write a 5 paragraph essay on the choice i make

100 Words Paragraph On Choice I Make In English

No matter what you choose, whether it’s how you interact with your family or just ordinary events, it will have an impact on everything in your life. Every person in life must make good and terrible decisions that could either improve their lives or turn them for the worst. Certainly, everyone aspires to make wise decisions in their lives.

But does it always go like that? 99% of the time, you know. I recently made a poor decision that has had a negative impact on my life in many ways. For example, when I was caught shoplifting, my parents treated me like I was the thief.

Making the decision you feel will be best at the time is frequently difficult, if not impossible. The fact that we are not entirely clear about the kind of end or result we want from a circumstance is one of the main things that will hold individuals back. Consider this: it will be challenging to determine the best course of action if you are unsure of the kind of outcome you desire.

How to Write a Five-Paragraph Essay, With Outlines and an Example

A five-paragraph essay is a simple format for writing a complete essay, fitting the minimal components of an essay into just five paragraphs. Although it doesn’t have much breadth for complexity, the five-paragraph essay format is useful for helping students and academics structure basic papers.

If you’re having trouble writing , you can use the five-paragraph essay format as a guide or template. Below we discuss the fundamentals of the five-paragraph essay, explaining how to write one and what to include. 

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What is a five-paragraph essay? 

The five-paragraph essay format is a guide that helps writers structure an essay. It consists of one introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs for support, and one concluding paragraph. Because of this structure, it has been nicknamed the “hamburger essay,” the “one-three-one essay,” and the “three-tier essay.” 

You won’t find too many five-paragraph essay examples in literature, simply because the format is too short. The five-paragraph essay format is more popular for educational assignments, such as school papers or quick writing exercises. Think of it as a writing tool to guide structure rather than an independent genre of essay. 

Part of the appeal of the five-paragraph essay format is that it can accommodate all types of essays . No matter your assignment, whether an argumentative essay or a compare-and-contrast essay , you can apply the structure of a five-paragraph essay to communicate clearly and logically, as long as your topic is simple enough to be covered in just five paragraphs .

How to start a five-paragraph essay

As with all essays, before you begin writing a five-paragraph essay, you first need to know your thesis, or main topic. Your thesis is the idea you will defend or expand upon, and ultimately what your entire essay is about, and the three paragraphs in the middle will support, prove, or elaborate on your thesis.

Naturally, you can’t begin writing until you know what you’re writing about. If your thesis is not provided in the assignment, choose one that has sufficient content for discussion, or at least enough to fill five paragraphs. 

Writers typically explain the thesis in the thesis statement , a sentence in the first paragraph that tells the reader what the essay is about. You don’t need to write this first, but phrasing the topic as a single sentence can help you to understand it, focus it, and revise it if needed. 

Once you’ve selected a topic, we recommend writing a quick essay outline so you know what information to include and in which paragraphs. Your five-paragraph essay outline is like a blueprint where you can perfect the order and structure of your essay beforehand to save time on editing later. 

How to transition between paragraphs

One of the biggest challenges in essay writing is transitioning from one paragraph to another. Good writing is seamless and fluid, so if your paragraph transitions are jarring or abrupt, readers will get distracted from the flow and lose momentum or even interest. 

The best way to move logically from one point to another is to create transition sentences using words or phrases like “however,” “similarly,” or “on the other hand.” Sometimes adding a single word to the beginning of a paragraph is enough to connect it to the preceding paragraph and keep the reader on track. You can find a full list of transition words and phrases here . 

Five-paragraph essay format

If you’re writing your five-paragraph essay outline—or if you’re diving right into the first draft—it helps to know what information to include in each paragraph. Just like in all prose writing, the basic components of your essay are its paragraphs . 

In five-paragraph essays, each paragraph has a unique role to play. Below we explain the goals for each specific paragraph and what to include in them. 

Introductory paragraph

The first paragraph is crucial. Not only does it set the tone of your entire essay, it also introduces the topic to the reader so they know what to expect. Luckily, many of the same suggestions for how to start an essay still apply to five-paragraph essays. 

First and foremost, your introductory paragraph should contain your thesis statement. This single sentence clearly communicates what the entire essay is about, including your opinion or argument, if it’s warranted. 

The thesis statement is often the first sentence, but feel free to move it back if you want to open with something more attention-grabbing, like a hook. In writing, a hook is something that attracts the reader’s interest, such as mystery, urgency, or good old-fashioned drama. 

Your introductory paragraph is also a good spot to include any background context for your topic. You should save the most significant information for the body paragraphs, but you can use the introduction to give basic information that your readers might not know. 

Finally, your introductory paragraph should touch on the individual points made in the subsequent paragraphs, similar to an outline. You don’t want to give too much away in the first paragraph, just a brief mention of what you’ll discuss. Save the details for the following paragraphs, where you’ll have room to elaborate. 

Body paragraphs

The three body paragraphs are the “meat” of your essay, where you describe details, share evidence, explain your reasoning, and otherwise advance your thesis. Each paragraph should be a separate and independent topic that supports your thesis. 

Start each paragraph with a topic sentence , which acts a bit like a thesis statement, except it describes the topic of only that paragraph. The topic sentence summarizes the point that the entire paragraph makes, but saves the details for the following sentences. Don’t be afraid to include a transition word or phrase in the topic sentence if the subject change from the previous paragraph is too drastic.

After the topic sentence, fill in the rest of the paragraph with the details. These could be persuasive arguments, empirical data, quotes from authoritative sources, or just logical reasoning. Be sure to avoid any sentences that are off-topic or tangential; five-paragraph essays are supposed to be concise, so include only the relevant details. 

Concluding paragraph

The final paragraph concludes the essay. You don’t want to add any new evidence or support in the last paragraph; instead, summarize the points from the previous paragraphs and tie them together. Here, the writer restates the thesis and reminds the reader of the points made in the three body paragraphs. 

If the goal of your essay is to convince the reader to do something, like donate to a cause or change their behavior, the concluding paragraph can also include a call to action. A call to action is a statement or request that explains clearly what the writer wants the reader to do. For example, if your topic is preventing forest fires, your call to action might be: “Remember to obey safety laws when camping.” 

The basic principles of how to write a conclusion for an essay apply to five-paragraph essays as well. For example, the final paragraph is a good time to explain why this topic matters or to add your own opinion. It also helps to end with a thought-provoking sentence, such as an open-ended question, to give your audience something to think about after reading. 

Five-paragraph essay example

Here’s a five-paragraph essay example, so you can better understand how they work. 

Capybaras make great pets, and the laws against owning them should be reconsidered. Capybaras are a dog-sized animal with coarse fur, native to eastern South America. They’re known across the internet as the friendliest animal on the planet, but there’s a lot of misinformation about them as pets. They’re considered an exotic animal, so a lot of legal restrictions prevent people from owning them as pets, but it’s time to reevaluate these laws. 

For one thing, capybaras are rodents—the largest rodents in the world, actually—and plenty of rodents are already normalized as pets. Capybaras are closely related to guinea pigs and chinchillas, both of which are popular pets, and more distantly related to mice and rats, another common type of pet. In nature, most rodents (including capybaras) are social animals and live in groups, which makes them accustomed to life as a pet. 

There are a lot of prevalent myths about capybaras that dissuade people from owning them, but most of these are unfounded. For example, people assume capybaras smell bad, but this is not true; their special fur actually resists odor. Another myth is that they’re messy, but in reality, capybaras don’t shed often and can even be litter-trained! One rumor based in truth is that they can be destructive and chew on their owners’ things, but so can dogs, and dogs are one of the most common pets we have. 

The one reasonable criticism for keeping capybaras as pets is that they are high-maintenance. Capybaras require lots of space to run around and are prone to separation anxiety if owners are gone most of the day. Moreover, capybaras are semi-aquatic, so it’s best for them to have a pool to swim in. However difficult these special conditions are to meet, they’re all still doable; as with all pets, the owners should simply commit to these prerequisites before getting one. 

All in all, the advantages of capybaras as pets outweigh the cons. As rodents, they’re social and trainable, and many of the deterrent myths about them are untrue. Even the extra maintenance they require is still manageable. If capybaras are illegal to own where you live, contact your local lawmakers and petition them to reconsider these laws. You’ll see first-hand just why the internet has fallen in love with this “friend-shaped” animal! 

In this example, you’ll notice a lot of the points we discussed earlier.

The first sentence in the first paragraph is our thesis statement, which explains what this essay is about and the writer’s stance on the subject. Also in the first paragraph is the necessary background information for context, in this case a description of capybaras for readers who aren’t familiar with them. 

Notice how each of the three body paragraphs focuses on its own particular topic. The first discusses how rodents in general make good pets, and the second dispels some common rumors about capybaras as pets. The third paragraph directly addresses criticism of the writer’s point of view, a common tactic used in argumentative and persuasive essays to strengthen the writer’s argument. 

Last, the concluding paragraph reiterates the previous points and ties them together. Because the topic involves laws about keeping capybaras as pets, there’s a call to action about contacting lawmakers. The final sentence is written as a friendly send-off, leaving the reader at a high point. 

Five-paragraph essay FAQ

What is a five-paragraph essay.

A five-paragraph essay is a basic form of essay that acts as a writing tool to teach structure. It’s common in schools for short assignments and writing practice. 

How is it structured?

The five-paragraph essay structure consists of, in order: one introductory paragraph that introduces the main topic and states a thesis, three body paragraphs to support the thesis, and one concluding paragraph to wrap up the points made in the essay. 

What Is My Choices In Life Essay

What choice have you made that has impacted your life essay.

What choice have you made that has impacted your life? The choice I made that has impacted my life tremendously has been to further my education. Obtain an associate’s degree in business, making the choice to go to college has been the best choice I have made in my life so far. It inspires me to be the best person I can possibly be I want to be successful in life and have a career not work a regular nine to five job just to live pay check to pay check. I want to be able to provide for my family give back to those that have sacrificed their life for me in order to get where I need to be in life.

Essay On Life Of My Life

Topic (Biographical Essay): We are interested in learning more about you and the context in which you have grown up, formed your aspirations, and accomplished your academic successes. Please describe the factors and challenges that have most shaped your personal life and aspirations. How have these factors helped you to grow?

What Makes Me Research Paper

I believe your choice is what makes you. We all have a choice in our life. That can be how we act, how we will feel when we wake up to how our actions will affect our day. Everyone has a choice in this life. My choice was to choose happiness. Happiness is what keeps my mind positive, what makes my positive attitude rub off on people. Growing up thinking I never had a choice that people around me choose my choices. Being me, I let people around me choose my choices for me. How I was going to act or feel to this day. I never thought about making my our choices until I started telling myself that I want my attitude to rub off on people. I needed to start making my own choices. I decided to make the choice to choose to be happy. All the negative thoughts I have been thinking, and all the negative people I was around needed to change. People I hung around think so negative about each other they never have enough time to try and make a change. I've learned over the past year that how acting and the choices I make affect me so much. Happiness is what brought my dark days to sunny days. My negative thoughts to positive thoughts. Happiness is what brought me close to some of the amazing people I've

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From a young age until now I have been very independent in my decision making and thankfully with the support of my parents they allow me to make choices everyday and learn from them whether there be a good consequence or a bad one. After stepping

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You can make your own decisions in life. It’s up to you how you let your decisions either hurt you or help you. Have influence on yourself is what can help you make the right decisions. Some of the decisions I make help me and some hurt me. I strive every day to make the right decisions in life to help me in my future. Being around certain people and certain situation can hurt those chances of you making the right decisions.

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"You make a choice in your life, and it affects your life in all the ways, good and bad." - John Mayer

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I made decisions because of what I thought was expected. Things I was taught about religion and everything else around me told me that I should get married and raise a family. I thought my main job in life was to be a good wife and mother.

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Making my own life decisions means that I have a lot of freedom to do whatever I what and don’t have to ask my parents for anything except for guidance to my new career that I want to pursue. Decision making can bring great risks and

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Everyone is faced with choices. For example: whether to invest, what career path to to take or to get an early start in education. The choices I make are based

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Throughout my life, I have taken some actions in various occasions that end in the manner in which I make choices. That is, I act depending on what I choose to do. I am so determined to achieve my goals such that I cannot act differently contrary to my choice? I do believe that all people are equal on the universe. The state of the universe poses the same challenges to everyone. I therefore believe that I will be responsible for my decisions should it happen the way I did not want it. Sometimes my decisions are based on the natural phenomenon. I make a decision based on what the nature dictates after considering a probable outcome.

Personal Choice In The Giver By Lois Lowry

When a person makes their own decisions there emotions either feel good or bad, after choosing what to in the situation, but both ways are better than not making a decision or having another person make the decision for them. Choices for a person shape their future, so they should have total control over it. One of the reasons why personal choice is important is because the emotions of a person is

Catch Of The Day Research Papers

Choices. We make them every second of everyday. How you react to something, how you think about something, or how you feel about things are all examples of decisions you make all of the time. But, why do you choose certain paths and dismiss others? Where did you learn to have that response to the problem put in front of you? An even better question might be, what or who influences you the most? Some might say, their friends, their teachers, their peers, or their family and they would all be right the people. The people who influence you the most is the people you surround yourself with. No one can deny that fact. The people you see everyday are your mentors, playmates, and confidants. They taught and continue to teach you how to feel, think

Barry Sandria Essay

So far, I've managed to achieve some of the goals of my life like my parents boast of, through the accomplishments that I got like won the english debate competition, active and successful in the Organization's activities, as well as obedient to them. However, it is little things like that are indeed quite yet and I really still need to learn a lot.

My Career Choice Essay

I have not fully decided on a career choice, but if you ask me I would pick nursing. I would choose nursing because of the many self rewarding tasks you can achieve while being a nurse. For example helping and tending to an elderly who has no strength to complete tasks anymore because of old age. Nursing is such a great career choice, I can see myself doing well within the career and also being financially stable because of good pay. Also another detail I noticed in being a nurse is how flexible your schedule can be. I believe that this career, nursing, would be something I would enjoy and be comfortable with. I can also see it bringing me happiness in ways that I can help families who have a loved one or friends who are need of urgent care. Without nurses there would not be that certain individual to help another human being out at their toughest times.

Essay about Choosing a Right Career Path

Choosing a right career path can be tough. Especially, when the parents are involved. Parents want their children to have a better life in the future so they want their children to be educated. When they are successfully graduate from the college they can get a high paying job and earn much more than their parents. However, does everyone listen and follow their parents’ decisions about the career? What happen if kids didn’t want what their parents told them to do? Is there a compromise and or one side needs to give in? It was a tough decision for me too. There was a lot of pressure on me. I was hesitated and somehow worried when my parents were involved, but I knew what I want for my career.

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We are our own choice 3 Pages 643 Words

             We have our own free will, the ability to voluntarily decide to perform one of the several possible acts or to avoid action entirely. Among these choices lie future consequences, good or bad. There are times we choose to think first before we act and end up happy with the outcome. But, there are times when we choose wrongly maybe because we act without thinking or because of some circumstances which distract us from the right path. Choices vary from different situations and there is always a choice not to choose, but decisions lie upon us. So we have to be very careful, for what we are and where we are standing right now is all because of our choices we make.              We usually want the best for our lives and do all the things we can do to succeed. We could never possess a thing we really desire unless we plan and work hard for it, or we have won by chance. We are the key to our own goals and dreams. Like for example, we can get high grade only if we choose to prioritize, study hard and do well in school. Another, to have our own car, we need to earn for it or by chance, win it; however, chance is a just luck you never know what the outcome would be. So choosing the good choice makes us feel happy. Some people may feel contented in their lives because that is what they choose to be. It is the right attitude towards facing each challenge and endeavour in life that could make us succeed and gain internal fulfillment.              We could not help ourselves in making mistakes by choosing the wrong choice because we are just humans. But then, it is in our hands to choose what to do in our lives. It is us to be blamed, not the other people or incidents, for what is happening in our lives. Our environment is just a temptation in life. But we are responsible in handling our business. Many problems are occurring at this moment like drug addiction, peer pressure, child-parent problem, name it. Let us say we choose to go into drug addictio...

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Every essay is an opportunity to share an original idea on a subject about which you have some knowledge. Sometimes you only just gained that knowledge—as in a free response question paired with a reading segment during an exam—and other times you’ll be writing about a subject that you have studied for years and know like the back of your hand. In either case, writing a five-paragraph essay can serve as a useful tool for communicating your thoughts to an academic audience.

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• Appositive Phrase
• Argument from Authority
• Argumentation
• Auditory Description
• Basic Rhetorical Modes
• Begging the Question
• Building Credibility
• Causal Flaw
• Causal Relationships
• Cause and Effect Rhetorical Mode
• Central Idea
• Chronological Description
• Circular Reasoning
• Circumlocution
• Classical Appeals
• Classification
• Close Reading
• Coherence Between Sentences
• Coherence within Paragraphs
• Coherences within Sentences
• Complex Rhetorical Modes
• Compound Complex Sentences
• Concessions
• Concrete Adjectives
• Concrete Nouns
• Consistent Voice
• Counter Argument
• Definition by Negation
• Description
• Description Rhetorical mode
• Direct Discourse
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• False Connections
• False Dichotomy
• False Equivalence
• Faulty Analogy
• Faulty Causality
• Fear Arousing
• Gustatory Description
• Hasty Generalization
• Illustration
• Induction Rhetoric
• Levels of Coherence
• Line of Reasoning
• Missing the Point
• Modifiers that Qualify
• Modifiers that Specify
• Narration Rhetorical Mode
• Non-Sequitur
• Non-Testable Hypothesis
• Objective Description
• Olfactory Description
• Paragraphing
• Parenthetical Element
• Participial Phrase
• Personal Narrative
• Placement of Modifiers
• Post-Hoc Argument
• Process Analysis Rhetorical Mode
• Red Herring
• Reverse Causation
• Rhetorical Fallacy
• Rhetorical Modes
• Rhetorical Question
• Rhetorical Situation
• Scare Tactics
• Sentimental Appeals
• Situational Irony
• Slippery Slope
• Spatial Description
• Straw Man Argument
• Subject Consistency
• Subjective Description
• Tactile Description
• Tense Consistency
• Tone and Word Choice
• Transitions
• Twisting the Language Around
• Unstated Assumption
• Verbal Irony
• Visual Description
• Authorial Intent
• Authors Technique
• Language Choice
• Prompt Audience
• Prompt Purpose
• Rhetorical Strategies
• Understanding Your Audience
• Auditory Imagery
• Gustatory Imagery
• Olfactory Imagery
• Tactile Imagery
• Main Idea and Supporting Detail
• Statistical Evidence
• Communities of Practice
• Cultural Competence
• Gender Politics
• Heteroglossia
• Intercultural Communication
• Methodology
• Research Methodology
• Constituent
• Object Subject Verb
• Subject Verb Object
• Syntactic Structures
• Universal Grammar
• Verb Subject Object
• Author Authority
• Direct Quote
• First Paragraph
• Historical Context
• Intended Audience
• Primary Source
• Second Paragraph
• Secondary Source
• Source Material
• Third Paragraph
• Character Analysis
• Citation Analysis
• Text Structure Analysis
• Vocabulary Assessment

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5 Paragraph Essay: What Is It?

A five-paragraph essay is a prose composition that follows the basic structure of five paragraphs. It includes an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Often critiqued for being too formulaic, the five-paragraph essay is an essential tool in every writer's toolkit and is especially handy on timed writing assignments and exams.

Why is this format best for writing timed essays? During an exam, you might be asked to write an essay, and you may have only just learned some of the details about the subject. You likely won’t have time to draft a uniquely formatted, in-depth analysis in the time you are given. That’s where the five-paragraph structure comes into play; you can use it as a vehicle to get your main idea across to the reader and not spend precious time on how to structure your essay.

This essay format can also be thought of as a building block for almost every type of essay you could write. It is built on a thesis statement and uses the main pieces of support, which are formatted into segments (or paragraphs), to uphold your thesis. This approach can be expanded based on however much support or analysis is appropriate for your essay.

The key principle of this familiar structure is to organize your perspective or claim in a way that is logical and easy for your reader to understand.

You can use the five-paragraph format for writing any of the five styles of essay: argumentative, descriptive, narrative, informative, and persuasive. Think of this approach as not merely an essay structure, but also a means to adapt your writing and strengthen your composition skills for any future assignment.

5 Paragraph Essay Structure

Sometimes the five-paragraph essay is referred to as the hamburger of essays. That’s not because it’s cheesy, but rather because of how it is built—like a hamburger with a beginning (bun), middle segmented into separate parts (hamburger patty, lettuce, condiments, etc.), and end (bun).

Below is the basic structure of a five-paragraph essay:

Background information

Body paragraph 1

Topic sentence

Supporting details

Body paragraph 2

Body paragraph 3

Rephrased Thesis

Call to action

The paragraphs below break down each section to show how it functions within the whole essay.

The introduction serves several purposes, all of which are important and should not be forgotten or glossed-over. Remember, this is the "bun" to the hamburger and without it, the whole thing falls apart. The introduction starts with a statement to get your readers’ attention—this is called a hook .

A hook can take the form of a question, quote, statistic, or anecdote; it grabs your reader and pulls their interest into the topic.

Hook as a Question: Have you ever stood at the edge of the crashing waves in the ocean and wondered how far out it goes?

Hook as a Quote: Clarence Joshua Tuttle once said, “Why do we call this planet Earth, when it would more aptly be called Ocean?"

Hook as a Statistic: About 71% of the face of the earth is covered by water, and the oceans hold about 96.5% of earth’s water.

Hook as an Anecdote: As a child, I used to gaze at the line where the horizon met the sea and wonder how it could stretch on for infinity.

In addition to the hook catching your reader’s attention, your introduction should also contain background information on the topic to give your reader context.

Without some kind of explanation about the topic’s background, you risk your reader not having the full picture, or worse, not understanding what you’re talking about at all.

You don’t have to include too much background explanation for your five-paragraph essay. Usually a couple of sentences will suffice to give the necessary context.

Lastly, your introduction needs your thesis statement, which is arguably the most important part of the essay.

Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a single sentence that explains your main argument for the entire essay. You don’t have to pack every point you’re going to make into the thesis, but your thesis should be a clarified version of the main point.

The vast majority of our planet is covered in water, so there needs to be more awareness about the impact of global warming on Earth's oceans and the wildlife therein.

The thesis should be stated near the end of the first paragraph. It should be supported by details and evidence in the following paragraphs.

3 Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs are the meat of your five-paragraph essay (literally, remember the hamburger—the body paragraphs are the juicy middle). You can use more than three paragraphs if you have more points that need to be discussed, but typically no less than three.

You can consider each of your body paragraphs to be one piece of support for your thesis. The first sentence of each paragraph should be the topic sentence for that paragraph, and can act like a mini-thesis. It will state the main idea of that particular paragraph, and the rest of the paragraph will dive into further explanation by including examples and supporting details.

Your body paragraphs should look something like this:

Paragraph 1: First piece of support

Paragraph 2: Second piece of support

Paragraph 3: Third piece of support

Your five-paragraph essay should not end abruptly; it should include a short summary that will wrap up your argument and/or observation on the topic, just like the bottom bun of the hamburger. Provide a brief summary, and then remind your audience of your thesis statement.

By restating or rephrasing your thesis, you are reminding your audience that in the body of the essay you explained everything you said you would way back in your introduction.

The last thing your conclusion needs is something to bring the topic back into the reader’s world. Make them remember why it’s relevant. This could be a call to action, warning, provocative question, or something to evoke emotion in the reader.

Because of [insert main idea], you should take [X] action.

If you (or we) don’t do [X thing], [X consequence] will happen.

Provocative question

What do you think will happen if [X] continues (or ceases. Whatever is relevant to your main point.)?

Evocative statement

Could be a quote or anything you think will stir the emotions of the reader on the subject.

How to Make a 5 Paragraph Essay Outline

With the basic structure of a five-paragraph essay in mind, you can begin the process of making an outline.

An outline is simply a plan for your essay, and it’s important to create one so you know how to organize your ideas. Without an outline, you’re likely to ramble or wander all over your topic without fully developing your main point.

Below are the essential steps to drafting an outline for your five paragraph essay.

The first thing you need to do is brainstorm the topic; look for associations you may already have and keep the assignment or prompt in the front of your mind.

How to brainstorm a topic: Brainstorming is a strategy for coming up with ideas and content for your essay. Brainstorming can be anything from creating word associations, to freewriting, to making lists, to drawing a venn diagram, or whatever makes sense for you so that you can break down the topic and pick out what you have to say.

Sort through whatever you come up with in the brainstorming process, and pick out something that you find important or something you can elaborate.

Next, you need to draft a thesis statement. As previously stated, your thesis is the guide for your essay—especially so in a five-paragraph essay—because your thesis introduces the ideas of your body paragraphs.

Take whatever piece of the puzzle you came up with after brainstorming, and work it into a single statement that makes a claim on the topic.

The thesis statement of your five-paragraph essay should contain a claim of some sort about the subject. It should an original thought, and not be a restating of known facts.

Now, apply the basic structure of a five-paragraph essay to your topic. An outline typically uses numbers as a way to organize the essay. Each point can be a key word or phrase; you don’t need to use whole sentences in an outline.

Organize the paragraphs by the main points that support your thesis, then include subpoints, or pieces of evidence, to explain the topic sentence of that paragraph.

5 Paragraph Essay Example: The Outline

Here’s an example of a five-paragraph essay outline:

Hook: Children are no longer growing up walking to the candy store around the corner or sharing root beer floats at the local diner with kids they’ve known their entire lives. They aren’t even growing up in an innocent world like when Super Mario Brothers was the most popular video game.

Background: The world has changed rapidly in the last fifty years.

Thesis: Because of violence in video games, movies, social media, and increased pressure from peers, being a parent today is much more difficult than it was a generation ago.

Topic sentence: The progression of technology has given children more entertainment, but it has also decreased their attention spans, making it much more difficult to keep them on task.

Supporting detail: Music, video games, and social media are all easily accessible on phones or computers.

Supporting detail: Research shows that excessive screen time for children can drastically affect their attention span and even brain development.

Topic sentence: Not only do parents have to be aware of the effects of constant screen usage, it means they must also be vigilant about their children being exposed to inappropriate material.

Supporting detail: In film

Supporting detail: On television

Supporting detail: Online

Topic sentence: Children are now often exposed to dangerous situations during their daily lives or via the media.

Supporting detail: Access to drugs & alcohol

Supporting detail: Violent crimes (school shootings, etc.)

Rephrased Thesis statement: Society and media have a huge impact on children’s lives and have worked together to make parenting extremely difficult, now more than ever.

Call to action: Because of these changes, it is up to parents to remain present so we can be aware of and sensitive to all these challenges facing our children.

Writing a 5 Paragraph Essay

With your outline in hand, it’s now time to write your five-paragraph essay! The beauty of this process is that your argument is now fully mapped out, and you know exactly what you need to say.

The first thing to do is nail down your thesis statement. Again, the body of your essay hinges on the main point contained in your essay, so you need to be certain of that before you proceed. Next, you can start to put together your body paragraphs.

5 Paragraph Essay Transitions

Be sure you include transitions between paragraphs, otherwise, your essay will feel very robotic and will not be enjoyable to read. Transitions help to show the relationship between thoughts as you move from one to another.

You can use simple transitions (i.e. first, next, and last); or use phrases to show similarity (i.e. also, in the same way, likewise, just as, etc.) and/ or differences (i.e. but, however, in spite of, etc.).

A Note on The Limits of the 5 Paragraph Essay

Remember, there is often more to your topic than can be explained in a five-paragraph essay. That’s why these essays are a great tool for exam essays; you simply won’t have the time to complete an exhaustive analysis, so the five-paragraph essay is the next best choice.

Keep this perspective in mind and remember that however brilliant your essay is, it is not the end-all-be-all on the subject. The five-paragraph essay is, however, an excellent vehicle you can use to explain your original thought on a subject in an organized manner.

5 Page Essay - Key takeaways

• A five paragraph-essay follows the basic structure of five paragraphs: an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
• Five-paragraph essays are a great tool for timed writing assignments and exams, but can also be used as a foundation for any type of essay.
• Start writing a five-paragraph essay by creating a thesis statement.
• Each body paragraph is one piece of support for the essay's thesis. They should each have a topic sentence, or main idea, that is in support of the overall thesis.
• The conclusion of a five-paragraph essay is important because it restates the thesis and then makes the subject personal to the reader.

Frequently Asked Questions about 5 Paragraph Essay

--> how do i write a 5 paragraph essay.

Write a 5 paragraph essay by following the basic structure: introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

--> How long is a 5 paragraph essay?

A 5 paragraph essay can be anywhere from one to one hundred pages; it all depends on how much you need to support your thesis statement. 

--> How many words are in a 5 paragraph essay?

A 5 paragraph essay can contain as many words as necessary to fully support and explain your main point, or your thesis.

--> How many topic sentences are in a 5 paragraph essay?

Typically, a 5 paragraph essay will contain 4 topic sentences with one of them being the thesis statement, and the other 3 being the topic sentences of the body paragraphs. 

--> What does a 5 paragraph essay look like?

A 5 paragraph essay can look very different from one essay to the next, however they will all follow the basic structure of the five paragraphs: introduction, (at least) 3 supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion. 

Final 5 Paragraph Essay Quiz

5 paragraph essay quiz - teste dein wissen.

What is the definition of a five-paragraph essay?

Show answer

A five-paragraph essay is a prose composition that follows the basic structure of five paragraphs that include an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Show question

Why are five-paragraph essays a good choice for timed exam assignments?

During an exam, you likely won’t have time to draft a uniquely formatted, in-depth analysis in the time you are given. 

True or false: Five-paragraph essays can also be used to write argumentative, descriptive, narrative, informative, and/ or persuasive essays.

Fill in the blank: The key principle of the five-paragraph structure is to ___________ your perspective or claim in a way that is logical and easy for your reader to understand.

Why is the five-paragraph essay often referred to as a "hamburger" essay style?

Because of how it is built; like a hamburger with a definite beginning (bun), middle segmented into separate parts (hamburger patty, lettuce, condiments, etc.), and end (bun).

Which paragraph in a five-paragraph essay contains the hook?

Which is arguably the most important part of a five-paragraph essay?

Thesis statement

True or false: In a five-paragraph essay, you should always devote one entire paragraph to a background explanation of the topic.

In a five-paragraph essay, is it possible to use more  than five paragraphs or less  than five paragraphs?

Which of the following is not  a strategy to concluding a five-paragraph essay?

_____________  is a plan for your essay, and it’s important to create one so you know how to organize your ideas.

What are some examples of brainstorming exercises?

Word association, freewriting, making lists 

Why brainstorm your topic before you begin writing?

Brainstorming can give ideas about how the topic relates to you (the writer) and what you might have to say about it

Should you brainstorm before or after you create a thesis statement?

Which of the following is an example of a transition to show similarity?

Why are transitions necessary between ideas and paragraphs in a five-paragraph essay?

Transitions help to show the relationship between thoughts as you move from one to another.

What is an opinion?

Opinion is a personal conjecture.

Should you use an opinion to support your thesis?

"An opinion does not require verification."

True or false?

If something has failed to acquire verification, what is it?

"Humans will evolve into beings of pure energy." Is this an opinion or a potential fact?

An opinion. It cannot be verified, whereas potential facts are in the process of verification.

Fact is not ____. Fact is what is found out during the search for the truth.

Fact is what has continually withstood the test of _____.

Can a fact be arrived at logically?

Yes. Through the argumentation of a hypothesis. 

If a conclusion has been arrived at practically through the experimentation of a hypothesis, is it a fact?

Yes, assuming there are no flaws with the experiment.

What is a potential fact?

Potential facts are in the process of being proven or disproven. The advanced study of quantum mechanics involves potential facts, for example.

If something is a conclusion, is it a fact or an opinion?

It could be either. Facts and opinions can both be conclusions of a kind.

Can facts evolve?

Yes, people are learning new things all the time. This should not be used an argument for conspiracies or pseudoscience, which have no basis in real learning or research. 

Opinion is not concerned with _____, while facts are.

Verification

Is a subjective conclusion an opinion?

Yes. Subjective conclusions contain bias.

If a hypothesis has been tested repeatedly and the results are inconclusive, is taking a stance on it an opinion?

Yes. If a hypothesis has been repeatedly tested and the result consistently provides no answer, then to declare an answer is a matter of opinion.

If something is quantified, is it fact?

Yes. However, quantified results can lead to all kinds of conclusions, including incorrect ones if used fallaciously. 

If many people have seen something, is it a fact?

Not necessarily. If something is clearly witnessed by multiple unbiased people, it is a fact.

In what ways should you be wary of what you see or read? You should be wary of what? 

Be wary of unverified sources, unread context, generalization, sets of information, and all logical fallacies.

What is a hook for an essay?

A hook is an attention-grabbing opening sentence of an essay. The hook catches the reader's attention with an interesting question, statement, or quote.

What are the features of a good hook?

attention-grabbing

What is purpose in an essay?

Purpose in an essay is the effect the writer intends to have on the reader.

True or false: 

A quote for a hook has to come from someone famous.

False. A good quote can come from anywhere.

What is a quote ?

 A quote is a direct copy of someone else's words. As an essay hook, a quote is a memorable sentence or phrase that gets the reader interested in your subject.

When should one use a quote for a hook?

When the topic or argument makes them think of a quote

What are the different types of quotes one can use for a hook?

mindset quote

What is a rhetorical question ?

A rhetorical question is a question with no real answer. Rhetorical questions are used to get a reader thinking about a subject or experience. 

A writer wants to get the reader thinking about their argument. What type of question can they use to encourage the reader to want to learn the answer?

a question answered in  the essay

When writing a fact or statistic for a hook, it should be:

relevant to the topic

Where are some places one can look for stories to use as a hook?

personal experiences

If a story is too much for a hook, what else can a writer do to get the reader interested in an experience?

describe one scene from a story

Which type of hook is particularly effective for arguing a position or persuading?

a strong statement

True or false:

It's okay if the reader doesn't agree with a strong statement used for a hook.

True! Even if the reader doesn't agree with the statement, they will be interested in seeing how the writer supports that statement. 

What are some ways to write a hook when you're stuck? 

consider the purpose of the essay

What is APA format?

APA is the American Psychological Association's guide to formatting papers and citing sources.

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• How to Write a Good Five-Paragraph Essay
• Writing a Five-Paragraph Essay Step-by-Step

What is a Five-Paragraph Essay?

Types of five paragraph essays, 5-paragraph essay topics, how to write a five-paragraph essay in 5 steps, five-paragraph essay outline, introduction, general tips on writing a 5-paragraph essay, bottom line.

Writing an excellent five-paragraph essay is a choice. Some students may choose to exert their efforts and time to meet all requirements. But others may opt for the easy path and submit a poorly-crafted paper which ultimately will lead them nowhere. To ensure that your next five-paragraph essay will shine, our professional essay writers have collected the best tips on creating an excellent piece. Let's look at the writing process stages and crucial ingredients that will make your essay stand out.

As its name suggests, a five-paragraph essay is a composition that includes five paragraphs: an essay introduction , three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. Due to its structure, five-paragraph writing is otherwise called a hamburger essay. This three-tier structure is commonly used to provide an in-depth exploration of three main points related to the subject.

A standard length for a five-paragraph essay ranges 500 to 750 words. A 500 word essay offers enough space to discuss the subject matter without going too much into detail. A general rule of thumb is to keep a paper concise and to-the-point. When composing a three-tier essay, it is also critical to evenly distribute information related to the topic so that your piece looks neat.

In an academic context, the five-paragraph essay fits various tasks. Be it a standardized test or a high school assignment, students will mostly need to develop their ideas within 5 paragraphs. However, depending on the purpose of writing, a five-layer structure may be used in over a dozen essay types. Therefore, a student should be familiar with each academic writing type and tailor their essay to the writing prompt.

Some of the most common essay types that stick to the five-paragraph structure are:

• Persuasive essay : convinces a reader to accept a specific viewpoint by providing supportive examples
• Argumentative essay : presents a writer's opinion on the topic
• Expository essay : offers factual information about a subject
• Narrative essay : shares a personal story that has a valuable takeaway
• Descriptive essay : creates a picture with the help of demonstrative details
• Analytical essay : offers an in-depth analysis of a literary work or an issue

These essay types require much more than a simple answer to a question. Students also need to showcase their critical and research skills. In this respect, a five-paragraph essay is a perfect choice since it offers enough room for profound reflection.

A good topic should arouse curiosity and invite readers in. Consider these great topic ideas recommended by our professional writers.

• Do we learn from other people's mistakes?
• Who is responsible for our destiny?
• Is it ethical to use animals for tests ?
• What are the advantages of same-sex marriage?
• How can the government minimize criminal activity ?
• Who must be punished to death?
• Is LSD that dangerous as most people think?
• Why should education become entirely free?

These are just several topics commonly used in academic writing. Feel free to choose one of them for your future paper. You can also use this list as a reference to come up with topic ideas yourself.

The best five-paragraph essays are those that clearly communicate the writer's idea and address the main issues. Besides, such academic papers should contain supporting evidence. Let's take a closer look at each step of composing a great five-paragraph essay:

• Decide on the topic . It should be memorable and, by its nature, give a hint on the major issue addressed in academic work. Regardless of what subject you select to discuss, be ready to develop your writing around the central idea.
• Conduct in-depth research . If you were asked to write a five-paragraph paper as part of your homework, be certain to research your topic thoroughly. This step involves working with the primary and secondary sources, gathering all necessary information, and interpreting related examples. In case you need to compose an essay for a standardized test, you naturally won't have time for research. Still, a student will be expected to reflect deeply on the question in the prompt.
• Carefully organize the essay outline . After research, it's time to mind map your thoughts on the subject. All related arguments act like branches for your central idea, so writing them down makes it easier to structure information. Try to be as specific as possible; this way, you will be able to spark off writing ideas.
• Craft a structured essay . The next step is to make your creative juices flowing. Needless to say, that the essay should contain 5 paragraphs: an introduction, body part, and conclusion. Make sure to have an outline in front to explore each aspect in great depth.
• Provide examples . Your paper won't be complete without evidence that backs up your reasoning. Carefully gathered examples help bridge the gap between your central idea and audience. Don't forget to provide proof; this way, you will convey your key message to the reader.

As said earlier, a 5-paragraph essay structure is self-explanatory and includes neither more nor less than five separate sections. Below are the basic components that make a perfect five-paragraph paper:

• Introductory paragraph including a thesis statement
• Three-body paragraphs exploring your arguments
• Concluding paragraph that briefly sums up all critical points
• References page (depending on guidelines)

Following this three-tier structure ensures consistency of thought as you write a five-paragraph essay. Whether you're aiming for an A+ or simply striving to make your reader satisfied, this paper outline fits any intent of academic writing. Now let's learn more about each of these parts in detail.

The first paragraph presents the central idea of the entire essay. In essence, the introductory paragraph is the most significant part of your writing since it navigates the readers throughout the whole piece. It also determines the tone of voice and essay angle. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't focus on the rest of the paper; however, you need to make sure that your introduction sparkles the interest and grabs the reader's attention from the opening line.

There are several essential components that a great introduction should have:

• A hook for essay .  It may be a rhetorical question, shocking fact, joke, quote, or some real-life experience. In case you start your essay with a rhetorical question, make sure that you don't answer it; otherwise, it will lose its function.
• Background information . Briefly introduce the main topic as if you were creating a trailer of a movie. Don't be a spoiler - there is no need to go into detail. It should take around 2-3 sentences to make a brief overview of the topic.
• A thesis statement . It serves as a solid basis for the rest of the 5-paragraph essay. Make sure that the body paragraphs are closely related to the thesis statement made in the introduction.

The three body paragraphs contained in this part serve as stuffing for your essay. This section is where you discuss the main points of the subject. Here, you should provide specific details - factual information, examples, statistics, or any other supporting evidence that will make your essay easier to digest.

Stick to the following structure when working on each body paragraph:

• A topic sentence that describes the main point
• An explanation why this point is crucial
• An example that supports your reasoning

Make sure to discuss each point in the right order. One brilliant suggestion is to present the most powerful point in the first body paragraph. Then, a writer should provide a less significant aspect in the second part. And the last body paragraph should go for another strong point.

The concluding paragraph should nicely wrap up your ideas and give your final thoughts on the subject. Here are several things you need to include to end your 5-paragraph essay:

• A rephrased thesis statement presented in the first paragraph
• An overview of three main points discussed in each body paragraph
• Final thoughts that provide some space for consideration

The final stage is the so-called concluding paragraph hook. You may include it to add the last touch to your essay. It is a good idea to finish your writing with something your reader can't expect. In other words, you need to put some sugar and spice to leave a lasting impression. Check out our conclusion paragraph examples for more inspiration.

Students write 5-paragraph essays to improve their academic performance. The grades are part of their final score per course. That's why it is vital to know what other things teachers take into consideration when grading your academic papers writing .

• Focus . The entire essay should be developed around the main idea presented in a thesis.
• Organization . This means providing a smooth transition between sentences/ paragraphs and following a logical order.
• Grammar . A paper should be free of grammar, spelling, punctuation, or stylistic mistakes.
• Content . Your writing should be compelling and have enough examples.

These simple tips will keep you on track to composing an excellent essay for high school or college.

Long story short, a five-paragraph contains five sections, each having a different purpose. While the introduction is an eye-catching wrapping that should grasp the reader's attention, the following three body paragraphs work like rich stuffing. That's why you should carefully mix all ingredients - three main points and proper examples. Conclusion, on the other hand, should briefly summarize all arguments and leave your reader thinking.

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Students frequently strive towards saving their time (and postponing that boring essay writing) and try completing an assignment without spending enough time on creating an outline. They consider an outline to be a waste of time.  Here is a short and most critical tip by professional essay writers: ...

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