How to Write the Body of a 5 Paragraph Essay

The body of a five-paragraph essay is the heart of the paper.

A five-paragraph essay is the basic format for writing a report or research paper required at the high school and introductory college level. As the name implies, the format includes five paragraphs: an introduction, a body consisting of three paragraphs and a conclusion. Sandwiched between the introduction and the conclusion, the body of the paper contains the material the paper will examine, discuss or report on, and is guided by the paper's thesis statement.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Word processing program
• Paper
• Writing utensil

Instructions

Preparation

1. Determine the purpose of your paper. The purpose of your paper could be to summarize, respond to, evaluate, persuade for or against, argue or examine a topic. Choose which approach to take that will fulfill the requirements of the paper assignment.

2. Gather all class notes, textbooks and research completed in order to write about the topic of your paper. Decide to explore three main ideas or points about your paper's topic.

3. Use these three points to write an effective thesis statement to put at the end of the introductory paragraph. Organize your points from strongest to weakest in the thesis statement. Present the main ideas in the body of the paper in this order.

Writing Process

1. Paragraph one of the body follows the introductory paragraph of the essay. Begin the paragraph with a topic sentence that presents your strongest point or idea. A topic sentence makes a statement and informs the reader on what the paragraph will focus. Be direct and use concise words.

2. Develop your paragraph by providing three to four sentences that support the topic sentence. Use evidence from your notes and research to back up your claim or prove your point. Cite any material presented that is not your own. Supporting sentences should build off each other and present a fully developed idea or concept by the end of the paragraph.

3. Write a concluding sentence for your first body paragraph. The concluding sentence should transition the reader from point one in body paragraph one to the next point, as presented in body paragraph two. A well-written body moves smoothly from one idea to the next, using transitional sentences to bridge paragraphs.

4. Present your second strongest point in body paragraph two. Repeat the process of body paragraph one for body paragraph two.

5. Present your least strong point in body paragraph three. Repeat the process of body paragraph two for body paragraph three. Close body paragraph three with a transitional sentence that prepares the reader for the concluding paragraph of the essay.

Tips & Warnings

• If your notes and research do not contain enough information to write conclusively on three main ideas, do more research.

• Paragraphs should only contain one idea or point. Begin a new paragraph if you are presenting a new idea.

• While the five paragraph essay format is acceptable at the introductory college level, most professors will expect that an essay go beyond the typical five paragraphs, especially in the body of the paper.

• Remember to cite all information included in the body that is a statistic or study finding, a direct quote or paraphrased from another source. Without proper citations, you could be accused of plagiarizing.

References

• Purdue OWL; Paragraphs and Paragraphing; Dana Lynn Driscoll, et al.; April 2010
• Purdue OWL; Starting the Writing Process; Karl Stolley, et al.; February 2011

Resources

• Purdue OWL