ABCDE Essay Structure

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ABCDE Essay Structure

• The Five-Paragraph Essay
• (For Persuasive and Expository Writing)

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Example Prompt

• Write an essay explaining what qualities you look
  for in a friend. Provide reasons and examples to
  support your answer.

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Prewriting
loyalty
friends name
honesty
respect
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ABCDE Essay Format
Attention-Grabber
Introductory Paragraph
Bridge/Background
Central Thesis Statement
Body Paragraphs
Divisions
Ending Statement
Concluding Paragraph
Summarize
Clincher Statement
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Introductory Paragraph
Attention-Grabber
General
Bridge/Background
Central Thesis Statement
Specific
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Step 1 Central Thesis Statement

• Most important sentence of the essay.
• It is the main idea statement. (Highlighted in
  green)
• Always an opinion when writing to persuade.
• Contains three main points supporting the
  opinion.
• Must be written first before planning the essay.
• Narrows the topic down to a manageable size.
• Always the last sentence of the Introductory
  paragraph.

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Step 1 Central Thesis Statement (Contd)

• Example
• The qualities I look for in a friend are honesty,
  loyalty, and respect.

Opinion
3 Reasons
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Step 2 Attention-Grabber

• Always the first sentence of the first paragraph
• Purpose
• To hook the reader
• To introduce the subject
• NEVER an opinion.
• You dont want your audience to disagree with you
  right away.
• Facts work better.
• Your audience cant disagree with a fact.

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Step 2 Attention-Grabber (Contd)

• Example
• People come in and out of our lives, but the ones
  that we depend on, we call friends.

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Step 3 Bridge/Background

• Gives background information and details that
  will help your reader understand the details in
  the rest of the essay.
• In an essay, you should explain the idea or
  situation given to you in the prompt.
• Ex. The school board is considering requiring
  students to wear uniforms.
• Ex. Many people dont think that we need to
  recycle.
• Should be about 2 sentences.

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Step 3 Bridge/Background

• Example
• People come in and out of our lives, but the
  ones that we depend on, we call friends. In times
  of need, in times of joy, we hope to be
  surrounded by people who will support us and
  share our happiness. As Ive grown, I have come
  to learn that there are many qualities I look for
  in a friend. The qualities I look for in a friend
  are honesty, loyalty, and respect.
  

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ABCDE Essay Format
Attention-Grabber
Introductory Paragraph
Bridge/Background
Central Thesis Statement
Body Paragraphs
Divisions
Ending Statement
Concluding Paragraph
Summarize
Clincher Statement
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Body Paragraphs
Divisions
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Step 4 Divisions

• Three paragraphs (2, 3 and 4) which are the body
  of the essay.
• D-1
• 1st Body Paragraph (2nd Overall Paragraph)
• D-2
• 2nd Body Paragraph (3rd Overall Paragraph)
• D-3
• 3rd Body Paragraph (4th Overall Paragraph)
• They are the specific supporting details for the
  Central Thesis.

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Division Paragraphs
D-1 First reason for thesis. Transition, reason
1. Explanation 1. Transition, reason 2.
Explanation 2. Transition, reason 3. Explanation
3. Transition, restatement of first reason for
thesis.

• Each paragraph in the body should be a POWER
  PARAGRAPH, with
• A topic sentence
• Supporting Details/Examples (with transitions)
• Restatement of Topic Sentence

D-2 Second reason for thesis. Transition, reason
1. Explanation 1. Transition, reason 2.
Explanation 2. Transition, reason 3. Explanation
3. Transition, restatement of second reason for
thesis.
D-3 Third reason for thesis. Transition, reason
1. Explanation 1. Transition, reason 2.
Explanation 2. Transition, reason 3. Explanation
3. Transition, restatement of third reason for
thesis.
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Step 4 Divisions

• Example D-1
• One of the qualities I look for in a friend is
  honesty.
• Transition word 1st idea about honesty
  Explanations/Examples
• Transition word 2nd idea about honesty
  Explanations/Examples
• Transition word 3rd idea about honesty
  Explanations/Examples
• Then you would restate your D-1 topic sentence
  from above.

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Step 4 Divisions

• Example D-2
• Another quality I look for in a friend is
  loyalty.
• Transition word 1st idea about loyalty
  Explanations/Examples
• Transition word 2nd idea about loyalty
  Explanations/Examples
• Transition word 3rd idea about loyalty
  Explanations/Examples
• Then you would restate your D-2 topic sentence
  from above.

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Step 4 Divisions

• Example D-3
• The last quality I look for in a friend is
  respect.
• Transition word 1st idea about respect
  Explanations/Examples
• Transition word 2nd idea about respect
  Explanations/Examples
• Transition word 3rd idea about respect
  Explanations/Examples
• Then you would restate your D-3 topic sentence
  from above.

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ABCDE Essay Format
Attention-Grabber
Introductory Paragraph
Bridge/Background
Central Thesis Statement
Body Paragraphs
Divisions
Ending Statement
Concluding Paragraph
Summarize
Clincher Statement
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Concluding Paragraph
Ending Statement
Specific
Summarize Division Paragraphs
Clincher Statement
General
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Step 5 Ending Statement

• A restatement of the Central Thesis Statement
  (also highlighted in green).
• Basically, the same as the Central Thesis, but
  using different words.
• This is the first sentence of your Concluding
  Paragraph.

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Step 5 Ending Statement (Contd)

• Example
• Honesty, loyalty, and respect are the character
  traits I look for in a friend.

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Step 6 Summarize Division Paragraphs

• Quickly restate each of your supporting details.
• This will remind your reader of your reasons.

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Step 7 Clincher Statement

• This is meant to drive home the main idea or
  argument.
• It helps to write something that affects the
  reader.
• Example Just as I look for these traits in my
  friends, I hope I exhibit those very same
  characteristics.

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ABCDE Essay Format
Attention-Grabber
Introductory Paragraph
Bridge/Background
Central Thesis Statement
Body Paragraphs
Divisions
Ending Statement
Concluding Paragraph
Summarize
Clincher Statement