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Put That In Writing - Level Two

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UNIT 5

Lesson: The Basic Essay Form and Historical Figure Essay (Part 1)
5.1 Learning Objectives
A. To understand the five-paragraph form. B. To understand the form and development of thesis statements and path statements. C. To know the importance of a planning outline. D. To understand and employ one scheme and one trope. 1. Apposition 2. MetonymyE. To write a historical essay in five-paragraph format.

5.2

The Five-Paragraph Essay Form

The basic style of essay is a five-paragraph form. Useful in many instances, it serves as a pattern for learning the parts of an essay. Later, you will learn to alter this form in order to present topics in a variety of ways. The five-paragraph essay begins with an introductory paragraph that opensthe subject and presents the contention, called a thesis. This is followed by three paragraphs referred to as the “body.” Each body paragraph explains different evidence in support of the thesis. Finally, a concluding paragraph summarizes the material presented and closes the essay. The following outline demonstrates how these sections fit together: 5A - Five-Paragraph Essay Outline
Introductionparagraph Attention getter Narrowing statements Thesis statement with plan of attack Body paragraph #1 Topic sentence Supporting material Concluding sentence Body paragraph #2 Topic sentence Supporting material Concluding sentence Body paragraph #3 Topic sentence Supporting material Concluding sentence Conclusion paragraph Thesis restatement Restate body paragraph #1 Restate body paragraph #2Restate body paragraph #3 Conclusion or appeal

Unit 5 - The Basic Essay Form and Historical Figure Essay (Part 1)

48

Put That In Writing - Level Two

Although simple, this form contains the primary components of most academic essays: thesis, supporting information, summation. In reality, this essay form is simply an expansion of the paragraph form learned in Level One: topic sentence,supporting points, concluding sentence. The topic sentence becomes the thesis within the introductory paragraph. Each supporting point becomes a topic sentence for a body paragraph. The concluding sentence expands to become a concluding paragraph. A thesis is also called a proposition. Succeeding lessons will discuss the introduction and conclusion paragraphs in more depth. For now, we will take acloser look at the thesis statement and body paragraphs in preparation to begin this unit’s essay.

5.3

Thesis Statements
A. Thesis Statement (Proposition)
The thesis statement, also called the proposition, is a single sentence that contends something about the subject. Consequently, present the contention in the affirmative (positive) rather than the negative, whenever possible.
NegativeStatement: Bumble Bee Park is not a pleasant location for a family outing.

Thesis: A single sentence that contends something about the subject.

Affirmative Statement: Bumble Bee Park is a poor location for a family outing.

B. Perspective
The contention stated in the thesis must be clear. While this may seem simple, many students have difficulty limiting the perspective to a simple,straightforward contention. They often create a weak thesis with mixed assertions such as the following: Bumble Bee Park possesses many positive and negative attributes. Mixing assertions is not an appropriate strategy. The product of the above thesis will be very confusing and rather boring to the reader. So what if the park has positive and negative attributes? The same is true of almost anything. It isbest to present either the positives or the negatives. A thesis like the one above is a “non-thesis” since it takes no real position. A short illustration might help clarify this issue. Imagine a defense attorney walking into a courtroom and saying, “Your Honor, my client is both guilty and innocent.” Some student “attorneys” try to soften their contentions by using even more ambiguous wording:...