Five Paragraph Essay

Directions: Write a five paragraph essay on the topic of your choosing. Make sure take a side and argue it throughout.

Rough Draft Due:
Final Draft Due:

1. Introduction

--Does your intro begin with a few introductory sentences orienting the reader?
--Did you list your three supporting points?
--Do you have a thesis that states your main position or observation?
--Is your thesis in bold print? (This makes it easier for me to find.)

Note: Some of you have been taught not to list your three supporting points in the introduction. For the purposes of this assignment, let's do list them.

2. Body

--Do you have three body paragraphs?
--Does each body paragraph correspond with you three supporting points?
--In other words, for each supporting point raised in your intro, one paragraph
should be devoted to it.

3. Topic sentences

--A topic sentence is the first sentence of your body paragraph. It is the most important sentence in your paragraph.
--Does your topic sentence (but not with identical language) mirror the supporting point raised in your introduction.
--Does the topic sentence state what the main idea of your paragraph is?
--Is it specific enough?
--Did you sandbag? Did you withhold the most important information till the end? Hopefully not.

4. Conclusion

--Did you revisit your thesis and three supporting points?
--You should not raise any new points for the first time.

5. Participation

--Did you bring two copies of your completed rough draft?