Five-Paragraph Deductive Essay

1. Five-Paragraph Deductive Essay Everything you ever wanted to know about it

2. Got or really Like or a lot Any first person Any second person Any contractions Any “thing” words There is (was), there are(were) Very or many Good or bad The book, story or novel This shows This quote The reader In conclusion First, second (in a list) I believe or I think In my opinion My essay is about My thesis is Of used instead of have Proverbs Cliches Is/are/was/were verbs Your paper will sound more sophisticated if you avoid these no-no words

3. Your essay should have: Introductory paragraph First body paragraph Second body paragraph Third body paragraph Conclusion

4. I. Introductory paragraph • Major Thesis statement: the sentence that gives the subject and overall opinion of your essay • Elaboration: title and author should be included • Three (or more) points that are to be discussed should be named or suggested

5. The Thesis Statement This is the kernel from which your essay takes form and grows There are 3 types of thesis statements: The static (or simple) thesis The dynamic thesis The integrated thesis

6. The Static (or simple) Thesis Focuses on one literary element with the purpose of identifying that element and defining and describing it further Example: Dr. Jekyll is a kind and generous person who values scientific knowledge and discovery Okay – but limited & only accounts for part of his personality

7. The Dynamic Thesis Focuses on one literary element but shows how it evolves or alters in the course of the example Example: The kind, generous and intellectual Dr Jekyll is periodically and then finally overpowered by his brutal, animalistic other self, Mr. Hyde. A more complete thesis, but still does not account for the reason, the meaning behind this change in Dr. Jekyll’s character

8. The Integrated Thesis Shows interaction between two or more literary elements for a stated purpose – requires the writer not only to identify the parts and to see how they work, but also to explain why they work and for what purpose they exist. Example: Through the transformation of the kind, intellectual Dr. Jekyll into the deformed, brutal Mr. Hyde, Stevenson points out the dangers of humans’ interfering with nature.

9. First Body Paragraph • Topic Sentence: body thesis of the first point • Concrete Detail: fact from the book • Commentary • Commentary • Concrete Detail • Commentary • Commentary

10. Topic Sentence: body thesis of the first point The first sentence of a body paragraph must include the subject of that paragraph and have an opinion. It must support the major thesis statement/prove it in some way

11. Concrete Detail • This explains or proves the topic sentence • Specific details that are most often what we see and hear • This means examples from the story • These can be quotes from the story (each essay should have two quotes from the work) • examples

12. Topic Sentence: In Animal Farm, Clover is a mother figure to the other animals. • She talks to Mollie the horse, when others won’t • Later, Clover warns Boxer to slow down and nurses him when he collapses • Throughout the story, she sees the changes in the Seven Commandments and in the pigs at the end. These are all facts, examples, from the story

13. Commentary: your opinion about something; not a concrete detail at all • Synonyms for commentary are: interpretation, personal response, opinion, analysis, explication, insight, and reflection • First commentary can answer what the author uses this for • Second commentary can be why (s)he uses it • examples

14. Examples of commentary to go with the concrete details are: She talks to Mollie the horse, when others won’t. She shows she cares about keeping the animals together. She isn’t mean to Mollie but wants her to understand how serious her leaving the farm is to the whole community. • The commentary should explain how that example proves the topic sentence

15. III. Second Body Paragraph • Topic Sentence: body thesis of 2nd point • Concrete Detail • Commentary • Commentary • Concrete Detail • Commentary • Commentary

16. IV. Third Body Paragraph • Topic Sentence: body thesis of 3rd point • Concrete Detail • Commentary • Commentary • Concrete Detail • Commentary • Commentary

17. IV. Conclusion This paragraph should: • Sum up your ideas • Reflect on what you said in your essay • Say some more commentary about your subject • Give a personal statement about the subj • Make predictions

18. A Superior Essay • Has a controlling sense of purpose • Exhibits a mature level of thought • Is tailored for a given audience • Achieves clarity throughout • Has unified organization with an apt introduction, graceful transitions, and a vigorous conclusion • Has a clear thesis developed thoroughly with abundant, fresh support • Uses variety in sentence structure, precise word choice, emphasis & figures of speech • Is free from any serious errors in Standard English and from common weaknesses in writing (passive voice, wordiness, inappropriate shifts in tense and person, inexact word choice)