ words in length. In order to properly get to grips with this essay, you should follow these tips:
1. Introduce your topic
The introduction – or first paragraph – of your academic paper will give you the opportunity to introduce your paper’s topic to your readers. This happens to be the most important part of your paper and as such, great care should be taken in writing or developing it. The introduction is what sets your academic paper’s tone and, at the same time, gets your readers glued to your work. You should also craft a thesis statement in this paragraph. In one sentence each, write out three points on which your thesis is based.
2. Go into detail
The second, third and fourth paragraphs make up the body of your essay. This is where you go into detail with the facts of your paper, including quotes, statistics, and related examples. The three points you hinted at in the paper’s introduction would form the second, third, and fourth paragraphs. Always make sure to start each paragraph with a topic sentence which is then followed by your argument. The evidence supporting your argument then follows. This step is repeated for the three paragraphs.
3. Summarize
In the last and fifth paragraph of your essay, you will need to carefully summarize the content of your paper. Your thesis is intelligently restated, making a seamless connection with the rest of the paper as you concisely tell your target readers how each point solidly supports the paper’s thesis. Remember, you should never bring up new idea that has not been discussed in the main body of your paper. If a recommendation towards further research is necessary, you can go ahead and make such recommendation. Don’t be afraid to get assistance if you’re having a hard time writing your essay or if you don’t fully understand what’s expected of you. You can hire a tutor, or simply form a study group. While writing a 5-paragraph essay may seem initially foreign and difficult to comprehend, you’ll soon find that it’s not nearly as difficult as you may have imagined. With some background knowledge, a grip of the fundamentals, and the willingness to learn, you should have no problem writing your essay and achieving the results that you want. Featured photo credit: Pexels via pexels.com
