How to write a five-

paragraph essay
 To bear in mind first!
• Do NOT use contractions
• Do NOT be afraid to write in a personal way (I, we) The passive voice of old-fashioned
• Do NOT be repetitive
• Support you arguments with facts
• Do NOT just list facts, it needs to show your problematizing of the topic
• Do not use the words: Thing, etc, nice, interesting (overuse) quantifiers in an informal way, avoid
modals such as should, must (Unless it is supported by an author).
• Do NOT refer to the reader as YOU
• Always include a title!

How can we change theses sentences into an essay-type:

• The important thing to consider is possibility access to higher education programs.
• The role of a univeristy should be to guide students into the discovery of their talents.
• Universities are kind of stingy about their Budget.
• It can be observed that…
 To begin!

• Have a definite point of view.

• Maintain the reader’s interest.
• Use sound reasoning.
• Use solid evidence.
• Be aware of your intended audience. How can you win them over?
• Research your topic so your evidence is convincing.
• Don’t get so sentimental or so passionate that you lose the reader
 Create an Outline!

Thesis

Opening
statement

Concluding
Paragraph 1 Paragraph 2 Paragraph 3 Paragraph 4 paragraph

Intro to Supporting Supporting Supporting Bringing together

support the detail 1 detail 2 detail 3 the three details
tesis with a Evidence/sub Evidence/sub Evidence/sub and connecting
wow factor theme theme theme with thesis
 How to quote?
• Nieto ( 2019) states that students from Universidad Nacional…
• Students from this classroom are showing complex use of high order structures (Nieto, 2019)
• Nieto ( 2019) asserts:
“ Students in this particular group have started to develop a sense of efficacy” ( p. 5)

Then at the end, in a reference list:

Nieto, Y. (2019). The power of teching level 2. Journal of education, Bogotá.

 Paragraph construction
First paragraph:
• A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.
• In the first paragraph of an argument essay, students should set the context by reviewing the
topic in a general way.
• Next the author should explain why the topic is important (exigency) or why readers should
care about the issue. Lastly, students should present the thesis statement.

Second, third and fourth paragraphs:

One single topic per paragraph
Each includes evidential support (Factual, logical, statistical, anecdotal)
Transitions should wrap up the idea from the previous section and introduce the idea that is to follow
in the next section.

Concluding paragraph:
• Do not introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize the information
presented in the body of the essay.
• Restate why the topic is important, review the main points, and review your thesis.
• You may also want to include a short discussion of more research that should be completed
in light of your work.
 Example of an opinon essay in IELTS

It is widely accepted that most people want their doctors who had graduated famous university and well-
educated. It is associated with people’s life directly being treated perfectly. However, there are more
important factors which affect people’s condition in the hospital. The first thing is ability of explaination
about patient’s condition and progress. Whenever we are being admitted to the hospital, we are usually
afraid of our next step. Besides, after we experienced big operation or procedure, we want to know our
current state and how to cope with the future. Even though the doctors are very knowledgeble and skillful,
most patients feel scare when they do not being supported by doctor’s explaination.

Secondly, doctors should be warm.

It is very important to treat the patient’s inner side. It could be huge encouragement people those who are
suffer with incurable disease.
We can not live without human beings.
By time goes by, our society have changed like factory.
To sum up, doctors who are living in modern society, should have warm heart and treat the patient like
their family.
Complete the article with a word or phrase:
• Finally
• Firstly
• For instance
• In addition
• In conclusión
• In most cases
• Nowadays
• Secondly
• So
• Whereas