What is 5 Paragraph Essay. How to Start Writing

The essay is one of the standard assignments used in most exams such as TOEFL, IELTS, and the SAT. The task to write an essay is worth a good preparation. Memorizing the format of this work will help the student effectively and quickly uncover the essay topic by experimenting with different styles.

Standardized assignment request is a 5 paragraph essay. The paper should contain 500-800 words. It consists of an introductory part, three supporting paragraphs and a concluding part.

Help needed? Each student can be in touch with our experienced service and write an essay of an A + level. Professional teachers and editors will turn a rookie into an experienced essay author!

The most difficult step is to choose the topic and type of essay at the very beginning. There are many types of essays. The most common of them are Narrative, Expository, Argumentative, Persuasive, Cause and Effect, etc. Properly chosen topic and paper type is half of the job done. For narrow topics, specific essay types are suitable. Standardized essay topics require persuasive type.

Do not write on topics close to a given one – be sure to delve into the essence of the question and build your work in exact accordance with the stated topic. In order to develop such an ability, it is imperative to train yourself to write narrative and other essays.

20 Simple and Great Topics to start with

Grade the following 20 ideas of different essay categories. You can choose the one you like best:

1. Wealthy people should share their goods with poorer people;
2. Fashion is not important when it comes to defining personality;
3. Parallels between dictatorship and high school bullying;
4. Voting on a new subject: Which one to include in the curriculum?
5. Are Hollywood actors overrated?
6. Does the death penalty work in the United States?
7. The use of animals in scientific studies is immoral & unethical;
8. The right age for dating;
9. Use imagination to discuss which social norms and rules can be changed for a better or removed;
10. E-learning is getting more powerful than a traditional education;
11. Things to do to defend endangered species of animals/plants from continuous extinction;
12. School teachers should allow students to use their mobile devices for lessons;
13. Teachers must give more freedom to their students;
14. Boys and girls should study in separate classes;
15. Nuclear weapon is a killing device;
16. Reasons why highly-paid jobs at top overseas organizations are likely to be filled by men;
17. School children are too young to put makeup;
18. Teachers must pass certain proficiency tests and share results with their students to prove they are competent in the particular field of study;
19. Fast-food companies are guilty of the increased level of obesity;
20. Soccer will not ever become popular enough in the United States.

Here you can get acquainted with the visual outline example and see how the structure of this essay looks like.

Introductory Paragraph

The purpose of the introductory part is to raise the discussed problem correctly. This will help you not only to interest the reader, but also to set the tone for the subsequent text. A writer may want to tell a story that will make the reader thinking. Whatever author’s intention, the introductory paragraph must explain the purpose of this essay.

Here you will find information about what is argumentative essay and get a real help in your introductory part writing!

Strictly speaking, there is no one correct way to start an essay. You can write essays on a variety of topics, and you can start them in many different ways. However, there are some similarities in the best introductory paragraphs:

• Start with a sentence that will interest the reader. It may be a curious and obscure fact or statistic. You can also start with a terrific description or picture, if it is appropriate in your essay;
• A good first sentence may capture the reader’s attention, but if you do not continue to develop the thought, the reader will stop in the middle. After the first sentence, one or two more sentences should follow, which will logically link the first sentence and the main text;
• List three points or arguments in support of your thesis in order of importance (one sentence for each).

Ready! You have just written the introductory paragraph.

Body Paragraphs (I, II, III paragraph)

These three paragraphs are the major part of the essay. They are full of details, facts, quotes and real data. The points discussed in the introductory part should be supported here. Each thesis should be explained with the usage of examples, facts, statistics, life stories, literature, news, etc.

• You formulated a thesis. It is time to explain your viewpoint. It is important to argue here a personal opinion with 2-3 arguments. First, you need to start with a sentence that summarizes your position. Present your view on the problem and explain what makes you think in that way. Give examples from your own experience, the experience of literary heroes, films, and friends;
• In the next paragraph, it is necessary to present the opponent opinion and justify it. It will be enough for several arguments with reliable confirmation;
• In the third paragraph, you need to refute the opinion of opponents. This is the most difficult stage in writing an essay. Therefore, the counterargument must not be controversial. You should carefully re-read the written part and clearly state your position in relation to the essay problem.

In each first (thematic) sentence of the three paragraphs, you should formulate the thesis point that you are going to argue. It is followed by another 3-4 sentences, which prove its correctness. In addition, the last sentence should guide the reader to the next paragraph.

Don’t forget about transition words

We present a list of words and expressions used to introduce new information, enumerate and attract additional arguments/facts. Such words are called transition. They are the pointers in the transition of one argument part to another, thus providing a logical sequence of thoughts presentation and structure clarity of the composition.

In your case, you need to find out beforehand what is an expository essay and other type of papers. It will help you to find the most suitable transition phrases. Most often, such words and phrases are put at the beginning of a sentence/paragraph of an essay.

Transitions can be:

• Addition/Identification – as well, concerning, for example, frankly speaking, on the one hand, specifically etc.;
• Conflict/Emphasis – however, though, besides, indeed, nevertheless etc.;
• Effect/Result/Purpose – due to, owing to (the fact), for the purpose of, in order that, etc.;
• Conclusion/Summation/Numerical – in sum, altogether, as I have said, to sum up, eventually, finally, subsequently, initially etc.

In writing the essay conclusion, it is important to formulate this part correctly. The conclusion, in fact, is a brief summary of everything said in the body of the text. Now you need to voice your own aphorism. It will become your conclusion and ensure the competent completion of the college paper.

Here are some elements that worsen the conclusion perception:

• Complicated phrases. Too sophisticated sentences are not very appropriate in the conclusion. The final part should impress the reader and not tire him or even put him to sleep;
• New information. You should sum up the results of the work, and not overload the reader with new data;
• Background Information. The conclusion should not be limited to argument on abstract topics. This will only distract the reader from the main idea of ​​the essay.

It is customary to complete the essay with the foregoing conclusion. This is probably the most common way to complete the paper. However, at the same time it is the most difficult way, because it is difficult not to duplicate what has already been said, and not to move aside from the subject of the essay.

Another fairly common version of the ending is the call. An expression of hope is one of the winning options for the final part, since allows you to avoid duplication of thought, ethical and logical errors. Important: you need to express hope for something positive.

Having finished writing the conclusion, re-read your work entirely. In the process of reading, you will find out whether the ending of the five paragraph essay is in harmony with the introduction and the main part of the work, whether there is anything important that you could miss.