Learn about the essay structure of a five-paragraph essay and how to write a five-paragraph essay. Read five-paragraph essay examples to understand how to properly format a five-paragraph essay outline.
Updated: 11/21/2023
Five Paragraph Essay | Definition, Structure & Example
Table of Contents
Show
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sentences are in a 5 paragraph essay?
There is no limit to the number of sentences in a 5 paragraph essay. On average, the conclusion paragraph has 5 to 7 sentences, and the introduction paragraph has about the same. The body paragraphs have about the same in each one as well, but this varies. There is no hard rule on how many sentences there are in this type of essay.
How do you write a 5 paragraph essay?
Begin by picking a topic, and thoroughly researching it using valid, current research. Then, formulate the argument based on the research. Make an outline of the essay in bullet form, including main ideas. Start by writing the introduction paragraph and work your way to the conclusion.
What are the 5 paragraphs in an essay?
There are five paragraphs in a formal essay. The first one is the introduction paragraph. The middle three are body paragraphs that add detail. The last paragraph is a conclusion paragraph.
Table of Contents
ShowThe five-paragraph essay is a basic essay format that can be expanded upon to meet the needs of the author. These essays are common in middle school and high school and on standardized tests. These are formal literary works that are written to prove a particular point to the reader. Personal opinions should not be included in a 5 paragraph essay.
The five-paragraph essay begins with an introductory paragraph that will establish the argument the author is making and set the tone for the rest of the essay. There will be three body paragraphs that will provide the evidence for the argument that was established in the introduction paragraph. The last paragraph will be the conclusion paragraph, which will wrap up the argument and summarize the essay in a concise, clear manner.
The five-paragraph essay is a structured format where the reader can make a clear argument with valid evidence in an organized manner. Example topics of essays that would benefit from this type of format would be arguing on behalf of medication reconciliation, reasons why Rome was a strong empire, and the benefits of having a home garden. These types of essays do well when proving a point with sufficient evidence in a formal way. Opinion essays should not be using the five-paragraph format.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
You must cCreate an account to continue watching
Register to view this lesson
Are you a student or a teacher?
Create Your Account To Continue Watching
As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you succeed.
Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons.
Try it now
It only takes a few minutes to setup and you can cancel any time.
Already registered? Log in here for access
BackResources created by teachers for teachers
Over 30,000 video lessons
& teaching resources‐all
in one place.
I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. It’s like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. I feel like it’s a lifeline.
Jennifer B.
Teacher
Back
Your next lesson will play in
10 seconds
The essay structure of this literary work is divided into 5 paragraphs that have their format and use within the essay.
The five-paragraph essay outline is divided into the following segments:
- Introduction paragraph
- Body paragraph presenting evidence
- Body paragraph presenting new evidence
- Body paragraph presenting different evidence
- Conclusion paragraph
This essay structure is used when the author is attempting to prove an argument concisely.
 |
Introduction
The purpose of the introductory paragraph is to present the argument to the reader and provide an overall idea of the purpose of the paper. This paragraph is placed as the first paragraph in the essay and will be the basis of what the paper will be about.
The introduction paragraph starts with a hook statement that grabs the reader's attention. It might be a rhetorical question or an interesting statistic that sets up the purpose of the essay.
After the hook, the introduction paragraph will state the main purpose of the paper. What is the paper about? That question will be answered in this portion of the introduction paragraph. It will give context to the paper and will set the reader up for the thesis statement.
The introductory paragraph has a thesis statement. The thesis statement is a single sentence that presents the point the essay is trying to make and the main ideas of the three body paragraphs. This may be the most important sentence in the essay and it provides a significant amount of information. It must be well written. The thesis statement is the last sentence in the introductory paragraph.
Body Paragraphs
The body paragraphs provide the evidence to support the argument that is presented in the introduction paragraph. There will be three body paragraphs.
Each body paragraph will focus on a new supporting detail or argument that proves the point of the thesis statement. They can begin with transition words such as then or furthermore.
The body paragraph will have a topic sentence that introduces what the paragraph is about. At the end of each body paragraph, there will be a transition sentence that will allow a smooth passage from one paragraph to the next. The body paragraphs must flow and connect when the audience is reading through the text as a whole.
Every body paragraph should relate to the thesis statement and provide a supportive argument to prove the point of the paper.
Conclusion
The conclusion paragraph summarizes the main concept and the arguments that were introduced in the three body paragraphs. The conclusion paragraph will be 5 to 7 sentences long and there will be no new information included.
The conclusion will begin by restating the thesis that was used in the introductory paragraph. It is important that this sentence is refreshing and reworded. It should include the argument the author is trying to make and the three main points presented in each of the body paragraphs.
The conclusion paragraph should go on to summarize the paper and tie up any loose ends. It would be prudent to mention why the argument is significant. It is important to remember that the conclusion paragraph will leave the reader with a lasting impression of the tone of the paper.
 |
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Register to view this lesson
Are you a student or a teacher?
Unlock Your Education
See for yourself why 30 million people use Study.com
Become a Study.com member and start learning now.
Become a MemberAlready a member? Log In
BackResources created by teachers for teachers
Over 30,000 video lessons
& teaching resources‐all
in one place.
I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. It’s like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. I feel like it’s a lifeline.
Jennifer B.
Teacher
Back
Five Paragraph Essay | Definition, Structure & Example
Related Study Materials
Explore our library of over 88,000 lessons
Browse by subject