The Five-Paragraph Essay (and Beyond)

Structure is scaffolding, not a cage. Start with a thesis: one sentence that states your argument. Follow with three body paragraphs, each opening with a clear topic sentence. Evidence: quote briefly, then analyse at length. A well-chosen four-word quotation often beats a sprawling one. Conclude by widening the lens: what does your reading tell us about the text as a whole? Once this shape feels natural, break it. Great essays argue their own architecture.