Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Writing the introduction
• Part 2 of 4: Write three main paragraphs
• Part 3 of 4: Write a first draft of your conclusion
• Part 4 of 4: Review and edit your paper
• Tips

Writing a five-paragraph paper or essay is an assignment that you will receive regularly as a high school or college student. Particularly in high school and college, many subjects may require you to write a paper or a five-paragraph essay. So you better know how to do it. Fortunately, writing an essay with a prescribed number of paragraphs is not that difficult at all, as long as you know which structure to stick to and take the time to write it. To start writing a five-paragraph essay, outline the introduction, divide the content into three main paragraphs, and write your conclusion. Finally, check the entire text and edit it where necessary.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Writing the introduction

1. Start with something catchy. The introductory sentence should grab your audience's attention. Therefore, try to introduce your subject in a creative way. In this sentence, you are supposed to say something general about the main topic of your text, to give the reader a rough idea of ​​what your paper is about. As an opening sentence for the introduction, you could very well use a quote, an anecdote, a joke or a question.
   • For example, your introductory phrase could be something like, "Nature's life cycle is often used as a metaphor to convey ideas about the passing of life."
   • If you are going to write a persuasive essay or argument, do not include your point of view in the opening line.
   • Don't write things like, "In this essay" or "I'm going to show that ..." Instead, use the technique of "show more and tell less", using descriptive language.
   • It is often easier to come up with your opening sentence after you have written the rest of your paper. If you are having a hard time coming up with one, write down a simple, preliminary draft first and don't write your final opening line until you are going to review the full text.
2. Include a sentence in the introduction that provides some more information about your topic. The second sentence should tell the reader a little more about your topic, but it should remain general.Define your topic and provide some necessary background information.
   • Don't say what your main points are yet.
   • For example, you could say something like, "While we can compare spring to a birth, summer can symbolize maturity. Autumn and winter in turn symbolize the descent to death. "
3. Write another sentence about your topic that leads to your statement. Give some background information, but limit yourself more and more in the direction of your statement. The aim is for the reader to see the main topic of your paper begin to take shape.
   • This sentence depends on the type of text you are writing. If you are going to write an argument, mention both sides of your position. In an informative text, state your main topic and which aspect of it you will specifically focus on.
   • As an example, you could narrow down your topic as follows: "Writers often use natural metaphors in their work to portray phases of human life, such as the bloom of youth."
4. Conclude your introduction with your thesis. Your statement should be the last sentence of your introduction, and it should be a transition to the rest of your essay. Your essay or paper should include your point of view, your supporting arguments, or the topics of your arguments. Each paragraph should refer back to your statement. So try to see your thesis or position as a kind of roadmap for your text.
   • For example, your statement could be something like, "In the poem" Raspberries, "the author describes youth through ripening berries, summer blossoms, and the ruddy color of the fruit."
   • Then each of the three examples in your statement becomes the subject of a paragraph. So for the statement in the example, you would write one paragraph about ripening berries, one about summer blossoms, and one about the blushing color of the fruit.

Part 2 of 4: Write three main paragraphs

1. Arrange your arguments so that your weakest point is between the stronger ones. You need to have three arguments, and you want to make sure that they all come across as strong to the reader. By starting with your strongest argument you show the reader that your position is correct, and by ending with your second strongest argument you create good support for your position. This means that your weakest point must be in the middle.
   • You need to divide it into three main paragraphs, one for each supporting argument.
2. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence. In the subject sentence you state what your argument is and you link it back to your point of view. In this way you show the reader why your argument supports the idea or ideas that you have presented in your thesis. The topic sentence guides the rest of your paragraphs, just as your statement forms the basis for the rest of your essay.
   • The topic sentence is like a mini count for that particular paragraph.
   • Use a quote related to your statement and discuss it in the paragraph. If you're using a topic sentence, name the quote afterward.
   • For example, your subject sentence might be, "In the poem" Raspberries, "the ripening berries represent youthfulness, as they ripen slowly until they are finally fully grown and ready to be picked."
3. Provide proof of your examples. Depending on the type of text you are writing, you can get evidence from a text or from research you have done on your topic. If you have to write the text in class, you can also use examples to support your arguments.
   • Each paragraph should contain two to three examples or arguments.
   • If you are relying on research, properly state the sources you used. Stick to the instructions of the teacher.
4. Add your own comment. In your commentary, you show the reader how your evidence or your examples support your arguments and how they tie in with your topic sentence and thesis. Explain in your own words how your example or evidence shows that your ideas are correct, thus indicating that your statement is correct. In your head you may think that by giving your examples you have already sufficiently defended your thesis, but to write a good essay it is very important that you also comment on it.
   • Comment on each example or argument in two or three sentences.
   • Depending on the type of arguments or examples you use, it is often best to alternate between proofs and comments in the paragraph. For example, give an example first and immediately afterwards the corresponding comment.
5. End your paragraph by referring back to your statement. Summarize the main points you mentioned in the paragraph and link them back to your topic sentence and statement. Show the reader how the examples and arguments you have presented in this paragraph support your statement, or your point of view.
   • For example, you could end the paragraph as follows: "When the girl picks and eats the ripe raspberries from the bush, her actions reflect her own childhood and her desire to be" picked "by someone."

Part 3 of 4: Write a first draft of your conclusion

1. State your statement again. You should start your conclusion with the ideas you expressed in your argument, but you should not simply copy and paste your statement. Instead, you have to rewrite your thesis with the weight of your arguments as support. The reader has now read all your points and proofs, and this should be reflected in your final position or your final statement.
   • For example, you could rephrase your thesis as follows: "The poem" Raspberries "provides an allegorical representation of youth through a metaphor of ripening berries, summer blossoms and the ruddy color of mature fruit."
   • If you are a novice writer, it is a good idea to start your conclusion with “In conclusion.” For more advanced writers, you should not start your conclusion with a phrase like “In conclusion,” “In conclusion,” or “ Finally.'
2. Summarize how your arguments supported your thesis. Outline how the individual paragraphs supported your statement, and remind the reader of your arguments. You are supposed to briefly explain what you have said before in two to three sentences.
   • Repeat your arguments in a confident tone to convince your reader that you are right.
3. Do not provide new information here. Providing new information in your final statement can weaken your overall position. You would leave your reader with questions as a result, rather than with confidence in your ideas. In a conclusion, you just have to repeat what you have said before.
4. End your essay with a closing sentence. The closing sentence should give the reader a lasting impression of your topic. Use this phrase to ensure that your reader will keep thinking about your essay after reading it. Here are a few tips for writing a good closing sentence:
   • Call on the reader to do something.
   • Warn what could happen if the reader ignores your point of view.
   • Create an image in the reader's mind.
   • Include a quote.
   • Include a universal thesis about life.

Part 4 of 4: Review and edit your paper

1. Use the spell checker. The spell checker can prevent unnecessary deduction of points from your grade. In principle, this should be the first step in reviewing your text. You can have your word processor check the spelling and grammar, and then follow the program's suggestions.
   • Always reread the sentences yourself to check whether your word processor recommends the right word. If a misspelled word resembles another word, the spell checker sometimes makes incorrect suggestions, such as "me" instead of "may".
2. Read the entire text. Put your paper aside and take a break. It's a good idea to let your mind rest and take a short walk, stretch and stretch, or take a shower. Then read the text carefully and see if you spot any spelling, grammar, or typos.
   • Make sure there are no errors in your text that the spell checker has overlooked.
   • If possible, ask if someone else can read your essay. A third often sees errors that you have not noticed yourself.
3. Read the text and try to make it smoother. When you review your essay or paper, make sure that all your ideas come across well. You may need to provide some extra explanation or rewrite sentences to make the whole or certain fragments run better. You can also decide to add additional conjunctions and connecting words, such as "additionally", "also", "at the same time" or "in the same way". When reading your paper, try to determine whether you have indeed fully covered all sides of your thesis.
   • Rewrite incoherent sentences.
   • Break long, complicated sentences into shorter ones.
   • See if all sentences are complete and if you can possibly merge very short sentences.
4. Make sure your formatting is in order. Read the assignment or the syllabus again to see what rules apply to formatting. Use the margins, font size, and spaces specified by the teacher. Don't forget the titles, headings and page numbering.
   • If you have cited sources, please include a source citation at the end according to your teacher's directions.

Tips

• Before you start writing, make a plan to organize the ideas for your paper.
• When writing a paper or essay, never plagiarize, i.e. never copy someone else's work or ideas without giving their name. The teacher will not grade you for copied text, and you may even be punished for it.