2. HOW TO WRITE A FIVE PARAGRAPH ESSAY USING THE HOUSE GRAPHIC ORGANIZER Adapted from Language!

3. AFRICAN PROVERB “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” Writing a five- paragraph essay uses the same philosophy. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you take it “one bite at a time.”

4. 5 TH PARAGRAPH (CONCLUSION) Restate your topic, your three main points or three main ideas, and thesis statement. (This means say it differently.) 2 nd PARAGRAPH (BODY) 1 st Main Point or Main Idea and Supporting Details 3 rd PARAGRAPH (BODY) 2 nd Main point or Main Idea and Supporting Details 4 th PARAGRAPH (BODY) 3 rd Main Point or Main Idea and Supporting Details 1 st PARAGRAPH (INTRODUCTION) Introduce your topic and give your three main points or three main ideas. Include your thesis statement. transition word/phrase transition word/phrase transition word/phrase

5. Confused?

6. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS A HOUSE JUST LIKE … THE INTRODUCTION SUPPORTS YOUR ESSAY

7. THE WALLS OF A HOUSE CONNECT TO THE FOUNDATION OF A HOUSE JUST LIKE…. THE MAIN POINTS OR MAIN IDEAS CONNECT TO THE INTRODUCTION OF YOUR ESSAY. WALL

8. NAILS HELP TO HOLD A HOUSE TOGETHER JUST LIKE….. TRANSITION WORDS HELP YOU TO FLOW FROM ONE PARAGRAPH TO THE NEXT NAIL

9. THE ROOF FINISHES OFF THE HOUSE JUST LIKE… THE CONCLUSION FINISHES OFF YOUR ESSAY

10. Now let’s take a look at an actual student’s house graphic organizer and essay from a practice writing prompt.

11. TCAP WRITING ASSESSMENT PROMPT Writing Situation: The U.S. Postal Service has honored many individuals from presidents to singers to cartoon characters, by placing their portraits on postage stamps. Whom would you nominate to honor with a postage stamp? Directions for Writing: Before you begin to write, think about why this person should have his or her own stamp. Now write an essay to tell the reader whom you would choose and explain why that person should be honored with a postage stamp. Support your ideas with examples and details.

12. 5 TH PARAGRAPH (CONCLUSION) Restate your topic, your three main points or three main ideas, and your thesis statement. (This means say it differently.) 2 nd PARAGRAPH (BODY) 1 st Main Point or Main Idea and Supporting Details 3 rd PARAGRAPH (BODY) 2 nd Main Point or Main Idea and Supporting Details 4 th PARAGRAPH (BODY) 3 rd Main Point or Main Idea and Supporting Details 1 st PARAGRAPH (INTRODUCTION) Introduce your topic and give your three main points or three main ideas. Include your thesis statement. transition word/phrase transition word/phrase transition word/phrase

13. 1 st PARAGRAPH If I had to nominate someone to be on a postage, it would be Sponge Bob. He makes me laugh. He is always trying to help others. He makes the best Crabby Patties. Thesis Statement: His wonderful qualities make him the perfect choice to be on a postage stamp.

14. If I had to nominate someone to be on a postage stamp, it would be Sponge Bob. He always makes me laugh when I watch his cartoon. The way he is always trying to help others is very impressive to me as well. He also makes the best Crabby Patties in Bikini Bottom. His wonderful qualities make him the perfect choice to be on a postage stamp.

15. 1 st PARAGRAPH If I had to nominate someone to be on a postage, it would be Sponge Bob. He makes me laugh. He is always trying to help others. He makes the best crabby patties. Thesis Statement: His wonderful qualities make him the perfect choice to be on a postage stamp. 2 nd Paragraph HE MAKES ME LAUGH -pants kept falling down -everyone thinks he’s hilarious -difficult not to laugh at First of all

16. If I had to nominate someone to be on a postage stamp, it would be Sponge Bob. He always makes me laugh when I watch his cartoon. The way he is always trying to help others is very impressive to me as well. He also makes the best Crabby Patties in Bikini Bottom. His wonderful qualities make him the perfect choice to be on a postage stamp. First of all, Sponge Bob always seems to make me laugh. One of the funniest episodes was when his pants kept falling down. Everyone in Bikini bottom thought he was hilarious. He is always so happy and naïve. It is difficult not to laugh at his antics.

17. 3 rd Paragraph HE IS ALWAYS TRYING TO HELP OTHERS -thinks about others -helps Squidward -has good intentions. 1 st PARAGRAPH If I had to nominate someone to be on a postage, it would be Sponge Bob. He makes me laugh. He is always trying to help others. He makes the best Crabby Patties. Thesis Statement: His wonderful qualities make him the perfect choice to be on a postage stamp. Also 2 nd Paragraph HE MAKES ME LAUGH -pants kept falling down -everyone thinks he’s hilarious -difficult not to laugh at First of all

18. If I had to nominate someone to be on a postage stamp, it would be Sponge Bob. He always makes me laugh when I watch his cartoon. The way he is always trying to help others is very impressive to me as well. He also makes the best Crabby Patties in Bikini Bottom. His wonderful qualities make him the perfect choice to be on a postage stamp. First of all, Sponge Bob always seems to make me laugh. One of his funniest episodes was when his pants kept falling down. Everyone in Bikini bottom thought he was hilarious. He is always so happy and naïve. It is difficult not to laugh at his antics. Also, he is always trying to help others. Even when his help is not readily accepted, Sponge Bob is always thinking about others. Once, he tried to help Squidward sell his house. He did everything he could to get the house sold. Of course, his actions were not exactly what they should have been, but his intentions were in the right place.

19. 3 rd Paragraph HE IS ALWAYS TRYING TO HELP OTHERS -thinks about others -helps Squidward -has good intentions. 4th Paragraph HE MAKES THE BEST CRABBY PATTIES - keeps everyone full -boss insists he makes the patties -meticulously cooks burgers 1 st PARAGRAPH If I had to nominate someone to be on a postage, it would be Sponge Bob. He makes me laugh. He is always trying to help others. He makes the best Crabby Patties. Thesis Statement: His wonderful qualities make him the perfect choice to be on a postage stamp. Also Further -more 2 nd Paragraph HE MAKES ME LAUGH. -pants kept falling down -everyone thinks he’s hilarious -difficult not to laugh at First of all

20. If I had to nominate someone to be on a postage stamp, it would be Sponge Bob. He always makes me laugh when I watch his cartoon. The way he is always trying to help others is very impressive to me as well. He also makes the best Crabby Patties in Bikini Bottom. His wonderful qualities make him the perfect choice to be on a postage stamp. First of all, Sponge Bob always seems to make me laugh. One of the funniest episodes was when his pants kept falling down. Everyone in Bikini bottom thought he was hilarious. He is always so happy and naïve. It is difficult not to laugh at his antics. Also, he is always trying to help others. Even when his help is not readily accepted, Sponge Bob is always thinking about others. Once, he tried to help Squidward sell his house. He did everything he could to get the house sold. Of course, his actions were not exactly what they should have been, but his intentions were in the right place. Furthermore, Sponge Bob makes the best Crabby Patties in Bikini Bottom. He keeps everyone happy and full in that town with those Crabby Patties! His boss insists that no one else but Sponge Bob make the tasty burgers. He is careful in making sure that he protects the secret ingredients from others. Each burger is meticulously cooked to perfection if Sponge Bob is behind the grill.

21. 5 th Paragraph I would nominate Sponge Bob to be on a postage stamp. -His character is hilarious -His helpful nature is impressive -His Crabby Patties satisfy everyone’s taste buds -He is worthy of having his face on a postage stamp. - 3 rd Paragraph HE IS ALWAYS TRYING TO HELP OTHERS -thinks about others -helps Squidward -has good intentions. 4 th Paragraph HE MAKES THE BEST CRABBY PATTIES - keeps everyone full -boss insists he makes the patties -meticulously cooks burgers 1 st PARAGRAPH If I had to nominate someone to be on a postage, it would be Sponge Bob. He makes me laugh. He is always trying to help others. He makes the best Crabby Patties. Thesis Statement: His wonderful qualities make him the perfect choice to be on a postage stamp. In conclusion Also Further -more 2 nd Paragraph HE MAKES ME LAUGH -pants kept falling down -everyone thinks he’s hilarious -difficult not to laugh at First of all

22. If I had to nominate someone to be on a postage stamp, it would be Sponge Bob. He always makes me laugh when I watch his cartoon. The way he is always trying to help others is very impressive to me as well. He also makes the best Crabby Patties in Bikini Bottom. His wonderful qualities make him the perfect choice to be on a postage stamp. First of all, Sponge Bob always seems to make me laugh. One of the funniest episodes was when his pants kept falling down. Everyone in Bikini bottom thought he was hilarious. He is always so happy and naïve. It is difficult not to laugh at his antics. Also, he is always trying to help others. Even when his help is not readily accepted, Sponge Bob is always thinking about others. Once, he tried to help Squidward sell his house. He did everything he could to get the house sold. Of course, his actions were not exactly what they should have been, but his intentions were in the right place. Furthermore, Sponge Bob makes the best Crabby Patties in Bikini Bottom. He keeps everyone happy and full in that town with those Crabby Patties! His boss insists that no one else but Sponge Bob make the tasty burgers. Each burger is meticulously cooked to perfection if Sponge Bob is behind the grill. In conclusion, I would nominate Sponge Bob to be on a postage stamp. His character is hilarious. Also, his helpful nature is very impressive, and his Crabby Patties satisfy everyone’s taste buds in Bikini Bottom. With qualities such as these, he is certainly worthy of having his face on a postage stamp.

23. As you can see, the house graphic organizer helped the student to write a great five paragraph essay!

24. The following pages are a list of transition words and phrases.

25. To indicate more information: To indicate an example: besidesfor example furthermore for instance in additionin particular indeedparticularly in factspecifically moreoverto demonstrate second…third…etc.to illustrate To indicate a cause or reason: To indicate a result or an effect: asaccordingly becausefinally because ofconsequently due tohence forso for the reason thattherefore sincethus To indicate a purpose or reason why: To compare or contrast: for fear thatalthoughsimilarly in the hope that howeverwhereas in order to in comparisonyet solikewise so that nevertheless with this in mindon the other hand

26. To indicate a particular time frame or a shift from one time period to another: afterinitially before lastly during later finallymeanwhile first …second…etcnext formerlypreviously immediatelysimultaneously currentlysoon eventuallysubsequently To summarize:To conclude: brieflygiven these facts in briefhence overallin conclusion summing upso to put it brieflytherefore to sum upthus to summarizeto conclude