1. The Five-Paragraph Essay (For Persuasive and Expository Writing)
ABCDE Essay Structure
The Five-Paragraph Essay
(For Persuasive and Expository Writing)

2. Example Prompt:
Write an essay explaining what qualities you look for in a friend. Provide reasons and examples to support your answer.

3. Prewriting
loyalty
friend’s name
honesty
respect

4. ABCDE Essay Format Attention-Grabber Bridge/Background
Introductory
Paragraph
Bridge/Background
Central Thesis Statement
Paragraphs
Body
Divisions
Ending Statement
Concluding
Paragraph
Summarize
“Clincher” Statement

5. Introductory Paragraph
Attention-Grabber
General
Bridge/Background
Central Thesis Statement
Specific

6. Step 1: Central Thesis Statement
Most important sentence of the essay.
It is the main idea statement. (Highlighted in green)
Always an opinion when writing to persuade.
Contains three main points supporting the opinion.
Must be written first before planning the essay.
Narrows the topic down to a manageable size.
Always the last sentence of the Introductory paragraph.

7. Step 1: Central Thesis Statement (Cont’d)
Example:
The qualities I look for in a friend are honesty, loyalty, and respect.
Opinion
3 Reasons

8. Step 2: Attention-Grabber
Always the first sentence of the first paragraph
Purpose:
To “hook” the reader
To introduce the subject
NEVER an opinion.
You don’t want your audience to disagree with you right away.
Facts work better.
Your audience can’t disagree with a fact.

9. Step 2: Attention-Grabber (Cont’d)
Example:
People come in and out of our lives, but the ones that we depend on, we call friends.

10. Step 3: Bridge/Background
Gives background information and details that will help your reader understand the details in the rest of the essay.
In an essay, you should explain the idea or situation given to you in the prompt.
Ex. The school board is considering requiring students to wear uniforms.
Ex. Many people don’t think that we need to recycle.
Should be about 2 sentences.

11. Step 3: Bridge/Background
Example:
People come in and out of our lives, but the ones that we depend on, we call friends. In times of need, in times of joy, we hope to be surrounded by people who will support us and share our happiness. As I’ve grown, I have come to learn that there are many qualities I look for in a friend. The qualities I look for in a friend are honesty, loyalty, and respect.

12. ABCDE Essay Format Attention-Grabber Bridge/Background
Introductory
Paragraph
Bridge/Background
Central Thesis Statement
Paragraphs
Body
Divisions
Ending Statement
Concluding
Paragraph
Summarize
“Clincher” Statement

13. Body Paragraphs
Divisions

14. Step 4: Divisions
Three paragraphs (2, 3 and 4) which are the body of the essay.
D-1:
1st Body Paragraph (2nd Overall Paragraph)
D-2:
2nd Body Paragraph (3rd Overall Paragraph)
D-3:
3rd Body Paragraph (4th Overall Paragraph)
They are the specific supporting details for the Central Thesis.

15. Division Paragraphs
D-1: First reason for thesis. Transition, reason 1. Explanation 1. Transition, reason 2. Explanation 2. Transition, reason 3. Explanation 3. Transition, restatement of first reason for thesis.
Each paragraph in the body should be a POWER PARAGRAPH, with:
A topic sentence
Supporting Details/Examples (with transitions)
Restatement of Topic Sentence
D-2: Second reason for thesis. Transition, reason 1. Explanation 1. Transition, reason 2. Explanation 2. Transition, reason 3. Explanation 3. Transition, restatement of second reason for thesis.
D-3: Third reason for thesis. Transition, reason 1. Explanation 1. Transition, reason 2. Explanation 2. Transition, reason 3. Explanation 3. Transition, restatement of third reason for thesis.

16. Step 4: Divisions Example D-1:
One of the qualities I look for in a friend is honesty.
Transition word 1st idea about honesty+ Explanations/Examples
Transition word 2nd idea about honesty + Explanations/Examples
Transition word 3rd idea about honesty + Explanations/Examples
Then you would restate your D-1 topic sentence from above.

17. Step 4: Divisions Example D-2:
Another quality I look for in a friend is loyalty.
Transition word 1st idea about loyalty+ Explanations/Examples
Transition word 2nd idea about loyalty + Explanations/Examples
Transition word 3rd idea about loyalty + Explanations/Examples
Then you would restate your D-2 topic sentence from above.

18. Step 4: Divisions Example D-3:
The last quality I look for in a friend is respect.
Transition word 1st idea about respect+ Explanations/Examples
Transition word 2nd idea about respect + Explanations/Examples
Transition word 3rd idea about respect + Explanations/Examples
Then you would restate your D-3 topic sentence from above.

19. ABCDE Essay Format Attention-Grabber Bridge/Background
Introductory
Paragraph
Bridge/Background
Central Thesis Statement
Paragraphs
Body
Divisions
Ending Statement
Concluding
Paragraph
Summarize
“Clincher” Statement

20. Summarize Division Paragraphs
Concluding Paragraph
Ending Statement
Specific
Summarize Division Paragraphs
“Clincher” Statement
General

21. Step 5: Ending Statement
A restatement of the Central Thesis Statement (also highlighted in green).
Basically, the same as the Central Thesis, but using different words.
This is the first sentence of your Concluding Paragraph.

22. Step 5: Ending Statement (Cont’d)
Example:
Honesty, loyalty, and respect are the character traits I look for in a friend.

23. Step 6: Summarize Division Paragraphs
Quickly restate each of your supporting details.
This will remind your reader of your reasons.

24. Step 7: “Clincher” Statement
This is meant to drive home the main idea or argument.
It helps to write something that affects the reader.
Example: Just as I look for these traits in my friends, I hope I exhibit those very same characteristics.

25. ABCDE Essay Format Attention-Grabber Bridge/Background
Introductory
Paragraph
Bridge/Background
Central Thesis Statement
Paragraphs
Body
Divisions
Ending Statement
Concluding
Paragraph
Summarize
“Clincher” Statement