Five Paragraph Essay Structure
The five-paragraph essay is the commonest and most basic form of academic essay used in English and American high schools. Below you will find a map of the essay structure, and we will be using this structure in all of our argumentative and persuasive essays.
Introduction (3-4 sentences)
1.Hook – Attracts the readers attention and introduces the main idea
2.Bridge – Develops the topic enough to explain the thesis statement
3.Thesis Statement – Introduces the topic and controlling ideas of the essay
Main body Paragraph 1 (5 sentences)
1.Topic sentence – Introduces the topic and controlling idea for this paragraph
(this controlling idea should be linked to the thesis statement)
2.Development – The topic should be expanded and more information introduced
(5W1H)
3.Evidence – An example/fact should be used to prove your opinion
4.Development – Further develop the fact and show how it proves your point
5.Concluding sentence – Pulls together and summarises main point from topic
sentence and paragraph
Main body Paragraph 2 (5 sentences)
1.Topic sentence – Introduces the topic and controlling idea for this paragraph
(this controlling idea should be linked to the thesis statement)
2.Development – The topic should be expanded and more information introduced
(5W1H)
3.Evidence – An example/fact should be used to prove your opinion
4.Development – Further develop the fact and show how it proves your point
5.Concluding sentence – Pulls together and summarises main point from topic
sentence and paragraph
Counter Argument (4-5 sentences)
1.Counter argument –Introduces opposition’s strongest argument
2.Refutation – Explain why that argument is not valid or appropriate
3.Example – Use an example to support your refutation
4.Development (optional) - Further develop the fact and show how it proves your
point
5.Concluding sentence - Pulls together and summarises main point from refutation
Conclusion
1.Restate thesis – Restate the main topic and controlling idea from the thesis
statement (paraphrased)
2.Summary – Summarise the main points from the article to support your opinion
3.Conclusion – Create a new idea/thinking point based on the points raised in the
article。