Writing Series Part Two: Independent Five-paragraph Essay Structure

March 4, 2015 · by · in Activities and Games, Adaptable Activities, Advanced, Intermediate, Level, Materials, Training Teachers, Worksheets, Writing

This post address an essay’s structure, particularly the five-paragraph essay typically written for the TOEFL or IELTS independent essay.

Independent Five-paragraph Essay

Prewriting Content: 1) Main idea: (a) “Do you agree or disagree…” or (b) answers the question in the prompt; 2) Supporting Ideas 1, 2, and 3: (a) reasons why you agree/disagree or (b) ideas that support your answer to the question; 3) Examples: personal examples, experiences, stories that relate to supporting ideas

Prewriting techniques include brainstorming, mind mapping (bubble map or cluster map), free writing, and outlining.

Essay Structure:

  • Introduction: includes main idea in topic sentence, a thesis statement, and brief list of supporting ideas 1, 2, & 3
    • The introduction is 3-5 sentences. The topic sentence restates the question, using other vocabulary or sentence structure, so that the reader clearly understands what you are writing about. The thesis statement directly answers the question and includes your opinion.
  • Body
    • Body paragraph 1: topic sentence, supporting idea 1, and 1-2 examples
    • Body paragraph 2: topic sentence, supporting idea 2, and 1-2 examples
    • Body paragraph 3: topic sentence, supporting idea 3, and 1-2 examples
    • Each body paragraph has a topic sentence that comprises one of your supporting ideas and related examples. Use transition words to connect the examples to the supporting idea. Concluding sentences are optional in the body paragraphs.
  • Conclusion: restate main idea, thesis, and supporting ideas in 3-5 sentences (do not include new ideas)

 

TOEFL/IELTS Tip: In the independent essay, you try to convince the reader of your opinion; therefore, it’s important to use personal examples and experiences to strengthen your argument. Use vivid, appropriate details. For the raters, hearing and reading your words is not enough. They need to see the images that your words create in their minds. When you create a visual image with your words, you are using language in a more sophisticated way, which can have a positive effect on your score.

Here’s an example to clarify the different between an answer that paints a picture and one that does not. One friend tells you that she wore “a nice outfit,” but a second friend tells you that she wore a “gold brocade dress with a purple satin scarf and deep purple laced high heels.” What do you see in your head, a generic “outfit,” or a fashion statement?

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