How to Write a 5 Paragraph Essay: The Complete Guide (2023)

February 16, 2023

how to write a 5 paragraph essay explained

The guide we’ve written on essay writing generally applies to writing all kinds of essays. In a way, it isn’t as specific in context, especially when it comes to considering the length of the essay.

So in this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step guide to writing a killer 5 paragraph essays that earn A-grades straight up. And it doesn’t matter what the topic is about, because this guide will help you make the essay as comprehensive as possible.

Let’s get to it.

How to Write a Killer 5 Paragraph Essay that Earn A Grades

Below is how you can write a comprehensive 5-paragraph essay that grabs attention, inspires, and earns you the best grades that you’re looking for.

Step 1: Writing a 5-Paragraph Essay Starts With Choosing a Topic

Skip this step if your instructor has already provided a topic for you in the essay prompt. If they haven’t, choose a topic that’s not only interesting to write about but also allow you to use three concreate ideas that can support the essay’s thesis statement on the topic.

You can take this even further and determine the type of essays to write. If your topic requires you to compare ideas, then write a compare and contrast essay. If the subject requires you to do in-depth research and use logical evidence to support your claims, write an argumentative essay. If your professor requires you to analyze a topic, a concept, or an idea, you’ll need to write an analytical essay.

Whichever the type of essay you choose to write in 5 paragraphs, make sure you can easily identify three objective reasons to support the guiding thesis.

Step #2: Research Your Topic

Essay aren’t blog posts or simple articles that you can write from off of the top of your head. You need to dedicate enough time to research to get more insight about your subject.

Some students research thinly because a 5-paragraph essay is short. But the problem with spreading yourself too thin is that it can make it hard for you to come up with additionally relevant materials to add to your essay.

So, collect as much information as you can, even if you feel like you have more than enough already.

Your research will enable you to come up with a relevant and more refined thesis statement for the essay topic. The thesis statement shouldn’t be too broad or too narrow. Rather, it should be specific enough so you have an easy time justifying it with your supporting arguments or claim.

Step #3: Create an Outline Specifically for a 5 Paragraphs Essay

Take some time to create an outline for the essay before you start writing your essay. The outline will be your framework to use to organize your thoughts in a manner that makes them easy to read and understand.

We recommend the following outline for a five-paragraph essay.

Opening paragraph: Write a catchy introduction to hook your reader. Include a one or two sentence thesis statement to make clear what your essay is about.

First body paragraph: Use this space to identify the main point or idea to support your guiding thesis statement.

Second body paragraph: The second body paragraph should demonstrate the second idea or point to support your thesis statement.

Third body paragraph: Your third body paragraph should identify your third idea or point to support your thesis statement.

Conclusion paragraph: This is the section where you connect the three paragraphs together to demonstrate how you’ve proved the thesis statement of your essay.

Keep in mind that the conclusion of the essay won’t be an introduction of new ideas to the essay. And it isn’t a section where you just reiterate the thesis statement exactly as it is. Rather, it’s a section you should use to answer the “so what?” question. And you do that by tying everything before it together.

Step #4: Use the Outline to Write Your Essay

Since you’ve already used a structured framework to organize your thoughts, it should be easy for you to write the essay.

At the end of the day, the purpose of the outline is to make it easy for you to know which idea to include into each paragraph.

Write a catchy introduction for the essay. If you can make it provocative and follow it by supporting ideas leading to your thesis statement, the better. A good hook in the opening paragraph, and a well-written thesis statement, should be enough to pique the reader’s interest.

Each of the three body paragraphs should have a single (one) main idea. Start. With an opening (or topic sentence), follow it by a concrete explanation, examples, and supporting evidence, and then use a closing link that introduces the next ideas in the next subsequent paragraph.

The conclusion paragraph should be as interesting to read as the introduction of the essay itself. As we always say in our essay guides, this isn’t the section where you copy and paste the thesis statement from the introduction paragraph. Instead, use this space to show that you’ve proven your thesis. Your explanation should be so clear that it allows your readers to draw their own conclusions.

Get Essay Writing Assistance from Help for Assessment

Do you find writing a 5-paragraph essay overwhelming to write because it’s a short essay? Or maybe you don’t have the time to complete the paper because you’re busy focusing on other assignments?

Or maybe your professor has given you a complex essay topic and you’re struggling to understand the subject and need help to complete the essay?

You can reach out to Help for Assessment and let us help you get the work completed in time. Wit our essay writing service, you can get a high quality written on time no matter how complex the topic is.

And don’t worry if you’re on a tight budget. We have a competitive pricing plan that makes it possible even for a student on a budget to get their essays written. Click here to place your order today.

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About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

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