The Five Paragraph Essay

September 03, 2025

Posted by STLCC in Tutoring Resources 

Introduction

Your introduction should entice your reader to read on, as well as prepare them to follow your discussion or argument by providing necessary, relevant or helpful context, background and information about your subject. This can include names, dates, places and key terms.

Thesis

Your thesis should first present a clear statement of your argument or main idea about your subject and second introduce the reasoning, examples, information, anecdotes and sources you will use to support or illustrate your argument.

1. I believe _____ (or _____ is true)
2. I think this because of:
   1. __________
   2. __________
   3. __________

Body paragraphs

Each of the three body paragraphs of your essay should include a topic sentence or sentences that clearly signal to the reader which of your “because” statements you are going to address. Next, the paragraph should present in detail the reasoning, anecdotes, examples, facts, statistics or sources, in other words, the evidence that has led you to your statement. Remember to present your body paragraphs in a logical order.

Topic sentence for body paragraph 1: __________

Supporting points: __________

Topic sentence for body paragraph 2: __________

Supporting points: __________

Topic sentence for body paragraph 3: __________

Supporting points: __________

Conclusion

Your conclusion should not only remind the reader of your topic, your thesis and your evidence, but also ask the reader to think more deeply about your subject by addressing its implications or broader significance. If you’re stuck, ask yourself: Why should someone care about my subject? What would be different if not for my subject? What is the influence of my subject in history? What does my subject mean for the future? How does my subject relate to everyday life? How does my subject fit into a larger discussion? What lessons can be learned from my subject?