The Traditional Five – Paragraph Essay The Three Main Parts: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion

OVERALL STRUCTURE OF THE FIVE-PARAGRAPH ESSAY Introduction: Tell them what you’re going to tell them. Body: Tell them in 3 paragraphs. Conclusion: Tell them what you’ve told them.

Introduction: The First Paragraph of the Essay The first paragraph of the five – paragraph is called the introduction. In this case it is about three to five sentences long. These three to five sentences make up the three main parts of the introduction. The three main parts of the introductory paragraph are named as follows: The Lead-In, the Transition, and the Essay Map/thesis Statement.

Jean Michel Basquiat

A.The Lead-In: a very general sentence or sentences that simply introduce(s) the subject (topic) of the essay. Example: Very few paintings in American art have black people in them. They seem to be absent from the history of modern art or if they are there they are not portrayed realistically

B.Transition: A Slightly more specific sentence or sentences that identify/ies the particular aspect of the topic that will be discussed in the essay. In other words, the transition narrows the topic. Example: In my painting I would like to portray African Americans in a way that avoids stereotypes and where they are represented realistically The particular aspect identified is that the work and essay will focus on the way Afro American’s are represented in paint.

C.Essay Map/Thesis Statement. 1.The Essay Map/thesis statement is the main idea of the entire essay. In this case, the Essay Map is about readdressing stereotypes of Afro Americans. 2.The Essay Map/thesis statement is the list of the three main ideas that will be developed in the Body Paragraphs: in this essay, they are: Historical art contexts that address Afro American stereotypes, contemporary art contexts, formal issues. 3.Example: I will talk about the portrayal of blacks through a discussion of historical art contexts that address Afro American stereotypes, my family context and formal issues in my own works.

17th and 18th Century Images: Olaudah Equiano or Ottobah Cugoano Phillis Wheatley, 1773 Rachel Pringle, Barbados, 1796 Toussaint Louverture, St. Domingue

Painters of the Harlem Renaissance Negro Shack I, Sedalia Loïs Mailou Jones William H. Johnson Self-portrait Chain Gang

II. The Body Paragraphs: Three Main Components A. Topic Sentence 1. The topic sentence is the sentence that expresses the main idea of the body paragraph, which is one of the three main supporting ideas presented in the Essay Map. Example: In the 1930s Afro Americans emigrated to the Northern cities in search of employment and away from the repressive attitudes of southern America. As a result of this movement an artistic renaissance occurred..

B.Example The supporting details are the specific pieces of information that clarify, explain, illustrate and develop the main idea expressed in the Topic Sentence. Example: Art in this context was largely conservative in its formal issues but politically powerful. The work of WH Johnson is typical of the politically motivated painting of the time. In this work the oppressive slave conditions of the south are exposed.

C. Concluding Sentence The concluding sentence gives closure to the paragraph by paraphrasing the Topic Sentence. It is work such as this from Johnson that has set a precedent for the stereotypical portrayals of Afro Americans that I am responding to in the paintings that I make.

The Concluding Paragraph: Four Main Components 1. Paraphrase of the Lead-In Example: In conclusion, as one can see, my paintings are a product of both my cultural and art historical background. 2. Paraphrase of the Transition Example: They also, I hope portray Afro Americans in a way that talks about the diversity of our contemporary lives.

3. Paraphrase of Essay Statement/thesis statement 1. Example: My investigation into the art of Kara Walker and historical painters such as Johnson have been catalysts for the development of my painting over the course of this year.

4. Statement emphasizing and expanding the importance of the topic 1. Example: I feel strongly that as an Afro American I paint images of my heritage in order that perspectives of ‘others’ do not dominate our cultural perception of ourselves.