HOW TO WRITE PARAGRAPHS AND ESSAYS
84 Chapter 7 • Making a Plan
TIP For an example of a five-
paragraph essay, see Chapter 8.
Outlining Paragraphs
SAMPLE OUTLINE FOR A PARAGRAPH
Topic sentence
Primary support point 1
Supporting details for point 1
Primary support point 2
Supporting details for point 2
Primary support point 3
Supporting details for point 3
Concluding sentence
Outlining Essays
If you are writing an essay, the primary support points for your thesis state-
ment will become topic sentences for paragraphs that will make up the body
of the essay. These paragraphs will consist of details that support the topic
sentences. To remind yourself of the differences between paragraph and
essay structure, see the diagram on page 61.
The outline below is for a typical five-paragraph essay, in which three
body paragraphs support a thesis statement, which is included in an intro-
ductory paragraph; the fifth paragraph is the conclusion. However, essays
may include more or fewer than five paragraphs, depending on the size and
complexity of the topic.
The example below is a “formal” outline form, with letters and num-
bers to distinguish between primary supporting and secondary supporting
details. Some instructors prefer this format. If you are making an outline
just for yourself, you do not have to use the formal system — but you do
need a plan to order the points you want to make. In an informal outline,
you might want to simply indent the secondary supporting details under
each primary support.
SAMPLE OUTLINE FOR A FIVE-PARAGRAPH ESSAY
Thesis statement (part of introductory paragraph 1)
A. Topic sentence for support point 1 (paragraph 2)
1. Supporting detail 1 for support point 1
2. Supporting detail 2 for support point 1 (and so on)
B. Topic sentence for support point 2 (paragraph 3)
1. Supporting detail 1 for support point 2
2. Supporting detail 2 for support point 2 (and so on)
C. Topic sentence for support point 3 (paragraph 4)
1. Supporting detail 1 for support point 3
2. Supporting detail 2 for support point 3 (and so on)
Concluding paragraph (paragraph 5)
 HOW TO WRITE PARAGRAPHS AND ESSAYS
Practice Arranging Ideas in a Logical Order 85

PRACTICE 2 Making an Outline

The paragraph in this practice appeared earlier in this chapter to illustrate time
order of organization. Read it and make an outline for it in the space provided.

Because I am not a morning person, I have to follow the same

routine every morning or I will just go back to bed. First, I allow
myself three “snooze” cycles on the alarm. That gives me an extra
fifteen minutes to sleep. Then, I count to three and haul myself out
of bed. I have to do this quickly or I may just sink back onto the
welcoming mattress. Next, I head to the shower. I run the water for
a minute so it will be warm when I step in. While waiting for it to
warm up, I wash my face with cold water. It is a shock, but it jolts
me awake. After showering and dressing, I am ready for the two
cups of coffee that are necessary to get me moving out of the
house.

TOPIC SENTENCE:

A. PRIMARY SUPPORT 1:

1. SUPPORTING DETAIL:

B. PRIMARY SUPPORT 2:

1. SUPPORTING DETAIL:

C. PRIMARY SUPPORT 3:

1. SUPPORTING DETAIL:

2. SUPPORTING DETAIL:

D. PRIMARY SUPPORT 4:

1. SUPPORTING DETAIL:
 HOW TO WRITE PARAGRAPHS AND ESSAYS
86 Chapter 7 • Making a Plan

Make Your Own Plan

Before making your own plan, look at what Chelsea Wilson did with the
support she wrote. She had already grouped together similar points and put
the more specific details under the primary support (see p. 78). When she
thought about how to order her ideas, the only way that made sense to her
was by importance. If she had been telling the steps she would take to be-
come a nurse, time order would have worked well. If she had been describ-
ing a setting where nurses work, space order would be a good choice. But
since she was writing about why she wanted to get a college degree and be-
come a nurse, she decided to arrange her reasons in order of importance.
Notice that Chelsea also made changes in her primary and secondary sup-
port. At each stage, her ideas and the way she expressed them changed as
she got closer to what she wanted to say.

TOPIC SENTENCE: Becoming a nurse is a longtime goal of mine because

it offers so much that I value.

PRIMARY SUPPORT 1: It is a good and practical job.

SUPPORTING DETAILS:Licensed practical nurses make an

average of $40,000 per year. That amount is much more than
I make now. With that salary, I could move to a better place
with my daughter and give her more, including more time.

PRIMARY SUPPORT 2: Nursing is a profession, not just a job.

SUPPORTING DETAILS: It helps people who are sick and in need.

It gives people great opportunities, like the chance to go on
and become a registered nurse, with more money and
responsibility. People respect nurses.

PRIMARY SUPPORT 3: I will respect and be proud of myself for

achieving my goal through hard work.

SUPPORTING DETAILS: I will be a good role model for my

daughter. I will help her and others, but I will also be helping
myself by knowing I can accomplish good things.

CONCLUSION: Reaching my goal is important to me and worth the work.

WRITING ASSIGNMENT

Make a plan for a paragraph or essay using support you generated in Chapter 6,
your responses to the idea journal prompts, or one of the following.

The teacher I remember best is .

This school would make students happier / more successful if .
Work to live, don’t live to work.
If I could make one change in my life, it would be .
Most people are poor listeners.