Remarkable Tips on How to Write a 5 Paragraph Essay

The 5 paragraph essay, sometimes known as the hamburger essay, is an informative paper that entails a description of a particular subject matter. The task is normally assigned by instructors to evaluate how students interact with readers, defend thesis sentences, conduct research, develop arguments, and conclude the findings in a single paragraph. Typically, a 5 passage essay involves drafting the introduction, creating three body sections, and writing the conclusion. This guide therefore provides tips to help compose an outstanding essay.

Table of Contents

The Major Types of 5 Paragraph Essays

Recognizing a type of essay is just an issue of identifying the author’s objective. Does the writer intend to talk about an individual affair, portray something, clarify an issue, or persuade the reader to acknowledge a specific perspective? The following are some of the common essay types written by students:

Narrative Essays

In a narrative paper, the author recounts a tale about a genuine real-life affair. While recounting a story may sound simple, this type of writing challenges students to ponder and write about themselves. When composing a narrative essay, scholars should endeavor to include the reader by making the story as clear as possible. The way that narrative essays are typically written in first person perspective helps in creating a connection with the reader. “I” sentences give readers a sentiment of being part of the story. A well written narrative essay will likewise work towards making a conclusion or putting forth an individual expression.

Descriptive Essays

A relative of the narrative essay, a descriptive paper paints an image with words. An author may portray an individual, place, object, or even memory of extraordinary centrality. In a descriptive essay, the author should appear, not tell, using vivid words and tactile subtleties. The best descriptive papers request to the reader’s feelings, with an outcome that is profoundly reminiscent.

Expository Essays

In an expository essay, the author clarifies or characterizes a subject, utilizing realities, measurements, and models. Expository essays include a wide scope of paper varieties, for example, the cause and effect essay, the compare and contrast essay and the “how to” or procedural essay. Since expository papers depend on realities and not close to home sentiments, essayists do not uncover their feelings or write in the first person point of view.

Persuasive Essays

Just like an expository essay describes facts, the objective of the persuasive paper is to convince the reader to acknowledge the author’s perspective or proposal. The author must form a case utilizing actualities and rationale in addition to precedents, master sentiment, and sound thinking. The writer should show all sides of the dialog, yet should have the capacity to impart clearly and without ambiguity why a specific position is right.

Literary Analysis

In this type of essay, the author is required to select a novel or a poem and give a critical evaluation of the messages or symbolism within the texts.

Examples of Good Essay Topics

Thorough research helps to define the theme of the paper if the instructor does not relegate you one. This is the most troublesome step as students regularly stall out when formulating a thesis statement. Select topics dependent on the following parameters:

  • How simple is it to discover supporting points?
  • How simple would it be to make ground-breaking supportive arguments?
  • Will the introduction section be attractive to the reader?
  • Would it be conceivable to incorporate a solid thesis statement in the last sentence of the first paragraph?
  • Is the subject intriguing to the audience? How the conclusion and gauges may be of importance?

The following are good examples of general topics a student can use to write a 5 paragraph essay:

  • Reasons why well-paying occupations at reputable overseas associations are likely to be male-dominated
  • Parallels between tyranny and secondary school harassment/bullying
  • Instructors must allow more freedom and flexibility to their students
  • Worst habits that adolescents adopt.
  • Young men and young ladies should study in separate classes
  • Discuss changes that need to be implemented in the curriculum
  • The dangers of using nuclear weapons
  • The utilization of animals in scientific research is unethical and cruel.
  • Importance of correctional facilities
  • E-learning is getting more popular than conventional classroom studies.
  • Well off individuals should share resources with poorer individuals
  • Long-term effects of environmental pollution.
  • High school evaluation frameworks are not 100% precise/reasonable
  • Factors that contribute to a quality movie.
  • Ways of protecting endangered animals.
  • Characteristics of a good friend.

How to Outline a Five Paragraph Essay

The outline of a 5 paragraph essay has three major sections. These are the introduction, three body paragraphs followed by a conclusion. When it comes to the formatting style, you are required to refer to your faculty requirements or the specific instructions of the paper.


While writing the introduction, you need to begin with a hook. The hook aims at capturing the reader’s attention. Therefore, you ought to select a creative method to introduce the topic to the audience. This particular sentence needs to be a generalized idea about the main topic and gives the reader some background information. Anecdotes quips and quotes all make suitable hooks for an essay.

Next, you need to include a topic sentence that offers additional information. The following sentence should enlighten the reader more about the topic, while still retaining a generalized outlook. Provide the relevant background information and write a well-defined topic idea. At this point, do not reveal key points yet.

Subsequently, write one more sentence based on the topic that steers towards the thesis. A reader should now begin to see the essay’s ideas taking shape. Complete the introductory section with the thesis as the last statement that contains your stance or the theme for the major points. Each paragraph should resonate with the thesis. The introduction sets the mood for the essay. Therefore, it should be captivating, brief, and straight to the point.

The Three Body Paragraphs

You need to have three strong points supported by arguments. Begin by discussing the strongest point and end with the second strongest one. The weakest topic idea needs to be sandwiched between two strong ideas. This will enhance good support for the thesis statement. Each point needs to be within its paragraph.

Begin writing each paragraph by introduction a topic sentence. This sentence will state the main point and correlate it back to the thesis. In essence, it informs the reader why the point supports ideas presented within the thesis. Topic sentences control the remainder of the paragraph. Think of the topic sentence as a mini-thesis for that particular paragraph.

Provide examples or evidence to back up the discussions. You can get evidence from sources you referenced during research. Every paragraph needs to have two or three examples or evidence. In the case of research, cite all sources in the appropriate style.

Add your personal opinion to inform the reader of how the examples and evidence support your ideas and correlate to the thesis. Typically, two to three commentary sentences are ideal for each example or piece of evidence. A good method of inserting commentaries is to alternate them with each evidence all across the paper. End the paragraph by referring back to the thesis. Make a summary of all points you made within the paragraph. Showcase to the reader how the points provide support.

Writing the Conclusion

Restate the thesis through reinforcing the major ideas. Create a summary of how the main points gave support to the thesis to reinforce your arguments in the reader’s mind. Do this in around two to three sentences. Write authoritatively while restating arguments to convince the reader fully.

Do not introduce new information in this paragraph. This might result in you losing points for the essay. The reader might walk away with more questions rather than satisfaction with your arguments. Only restate what you had discussed earlier on. Sum up everything with a concluding remark to leave the readers with a lasting impression about the topic. A reader needs to keep meditating about the paper long after they have read it. The following are amazing ideas on good concluding sentences.

  • A call to action
  • A warning on the consequence of ignoring your stance
  • Creating an impression in the reader’s mind
  • A quote
  • A general statement about reality or life

the hamburger essay

Editing and Revising the Essay

Using a spell checker ensures that all spellings are correct. Go through the sentences again to ensure your word processor is giving the appropriate suggestion for a given the word. Take a break then re-read the paper once more with a clear mind. In so doing, you can find errors that the spell checker ignored.

While rereading, ensure that there is a good thought flow process across the entire paper. Ideas in the different paragraphs need to have a proper interconnectedness. Add the appropriate transitions, e.g., subsequently, furthermore, also and similarly among others. Break up long sentences into shorter and more precise ones

Fix all formatting issues by adjusting the margins, spacing and font size accordingly. In case you included referenced material, insert a bibliography page using the appropriate format recommended by the instructor.

Information on the General Grading Rubric for Essays

Different schools and faculties use varied grading rubrics. However, the following is the standard rubric style used by most institutions. It pays special attention to the following:

  • Does the essay focus on the thesis?
  • Is the essay organized?
  • Does the paper stick to the general language conventions?
  • What is the level of style? e., vocabulary, jargon, sentence structure
  • Is the content valid?

Example of a 5 Paragraph Essay

The Merits of Regular Exercise

As of late numerous individuals have turned out to be progressively mindful of the requirement for physical fitness. Whenever people turn to a magazine, TV or bulletin, they are constantly bombarded with guidance on health and fitness. Though some of this information is commercially driven, advice on regular exercise should be considered. Ordinary exercise discharges strain enhances appearance and adds stamina.

The release of tension during exercise can be felt immediately. Tension is generally caused by anxiety stress or fear that results in excessive adrenaline accumulation. Whenever an individual rides a bicycle, jogs or swims for at least 15 minutes a day, he or she is likely to have a good night’s rest and in a good mood the following day. Furthermore, after discharging excessive tension, small annoyances and frustrations should become less of a problem.

The second benefit to exercise is a better appearance. Though not immediate, exercising for at least one-month results in a firm and trim figure. An overweight individual, for instance, can burn up excessive fats and increase muscle mass thus reshaping his or her physique. With enhanced muscle tone and balanced posture, the individual can wear more attractive clothes and feel comfortable.

Enhanced physical strength boosts stamina. A strong and healthy person can work harder and can cope with normal fatigue better than a weak and tensed individual. Someone who exercises regularly can go through a forty-hour work week and retain extra energy for household tasks. Also important, stamina assists in warding off diseases the likes of influenza and colds.

In conclusion, quick fixes to losing weight and achieving enhanced muscle tone as well as energy saturate media outlets. However, gaining such benefits requires a lot of dedication and effort. In the end, the rewards are worth every effort put into a regular exercise that enhances relaxation, good health, and energy for both tedious and routine activities.

fraud click detection