Writing a Five Paragraph Essay

When applying for college, you may have to write a "Five Paragraph Essay." This tests both your ability to write clearly, and also to work to a deadline (they are usually timed).

Use the first paragraph to introduce what you are going to talk about.

Use the last paragraph to summarise what you have said.

The three paragraphs in between should be to support your central idea. They should contain sentences of various lengths, and don`t use the same phrases over and over again. Don`t use the words "I" or "We".

Once you think you are finished, read through what you have written in your head, and see if it flows - it should sound quite natural, like a conversation, not like a series of bullet points. Obviously, check your spelling and grammar. If you are not sure about a word, and are not allowed to look it up, see if you can replace it with a similar word you are sure how to spell.