In middle school, students are expected to organize, synthesize, and take real ownership of their essays – no small task for kids who are struggling to balance schoolwork, social life, and raging hormones. But the five paragraph essay should make students feel more in control than ever before – if the thesis sentence doesn't have them stumped!
Middle school students should be familiar with the format, but a back-to-school refresher couldn't hurt. The five paragraph essay should be made up of an introduction with a thesis, three body paragraphs supporting the thesis, and a conclusion. Ideally, students should be able to develop body paragraphs, each starting with a clear reason that proves the thesis, followed by three examples that back up each reason.
Donna Kasprowicz, a language arts teacher who teaches the five-paragraph essay to sixth graders, favors this approach to the process: using Katherine Paterson’s Bridge to Terabithia, she introduces the concept of a “rite of passage” using the main character, Jesse, who transitions from a boy to a man after his friend tries to swing across the creek into their magical forest kingdom and dies. Here’s how Ms. Kasprowicz's sixth graders tackle it for this classic coming-of-age novel:
-
The teacher provides the thesis and three supporting points: “In Katherine Paterson’s Bridge to Terabithia, Jesse goes through a rite of passage and experiences three stages: isolation, transition, and renewal.”
-
Before writing, students should collect examples and quotes from the text. Assuming they’ve finished the book, they should search the text for three examples for each supporting point – these should show how Jesse is isolated, beginning to change, or becoming a different person.
-
After writing down nine strong examples - three for each supporting point – students should begin writing!
Things to remember:
-
-
In an introduction, students must write clearly and include only essential details. The plot of the book should be covered in a few sentences and should lead to the student’s thesis statement (the essay should not be a review of the plot).
-
-
-
Initially, it may be hard for students to distinguish a “reason” from an “example.” If isolation is simply a reason supporting the thesis, what are examples that show Jesse’s seclusion from his peers or family? When is Jesse ignored? How? By whom?
-
-
-
Likewise, understanding the difference between “showing” and “telling” examples may be tough. A student who says “Jesse was left out at home” will receive a lower score than the student who describes Jesse’s family environment, how his father puts him down, or how his sisters make fun of him. Another student who explains a particular incident when his father puts him down — using specific details, scene description, and a supporting quote — will do even better.
-
-
-
For students beginning the five-paragraph essay, the conclusion should be succinct — a restatement of the thesis, or brief remarks relating the book to personal experience, if appropriate. It's always tempting to add a brand new idea in the conclusion, but students should relate the conclusion back to the introduction (this could mean rewriting the intro to address your new thesis!).
-
The five-paragraph essay looks long and daunting, but beginners will soon find that it organizes their thoughts into a coherent, well-argued, and illuminating structure, making the five paragraph essay a rite of passage for budding writers!
