The Five Paragraph Essay

a step- by- step introduction……….

The Bing The Bang and The Bongo

Writing the Five Paragraph Essay

Why Learn How to Write a 5 P Essay?

Can be used for both informative and persuasive writing

Incorporates many of the basics of good writing

Speeds up the writing process because of its formulaic nature

Can be used for structure of a research-based essay when expanded

First….First….

THE HOOKTHE HOOK

THE INTRODUCTIONTHE INTRODUCTIONthe hook

HISTORICAL INFORMATION: Some topics are better understood if a brief historical review of the topic is presented to lead into the discussion of the moment:

Make sure it’s factual

Keep it brief

THE INTRODUCTIONTHE INTRODUCTIONimportant definitions

Hook: An opening sentence or two that grabs the reader’s interest and introduces the general topic of the essay

Examples:Historical informationAn anecdoteA surprising statementA declarative statementA quote

Introduction

Consists of:oThe HookoGeneral topic sentences (2 or 3)

which are more specific than the hook

oA thesis statement including three supporting ideas, (Bing, Bang, Bongo)all written in parallel structure

Example of hook withExample of hook with Historical Information:Historical Information:

If I wanted to write an informative essay on cool skateboarding tricks:In the spring of 1975, skateboarding took an evolutionary boost toward the sport that we see today. In Del Mar, California a slalom and freestyle contest was held at the Ocean Festival. That day, the Zephyr team showed the world what skateboarding could be. They rode their boards like no one had in the public eye, low and smooth, and skateboarding was taken from being a hobby to a serious, exciting sport.

TAKEN FROM: http://skateboard.about.com/cs/boardscience/a/brief_history.htm

THE INTRODUCTIONTHE INTRODUCTIONthe hook

ANECDOTE: An interesting little story

Include sights, sounds, smells and other sensory images

Keep it brief

Example of hook withExample of hook with Anecdote:Anecdote:

If I wanted to write an informative article on auctions:

Mike Cantlon remembers coming across his first auction ten years ago while cruising the back roads of Wisconsin. He parked his car and wandered into the crowd, toward the auctioneer's singsong chant and wafting smell of barbecued sandwiches. Hours later, Cantlon emerged lugging a $22 beam drill-for constructing post-and-beam barns—and a passion for auctions that has clung like a cocklebur on an old saddle blanket. "It's an addiction," says Cantlon, a financial planner and one of the growing number of auction fanatics for whom Saturdays will never be the same.

TAKEN FROM: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/intros.htm

THE INTRODUCTIONTHE INTRODUCTIONthe hook

A SUPRISING STATEMENT: There are many ways a statement can surprise a reader. Sometimes the statement is surprising because it is disgusting. Sometimes it is joyful. Sometimes it is shocking. Sometimes it is surprising because of who said it.

oTake care to explain how the statement relates to your topic

oDescription is great, over- exaggeration is not

oMake sure that the statement is relevant, not just shocking

Example of hook with aExample of hook with a Surprising Statement:Surprising Statement:

If I wanted to inform parents of ways to protect their children and prevent accidents:

Have a minute? Good. Because that may be all it takes to save the life of a child—your child. Accidents kill nearly 8,000 children under age 15 each year. And for every fatality, 42 more children are admitted to hospitals for treatment. Yet such deaths and injuries can be avoided through these easy steps parents can take right now. You don't have a minute to lose.

TAKEN FROM: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/intros.htm

THE INTRODUCTIONTHE INTRODUCTIONthe hook

A DECLARITIVE STATEMENT: In this pattern, the writer simply states straight out what the topic of his paper is going to be about. It is the technique that most student writers use with only modest success most of the time, but good professional writers use it too.

oDon’t give too much information

oDon’t write, “In this essay…”

oDon’t write, “I’m going to tell you about…”

Example of hook with Example of hook with Declarative Statement:Declarative Statement:

If I wanted to explain why people should consider attending a free concert in a public park:

If you attend a concert in a city park, chances are you’re less interested in the performance than in the whole package, in which the music, the weather, the general gregariousness and the spirit of the moment become inseparable.

TAKEN FROM: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/13/arts/music/13squa.html

THE INTRODUCTIONTHE INTRODUCTIONthe hook

A QUOTE: When a writer uses the words A QUOTE: When a writer uses the words of another to help illustrate a point of another to help illustrate a point

Your quote should be unusual, funny, or obscure

Don’t choose a long quote

Your quote should have a meaning you plan to reveal to the reader as the essay progresses

Remember to put opening and closing quotation marks around your quote

Include who said or wrote your quote

Example of hook with aExample of hook with a Quote:Quote:

If I wanted to write an informative essay on how to recover from

making a mistake:

"You must never feel badly about making mistakes," explained Reason quietly, "as long as you take the trouble to learn from them.”

-Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth

NEXT:NEXT:The

GENERAL TOPIC GENERAL TOPIC SENTENCESSENTENCES

after the hook

General Topic General Topic SentencesSentences

Why do we need them?

They keep the reader focused on the point of the essay

They serve as a transition between the hook and the thesis statement

Lets Create an Essay together

First of all, I plan and create the best original Halloween costume I can. I actually create two costumes, one I can wear to school and one I can wear to our Halloween party. I make sure it is original, spooky and comfortable to wear. I like to make my own and not just buy one from a costume store. I love to see what the trick or treater’s wear when they ring my door bell. Dressing up is really one of my favorite parts of Halloween.

The second best part of Halloween is decorating the house. I have more boxes of Halloween decoration’s than I do of Christmas. I set up a graveyard out front and hang spooky garlands and lights around the windows. I use strobe lights and a fog machine too! I have a reputation in the neighborhood and children come from all around to see the best Halloween decorated house on the block.

What is Halloween without the treats, not just tricks? I choose the candy we hand out so that any leftover candy is the type of candy that we like to eat. We love chocolate so I stock up on lots of small chocolate bars. Every year we seem to have less trick or treater’s and so we have a lot of candy left over. I always have extra special treat’s for my grandchildren who also stop by to show off their costumes and collect their candy treats.

Halloween is the best holiday of the year because of the costumes, decorations and candy treat’s. No other holiday compares, not Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas. I am even planning what costume I will wear next year. What are you planning to wear for Halloween?

Transitions

The glue that holds all our thoughts together!

Common Transitions

Try theseFirst

First of all

Second

Secondly

Third

Next

Then

Or these Afterwards

In the beginning

In the morning

In addition

Also

More importantly

Finally, therefore, In summary, In conclusion