Write a 5-paragraph Essay
pfreddy
Writingthe5-paragraphEssay51.pptWriting the 5-Paragraph Essay
Fundamentals of Speech Communication (SPC 1017)
By Corby Phillips, M.A.
The Thesis Statement:
- Tells the reader your intention and your points (X,Y,Z) that will be explained in the body.
- Your thesis statement is the last sentence in the introduction.
Designing the Thesis
- Use mutually exclusive points:
(Example:)
My nationality, vocation, and language are categories that have shaped my cultural identity.
My race, gender, and marital status play a significant role in everyday life and these three points will be examined next.
Designing the Thesis:
- Do not use mutually inclusive points.
Points that are mutually inclusive generally occur at the same time and have common ground. Therefore, the writer may have difficulty with organization.
Designing the Thesis:
(Proceed with caution when selecting points that overlap or are mutually inclusive).
Example (do not use):
The following will explain my personal identity, ethnicity, and family background.
1st Paragraph
2nd Paragraph
3rd Paragraph
4th Paragraph
5th Paragraph
Introduction:
Attention Grabber
Thesis
Body: First Point
Topic Sentence
Body: Second Point
Topic Sentence
Body: Third Point
Topic Sentence
Conclusion
Re-State Thesis
Wrap-Up, but don’t repeat information
1st Paragraph
2nd Paragraph
3rd Paragraph
4th Paragraph
5th Paragraph
The following will explain my nationality, vocation, and language. (Thesis)
Nationality
Vocation
Language
My origin, profession, and language have greatly influenced my communication profile.
(Restate thesis in different words)
Supporting Material:
- Facts
- Incident (story)
- Reasons
- Example
- Statistics
Use correct grammar and punctuation when storytelling:
My five-year-old nephew said, “When can I come back to your house in Florida?” I replied, “You need to wait a year!” However, my mom interrupted, “We would prefer to visit during the winter months.”
Four Effective Writing Traits:
- Varying Sentence Lengths
-Use Simple Sentences
and
-Use Complex Sentences
- Begin with Different Words
- Avoid Run-ons
- If unfamiliar with use of the semicolon or colon, it is best to omit. Instead, end the sentence with a period and begin a new one.
Do Not Copy!
- Plagiarism results in automatically failing the course, at the very least, and possible expulsion from all Florida colleges. The most common form of plagiarism—“The Potluck Paper”—is copying from several different sources, tweaking the sentences to make them fit together and retaining most of the original phrasing. Writing that is plagiarized is easy to detect. For more information on procedures involving academic dishonesty, see MDC’s Students’ Rights and Responsibilities and Procedure 4030. If requested, be prepared to submit essays via email and it may be entered into software that easily detects plagiarism.
Citing Your Sources
Cite your course textbook by copying the idea from course textbook in quotation marks. You must cite the information by the following APA format: (Pearson et al., 2010, p. 118).
Alternatively, if you prefer to summarize the idea in your own words instead of copying from the course textbook, simply eliminate the quotation marks. However, you must still cite: (Pearson et al., 2010, p. 118).
Citing your Source:
My family background is American. My parents are both from Oklahoma and I lived with them until I was 18 years-old. Growing up, the nuclear family was not embraced. Instead, my parents expected self-sufficiency. “Cultures that value individual freedom, choice, uniqueness, and independence,” represent an individualistic culture (Pearson et al., 2010, p. 174). Therefore, my upbringing has characteristics of an individualistic culture.
Adhere to APA-style: Times New Roman, 12-font, and double-space.
Include ‘Title’ and ‘Reference’ page. Staple pages together in the upper left-hand corner.
Please do not use fancy folders or binders.
Next is an example of a title page using APA format:
My Horrible Life in Oklahoma
Your Name
Miami Dade College
On your first page of writing, place the title of your essay at the top and center (see above).
You should have between 2-2 ½ pages of writing. Please do not go over 3 pages.
My Horrible Life in Oklahoma
- End your essay with a reference page.
- Cite your textbook at least once using proper APA format.
- Therefore, your textbook will be a source on your reference page.
- For your convenience, the textbook is written APA-style in your syllabus.
Don’t Forget:
GRADES
- Criteria for grading essays are in the ‘college essay grading rubric’ in your course syllabus.
- Essays that receive an ‘A’ or ‘B’ should demonstrate exemplary college-level writing.
- Essays that are not structured into 5-paragraphs and/ or essays with excessive errors will receive a low grade (70%/C or below).
- Remember writing is a process. Thus, edit, proofread, and revise as much as possible before due date.
- Please do not email me your essay. Instead, produce a hardcopy of your final draft by the due date.
- Late work is not accepted in this college course. However, you may give me your essay early. Students who do not have an essay on the due date will receive a zero.
- As a reminder, completion of this class with a ‘C’ or more satisfies three hours of Florida’s required ‘Gordon Rule’ requirement.
- For additional writing tips, see course syllabus, handouts, or go to the college’s Writing Center.
References
Pearson, J., Nelson, P., Titsworth, S., Harter, L. (Eds.). (2011). Human communication (4th ed.).
New York: McGraw-Hill.
