How to Write a Five-Paragraph Essay

Most every type of school at some time or another requires its students to write an essay, whether it be an elementary school, secondary school, college or university, public or private, or any other type of scholastic institution. Essays are a simple fact of life for the student, so knowing how to write one is essential to success. There are many different ways to write an essay and many different formats to choose one. However, one of the easiest templates for essay writing is the five-paragraph essay, and it can be used as the template for an expository essay or a persuasive essay.

The five-paragraph essay consists of an introduction, a body of three supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion. One of the easiest ways to begin that attempt at tackling an essay is to first choose a topic and then three supporting facts (if expository) or reasons (if persuasive). You can construct an outline if you wish. Begin the introduction by introducing your topic of choice and briefly state what you wish to accomplish or what you plan to prove by writing the essay. The introduction sets the setting and tone for the entire essay and prepares the reader for what's ahead.

Next is your body, which consists of your three supporting paragraph. Put each reason into its own paragraph of approximately three to five sentences but certainly no less than three. The points that you make here in the body paragraphs with either explain the facts in your expository essay or persuade the reader to your viewpoint with the reasons that you provide on a given viewpoint.

Once you have finished composing your body, which is the majority of your essay, you are ready for the conclusion. The conclusion is nothing more than a restatement of the introduction and a brief re-listing of your reasons, facts, or standpoints provided in your body. It usually ends with a concluding sentence that sums up the whole piece and wraps it up nicely without leaving the reading hanging. A good conclusion closes the essay and lets the reader know and feel like they are done reading the essay.

That is, essentially, what a five-paragraph essays consists of. It is fairly quick and easy to write, especially if you take the time to brainstorm your three supporting paragraphs first or construct an outline of the paper. The five-paragraph essay will, if thoroughly developed, almost always get you the required page-long length and is an easy five paragraphs of introduction, body of three reasons, and conclusion. Simple as that.